NEVER pack flour down into the measuring cup or tap it excessively. In most recipes, flour is supposed to be measured straight from the canister or package (the flour needs to be airy, if it seems compact, stir it in the container before measuring it). To measure packed brown sugar, pack sugar down lightly with back of spoon, then level off. Most recipes usually call for certain amounts of packed brown sugar. Simply spoon it in and level off with the straight edge of a knife. Most sugar can be measured in a graduated measuring cup. If it has not been packed that way, pack margarine or butter into measuring spoon or measuring cup and level off to measure. In the United States, the wrapping usually has tablespoons and teaspoons clearly marked. IngredientsĮach 1/4 pound stick of margarine or butter measures 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons. The larger measures can double as mixing bowls.Ĭome in sets of four or five (1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon and sometimes 1/8 teaspoon). They come in glass or plastic, with the amounts indicated in cups, ounces, and milliliters. They are widely available in 1, 2, 4, and 8-cup measures. Measuring cups that look like little pitchers with a lip/spout to aid in pouring. They are excellent for measuring dry ingredients because they can easily be leveled off.

They are usually made of plastic or metal and come in sets of four or five (1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup). We've got you covered with our handy dandy conversion charts made just for cooking. If a recipe calls for one cup of sifted flour, that means you need to pre-sift the flour before measuring it.Wondering how many oz in a cup? How many tablespoons in a cup? What about how many teaspoons in a tablespoon? What is the difference between a fluid (fl) ounce (oz) and a dry oz? What exactly does it mean when a recipe calls for packed light brown sugar? As opposed to a “scoop and shake” method, packed brown sugar means that you need to use the measuring cup to scoop the brown sugar and then use your hand to pack it tightly before adding it to the mixing bowl. While eight ounces of water can be converted to one cup of water, the same can’t be done for eight ounces of sugar - make sense? How to measure baking ingredients properly Ounces are measured by weight, and fluid ounces are measured by volume. But if a recipe lists a wet ingredient in ounces, you can measure it in a liquid measuring cup. If a recipe lists dry ingredients in ounces, you’ll need a kitchen scale to measure it. What's the difference between an ounce and a fluid ounce?

And measuring wet ingredients in a dry cup is difficult, since measuring right to the rim can lead to spillage. A liquid measuring cup doesn’t allow you to level off your dry ingredients, so it’s really hard to measure exactly. Technically dry and liquid measuring cups measure the same, but it’s not a perfect science. But others, especially if you are baking, can be completely ruined. Some recipes are forgiving enough that you can get away with it. Use the right cups for dry and wet ingredientsĪt some point, most home cooks have dumped flour into a liquid measuring cup or measured milk in a dry measuring cup. That just means taking the flat side of a butter knife and running it across the top of the full cup or spoon, so any excess is sloughed off. Unless the recipe calls for “a heaping tablespoon” or “a generous cup,” you’ll want to level off the dry ingredients you’re measuring. Level off your dry ingredients for the right measurement This is particularly useful for baking, which often demands exact measurements. While it’s not absolutely necessary to own, a food scale is useful to have, as it allows you to make recipes that list ingredients by weight. Have a set of measuring teaspoons, a set of measuring cups for dry ingredients and liquid measuring cups ranging from a one-cup to four-cup capacity. Measuring pointers Make sure you have the right tools There are 30 milliliters in one fluid ounce. Two sticks of butter are the equivalent of one cup or eight ounces. There are 16 cups in one gallon, or 128 fluid ounces. There are four cups in one quart, or 32 fluid ounces.

There are two cups in one pint, or 16 fluid ounces. 1 cup = 16 tablespoons How many ounces in a cup?

Liquid measurements cups to quarts