Ingredient Weight Converter

Ingredient Weight Converter · grain

Quinoa (Uncooked): cups to grams

1 cup of quinoa (uncooked) weighs 170 grams. Use the converter below for any other amount, or check the quick-reference table.

Quinoa (Uncooked) baseline: 1 cup = 170 g.

Common amounts

CupsTablespoonsGramsOunces (weight)Milliliters
1/4 cup4.043 g1.50 oz59 mL
1/3 cup5.357 g2.00 oz79 mL
1/2 cup8.085 g3.00 oz118 mL
2/3 cup10.7113 g4.00 oz158 mL
3/4 cup12.0128 g4.50 oz177 mL
1 cup16.0170 g6.00 oz237 mL
1.5 cups24.0255 g8.99 oz355 mL
2 cups32.0340 g11.99 oz473 mL
3 cups48.0510 g17.99 oz710 mL
4 cups64.0680 g23.99 oz946 mL

Why measuring quinoa (uncooked) by cup goes wrong

Quinoa is technically a seed (a pseudo-cereal), not a grain. One cup uncooked weighs about 170 grams; cooked, it triples in volume. Quinoa is naturally coated in saponins, bitter compounds that protect the seed from birds. Most packaged quinoa is pre-rinsed, but most is also not rinsed enough.

Practical tips for working with quinoa (uncooked)

Always rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water for 30 seconds before cooking, even when the package says 'pre-rinsed.' The water should run clear. Then toast the rinsed quinoa in a dry pot for 2–3 minutes before adding liquid — the toasting brings out a nutty flavor that boiled quinoa lacks. Standard ratio: 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water, 15 minutes simmer covered.

Note from this ingredient's record: Rinse before cooking to wash off the natural saponin coating — unrinsed quinoa tastes soapy.

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