Measuring Wet and Dry Ingredients

Your recipe calls for you to measure liquids and powders and you have so many measuring utensils that you don’t know which ones to use or how to use them. Relax! Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to making a tasty meal or dessert.

Measuring Liquids

If your recipe calls for measuring liquids, you will use either a measuring cup or a measuring spoons. Measuring cups are usually labeled with milliliters and with cup measurements. That way, you can accurately measure the liquid needed for your recipe no matter which system is used with the recipe. Your measuring cup should also have a spout somewhere on the rim to make it easier for you to pour the liquid out once it has been measured.

When pouring the liquid you are measuring into the measuring cup, it is best to hold the cup over the sink. That way, any liquid that is spilled goes directly into the sink and eliminates unnecessary clean up. Before pouring the liquid into your recipe, however, you should set the measuring cup down on a flat surface to make sure you have measured accurately. The measuring cup should be clear, so you will be able to easily see right through it in order to compare the line on the cup with the level of the liquid inside.

If you have to measure a small amount of liquid, such as a teaspoon, a tablespoon, or a fraction of one of these, you will need to use measuring spoons. In this case, you should still hold the spoon over the sink while measuring. But, you will fill the spoon up to the rim.

Measuring Powders and Solids

The measuring cups used to measure powders and solids are different from those used for liquids. These measuring cups are much like the measuring spoons in that you will fill the measuring cup up to the rim. Whether you are using a measuring spoon or a measuring cup, the best way to measure powders and other solids is to dip the cup or spoon into the container that holds the ingredient. Make sure the cup is overflowing a bit with the ingredient. Then, use a knife to scrape the excess off. Now, the top should be flat and smooth and you have the proper amount for your recipe.

You should never pack the ingredients into the measuring spoon or cup unless the instructions tell you to do so. Brown sugar, for example, is commonly packed tightly. If you do pack in the ingredient without the recipe specifically calling for it, you will get too much of that ingredient in your recipe.