Perfect measurements are essential for baking. Even a gram over or under can offset the texture or even the taste of your dessert.
Thus, to bake in a 9×9 pan, you must know how many quarts are there in such a pan to measure the liquid accurately.
This guide answers that question for you. It also provides alternative dimensions for pans with similar volume.
How Many Quarts Are There in a 9×9 pan?
The number of quarts in your 9×9 pan will depend on its height.
- 9 x 9 pan with a height of 1 inch – 1.4 Quarts
- 9 x 9 pan with a height of 1.5 inch – 2.1 Quarts
- 9 x 9 pan with a height of 2 inches – 2.8 Quarts
Pans with different heights can be calculated using the methods below.
You’ll need to know your pan’s length, width, and height to calculate the total quarts.
In this case, the length and width of your square pan are 9 inches.
Measure the Height of the Pan
All you’ll need for this process is a measuring tape or a ruler.
Make sure that your ruler starts at zero. That is to say that the edge of the ruler is the point at which the measurement starts.
Place the Measuring Device in the Pan
Place your measuring tape or ruler inside the pan and hold it straight. Don’t measure the height of the pan from the outside of the pan.
This way, you won’t account for the thickness of the bottom of the pan.
Placing the ruler inside will give you a more accurate measurement. Measuring the height from the outside will give you a greater value.
View the Measuring Device from the Correct Angle
Look at the measuring tape or ruler exactly perpendicular to the top of the pan.
This way, you can avoid a parallax error and ensure accurate measurement.
A parallax error is when the measurement is greater or less than the actual value because of viewing it from an angle.
Also, try to record the measurement to the smallest graduation for better accuracy.
Multiply All Three Values for the Volume
Multiply the length, width, and height for the volume of the pan.
For instance, if your pan’s height is 2 inches, you should have 9x9x2 = 162 inches³ (or cubic inches).
To calculate US quarts, divide the value in cubic inches by 57.75.
=(9*9*2)/57.75
So, 162 cubic inches divided by 57.75 will result in 2.8 quarts.
Considering 1 quart is equivalent to 4 US cups, then 2.8 quarts is equivalent to 11.2 US cups.
On the other hand, if your pan’s height is 1.5 inches, its volume in cubic inches will be 121.5.
Therefore, in that case, it will have 2.1 quarts. 2.1 quarts is the same as 8.4 US cups.
If your pan’s height is 1 inch, its volume in cubic inches will be 81. Therefore, in that case, it will have 1.4 quarts. 1.4 quarts is the same as 5.6 US cups.
Fill the Pan with Liquid to Measure the Quarts
You can use another method for measuring quarts, but it’s not as accurate as the one above.
Fill the 9×9 pan with water to measure the quarts. Here’s what to do.
Measure the Number of Cups of Water
Use a measuring cup to note how many cups of liquid fit into the 9×9 pan.
Make sure that the cup’s measurement is accurate, with a total of 8 ounces in 1 cup. Keep filling the pan with water using the cup until it’s almost full.
For the last cup, note how much water is left in the full cup after pouring the water into the pan. Subtract the amount that’s left with 8 ounces.
Next, divide that value by 8 and add the result of that to the total number of cups before the last one.
Once you know the number of cups, divide the value by 4, and you’ll know how many quarts are there in the pan.
Consider this example: the pan can include 9 full cups and a bit of the last cup. There are 5 ounces left in the last cup.
Thus, the amount of water used from the last cup is 5 – 8 = 3 ounces.
The value used divided by the total ounces will result in 3/8 = 0.375.
Therefore, the total number of cups, in this case, is 9+0.375=9.375. For measurement in quarts: 9.375/4=2.34 quarts.
Use a Container with Quart Measurements
You can save some time by directly using a measuring container with volume measurement in quarts. Fill the container with 1 quart of water and pour it into the 9×9 pan.
First, fill the pan with 1 or 2 quarts. After that, fill the container with exactly half a quart to avoid spilling.
Repeat this process until the pan is filled to the brim.
Also, keep noting down or remember the number of quarts you poured in the pan. You’ll know exactly how many quarts there are in your pan once the pan is full of water.
How Much Is a Quart?
A quart is a measuring unit used to measure the amount of liquid a container can hold.
You should know the amount of volume your pan has if you plan to use it for baking. A quart is a quarter of a gallon, which is where the name quart comes from.
A quart is also equal to 4 cups, and a cup is the same as 8 ounces. Make sure to use cups with the correct measurement only.
A quart is also about the same as 1 liter. So, you can consider using liters for volume instead.
It’s best to stick with measurements closest to the nearest milliliter for volume for baking purposes.
On the other hand, you should measure mass (weight in colloquial terms) to the nearest gram. This way, you can ensure better accuracy in your recipe.
As a result, your dessert or other baked goods are precisely how you want them to be. If you’re not too worried about that then, cups are good enough to work with.
What Are Some Substitutions for a 9×9 Pan?
If you’re looking for a container that can provide you anywhere between 2 quarts and 3.5 quarts, there are quite a few available substitutions.
This way, you can get the measurements you want without purchasing a specific pan.
Here are some substitutions for pans with different shapes.
Square Pans
- 8 x 8 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 2 quarts or 8 cups
- 9 x 9 x 1.5 inches pan is approximately equal to 2 quarts or 8 cups
- 9 x 9 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.5 quarts or 10 cups
- 10 x 10 x 1.5 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.5 quarts or 10 cups
- 10 x 10 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 3 quarts or 12 cups
Circular Pans
- 9 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 2 quarts or 8 cups
- 9 x 2.5 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.5 quarts or 10 cups
- 9 x 3 inches pan is approximately equal to 3 quarts or 12 cups
- 10 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.75 quarts or 11 cups
Rectangular Pans
- 7 x 11 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.5 quarts or 10 cups
- 9 x 5 x 3 inches pan is approximately equal to 2 quarts or 8 cups
- 9 x 13 x 2 inches pan is approximately equal to 3.5 quarts or 14 cups
Bundt and Tube Pans
- 9 x 3 inches pan is approximately equal to 2.25 quarts or 9 cups
- 10 x 3.5 inches pan is approximately equal to 3 quarts or 12 cups
The Pan’s Volume Is Not The Only Thing That Matters for Baking
With baking, you must take the depth of the pan into account in addition to its volume.
Consider this example: you have two pans with 3 quarts. However, one pan has a depth of 1 inch and the other 3.
In that case, the time it’ll take to cook cake batter (for example) will differ. Shallower containers tend to cook cake batter faster.
So, be careful to adjust the cooking time to prevent it from overcooking or burning.
If you use a deep container, make sure to cook your cake batter for longer. You can stay clear of eating raw cake by doing so.
If you’re unsure of how long to cook your cake batter, stick a toothpick in its center when you feel like it’s ready. It’s ready if it comes out clean and raw if it’s wet.
Last Few Words
Calculating the quarts of your 9 x 9 pan (baking dish) is easy once you know its height.
If you’re using your pan for more than just measuring liquid, you must also consider the pan’s depth, as mentioned above.
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