graduated measuring shaker with a leak-proof lid (2024)

FAQs

How to tell if measuring cups are accurate? ›

So, simply weigh your empty measuring cup and then weigh it with 8 ounces of water. If you find, after subtracting the weight of the empty cup from the weight of the cup with water, it isn't quite close to that figure you know your measuring cup isn't accurate.

Measuring Cups are used to measure the volume of liquids such as milk, water, oil, or solid powders like sugar, flour or washing powder. A Measuring Cup generally consists of scale markings at varying heights and the material being measured is added to the cup till it reaches the desired level.

Dry measuring cups: Used for measuring dry ingredients like flour, rice and sugar. Standard sizes are ¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup.

Do Dry and Liquid Measuring Cups Equal the Same Volume? Technically, dry and liquid measuring cups hold the same volume of ingredients. However, both measuring cup designs are engineered to measure their respective ingredients more accurately.

Most home cooks in America routinely measure ingredients using cups and spoons. Most professional cooks rely on a scale, and they often calculate the weight of their ingredients in grams. Why? Accuracy, speed and consistency, they say.

Usually made of glass or clear plastic, liquid measuring cups have a handle, pouring spout, and are designed with lines indicating graduated measurements. Grab a liquid measuring cup when measuring wet ingredients like water, broth, cooking oil, milk, or even thicker liquids like honey, corn syrup, and molasses.

Eye Level. To accurately fill a glass measuring cup, view the liquid from the side at eye level. When checking your measurement, the most accurate technique is to place the cup on a countertop and bend over to view your liquid at the proper line.

Whatever you do, DON'T scoop the flour directly from the canister. This flour is often densely packed, so dipping the measuring cup into the bag or jar will yield too much flour nearly every time.

Order of Measuring Cups

The standard measuring cup sizes in cooking from smallest to largest are 1/8 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup. Similarly, the standard measuring spoon sizes in cooking from smallest to largest are 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 tablespoon, and 1 tablespoon.

There are 8 fluid ounces in 1 cup. This is according to the US system.

Is peanut butter a dry or wet ingredient? ›

Even though peanut butter, applesauce, and yogurt are “liquids,” you are better off using a dry measuring cup. Liquid measuring cups are the move when you can check for the meniscus (remember that from grade school science??) —oil, water, maple syrup. With thick liquids that don't flow easily, use a dry measuring cup!

When choosing one, look for a solid material, to start. We prefer stainless steel over plastic or silicone because the durable metal stands up well to scooping heavy ingredients. Beyond that, your set should be accurate, especially since volumetric measuring is already prone to inaccuracies.

In recipes, an abbreviation like tbsp. is usually used to refer to a tablespoon, to differentiate it from the smaller teaspoon (tsp.). Some authors additionally capitalize the abbreviation, as Tbsp., while leaving tsp. in lower case, to emphasize that the larger tablespoon, rather than the smaller teaspoon, is wanted.

It's common to measure accuracy by determining the average value of multiple measurements. When working with a set of data, it's also important to calculate the precision of those measurements to ensure accurate results. Precision measures how close the various measurements are to each other.

While it is technically possible to use a dry measuring cup for liquids, it is not recommended for precise measurements. Dry measuring cups are designed to measure dry ingredients like flour and sugar, where the ingredient is leveled off at the top of the cup.

Here's a good rule of thumb to follow — when measuring dry ingredients, use dry measuring cups or weigh them with a scale. For liquids, stick to a liquid measuring cup.

Place the measuring cup flat on the countertop or table. So the liquid inside will be level and you will get an accurate measurement. When reading the measurement, keep your face at eye level with the cup. Looking at it from above will cause you to get an incorrect measurement.