What Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups Do You Need

Measuring Spoons & Measuring Cups

When buying measuring spoons and measuring cups, quality makes a difference. You will own these tools for a long time and may even hand them down to your kids. They are essential when you are baking.

Spend the extra bucks and purchase stainless steel rather than plastic or those cheap tin ones that bend in your kitchen drawer.

In the past, a measuring cup or spoon would have likely been whatever the home cook used to drink their coffee or stir their tea. However, in the Fannie Farmer cookbook published in 1896, measuring cups and spoons were standardized to avoid confusion and/or recipe disaster.

Dry Versus Liquid Measures

Dry Measuring Tools:

• Made of plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel
• Measurement is made by leveling dry ingredients off
• Most common larger dry measurement sizes : ¼ cup - ⅓ cup - ½ cup - ⅔ cup - ¾ cup - 1 cup
• Most common smaller dry measurement sizes: ¼ teaspoon - ½ teaspoon - 1 teaspoon - 1 Tablespoon (3 teaspoons)

Liquid Measures:

• Made of clear plastic or glass
• Spout for pouring
• Measurements are generally in ¼ cup increments up the side of a large measuring cup.
• Measurement is made by pouring liquid to the desired level
• Most common sizes are 2-cup and 4 cup
• Many show ounces/ml as well as cup measurements
• Can I use a dry measure for liquid ingredients or vice versa?

General Rules

1. When measuring small amounts of liquids, as for extracts, you can use a teaspoon dry measure. Otherwise, these measures are not interchangeable.
2. You cannot level dry ingredients in a liquid measure without risking compacting the ingredients (for example, flour).
3. You will get a much more exact measurement using a dry measure and sweeping off the excess ingredient. However, measuring liquid ingredients in a dry measure is also challenging.
4. It can get messy, having to fill a measuring cup right to the top, and you can also get false readings.
5. Because of the surface tension of liquids, it is possible to overfill a dry measure and get an inaccurate reading.

Measuring Cup Recommendations

You should own at least one set of dry cup measures, one set of spoon measures, and one microwavable liquid measure. Look for:

• Sturdy construction
• Handles either riveted or integrated, not spot welded on
• A sturdy ring to hold spoons together
• Enameled measurements on liquid measures so the measurements won't wear off over time.
• Long, narrow measuring spoons to fit into small spice jars
• Choose stainless steel measures over aluminum or plastic. They are much sturdier, and a good set will last a lifetime.

 

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