HOW TO MEASURE
Measuring accurately is probably the most important cooking skill in the kitchen. Home Economists in test kitchens spend many hours testing recipes with varying measurements in a process called 'tolerance testing'. A recipe must perform well even though the ingredient amounts are changed; if it fails, it is not published. Even though the recipes in cookbooks are quite 'tolerant', the cook still has to follow basic rules of measuring.
To begin, make sure that you have actual commercial measuring utensils. Nested (graduated) measuring cups are used for dry ingredients. Measuring spoons are needed - your stainless coffee spoon just isn't the correct tool! For liquid ingredients, you need a clear glass or plastic cup with a pouring spout.
Graduated measuring cups are made in 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup, and 2 cup sizes. Liquid measuring cups are usually either 2 cup or 4 cup. Measuring spoons usually range from 1/8 teapoon, 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon. It's possible to find other more esoteric utensils including 1/8 cup, 2/3 cup, and very small spoons. I have a set that measures "a pinch", "a smidgen", and "a dash" that were a gift from my sister.
Here's a basic chart of measuring equivalents.
| Dry Measuring Equivalents |
| 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 ml |
| 1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons = 30 ml |
| 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons = 50 ml |
| 1/3 cup = 5-1/3 tablespoons = 75 ml |
| 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 125 ml |
| 2/3 cup = 10-2/3 tablespoons = 150 ml |
| 3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons = 175 ml |
| 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 250 ml |
| Liquid Measuring Equivalents |
| 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint |
| 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces = 1 pint = 1/2 quart |
| 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces = 2 pints = 1 quart |
| 8 cups = 64 fluid ounces = 4 pints = 2 quarts |
I remember liquid measurements this way: 2 cups in a pint, 2 pints in a quart, 4 quarts in a gallon. Memorize that!
In most recipes, the larger measurement is used both to save time measuring and for consistency. For more information about converting measurements, especially into metric, go to Online Conversion.com.
On the next page you'll find a basic guide to measuring common ingredients.
NEXT PAGE: Basic Guidelines
