Dash & Pinch
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Definition
A dash is an informal culinary measure of approximately 1/8 teaspoon (0.6 mL), and a pinch is approximately 1/16 teaspoon (0.3 mL).
Explanation
Neither unit has a universally fixed definition; recipes rely on cook judgment. In cocktail mixing, a dash of bitters is more standardized at roughly 0.9 mL from a dasher-top bottle. A 'smidgen' sits between the two at about 1/32 teaspoon. These micro-measures matter most for potent flavorings like cayenne, where a tablespoon instead of a pinch would ruin a dish.
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RELATED TERMS
Cup (Measurement)
A cooking volume unit. The US cup equals 236.588 ml; the metric cup is 250 ml.
Tablespoon
A cooking volume unit. The US tablespoon equals approximately 14.787 ml.
Teaspoon
A cooking volume unit. The US teaspoon equals approximately 4.929 ml.
Fluid Ounce
A fluid ounce is a unit of liquid volume, with the US fluid ounce equal to 29.5735 mL and the imperial (UK) fluid ounce equal to 28.4131 mL.
Weight vs Volume in Cooking
Weight measurement in cooking uses mass units (grams, ounces) rather than volume units (cups, tablespoons) to specify ingredient amounts.