Grains & Legumes conversions
Dried lentils and chickpeas are small and dense. These figures are for dry legumes; cooked legumes roughly double or triple in volume.
A pound of dry lentils fills about 2.36 cups, while a pound of dry chickpeas fills about 2.77 cups.
Grains & Legumes weight and volume compared
| Ingredient | Grams per cup | Ounces per cup | Cups per pound | Cups per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry lentils | 192 g | 6.77 oz | 2.36 | 0.521 |
| Dry chickpeas | 164 g | 5.78 oz | 2.77 | 0.61 |
Measuring grains & legumes accurately
These values are for dry legumes. Rinse and pick through them after measuring, not before. Dry lentils roughly double to triple in volume when cooked, and dry chickpeas about double to triple after soaking and cooking. A 15-ounce can of drained beans or chickpeas is about 1½ cups.
How to measure each one
- Dry lentils: Keep dry lentils loose and level the cup before cooking.
- Dry chickpeas: This value is for dry chickpeas; canned chickpeas have a different weight.
Swapping one for another
When substituting within this group, swap by weight rather than by cup. For example, 1 cup of dry chickpeas weighs 164 g; the same weight of dry lentils is 0.854 cups. Matching the weight keeps the recipe balanced even though the volumes differ.
Buying and storing
Dried legumes are sold in 1 lb bags, which hold roughly 2 to 2½ cups dry and cook into about 5 to 7 cups. Older dried beans take longer to soften, so buy from a store with steady turnover and use them within a year.
Grains & Legumes questions
How many cups are in a pound of dry lentils?
About 2.36 cups. One cup of dry lentils weighs 192 g, or 6.77 oz.
How many cups are in a pound of dry chickpeas?
About 2.77 cups. One cup of dry chickpeas weighs 164 g, or 5.78 oz.