07/09/2020
How to Measure Ingredients
It may seem obvious, but measuring ingredients properly is an important cooking skill. So you need to know which
tools to use and how to use them. It also comes in handy to know how various units of measurement relate to one
another. That way, for example, if a recipe calls for a pint of liquid, you can use whatever liquid measuring cup you have to measure out a pint.
Tools for Measuring:
Cup types Measuring cups are often referred to as “liquid” or “dry.”
Liquid measuring cups are used for anything that is pourable, like water, milk, broth, and oil. They are made out of clear glass or plastic, and sometimes have a pour spout. Fill to the mark where the measurement you need is printed. To get an accurate reading, it’s important to crouch down so you can view the mark at eye level. The marks are usually at every ¼ cup, 1/3 cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup. The most common sizes for the measuring cup itself are 1 cup, 2 cups, or 4 cups.
Dry measuring cups are not just for dry ingredients! They are used for anything you can scoop and measure, like flour, rice, peanut butter, and yogurt. They are usually made out of metal or plastic. They are meant to be filled right to the top and then leveled off with the flat side of a knife. The most common sizes for dry measuring cups are ¼ cup, 1/3 cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup.
Measuring spoons are used for measuring small amounts of ingredients like dried herbs or spices, salt, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Each measuring spoon has the quantity it measures written on the spoon. These are usually expressed in whole or fractions of tablespoons and teaspoons (1/4, 1/2, 1).
