How to Properly Measure Baking Ingredients

This web site might comprise affiliate hyperlinks and promoting in order that we are able to present recipes to you. Learn my disclosure policy.

Whether or not you’re a seasoned baker or simply beginning out, this informational publish has all of my suggestions and tips on how one can correctly measure baking substances.

After getting the following pointers in hand, go forward and check out my favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe! They’re so scrumptious and you’ll bake them like a professional!

Table of Contents

Why Measuring Baking Elements is SO Vital

Baking is enjoyable and scrumptious nevertheless it’s additionally a science! Following baking measurements accurately is necessary due to the chemistry concerned. Any time that you just do something too shortly or don’t know how one can measure sure substances correctly, it can lead to your recipe not turning out!

This publish will assist you perceive precisely how one can measure the whole lot in your favourite baking recipes in order that your recipes prove good each time. I’ll stroll you thru the correct gear, the substances to be careful for and the entire baking suggestions that I’ve discovered via all of my years within the kitchen!

Measuring Gear Wanted for Baking

Earlier than you begin baking, it is advisable to just remember to have the entire proper instruments! You’ll use these instruments to measure dry baking substances equivalent to flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, oats, baking soda. Listed below are a number of suggestions that I exploit in my kitchen daily:

Measuring Cups: Most units will include the whole lot that you just want however be sure that to all the time have 1 cup, 3/4 cup (this isn’t in each set however I wish to have it because it’s a standard measurement), 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup and 1/4 cup readily available.
Measuring Spoons: You’ll all the time need 1 tablespoon, 1/2 Tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoons in your kitchen.
Scale: This isn’t crucial (and I educate you beneath how one can measure issues WITHOUT a scale) however this is usually a useful gizmo to make use of both as a newbie baker who’s extra snug realizing actual measurements or an skilled baker with extra difficult recipes.
Liquid Measuring Cup: I like to recommend getting a glass measuring cup as a result of it’s microwavable.
Straight Edge Knife: I exploit this for scraping the flour.
Spoon: Any spoon will work, I exploit it for fluffing and filling the flour.

Measuring cups and spoons laid out on the counter.

Baking Phrases

Scant: A scant measurement means the measuring cup ought to be simply shy of utterly full.

Heaping: A heaping measurement means the measuring cup ought to be barely rounded on the prime, which provides only a tiny bit greater than the measuring cup requires.

Pinch: This measurement is the quantity of ingredient that you may decide up between your thumb and your index finger. It’s generally measured to be 1/8-1/16 teaspoon.

**How you can Measure Flour with out a Scale**

Measuring baking substances is well completed with out a scale in case you don’t have one at residence, right here is the method to make use of:

Get the Proper Instruments: Collect the measuring cup, spoon, and knife.
Use a Spoon: DO NOT use the measuring cup to instantly scoop the flour from the flour bin.
Fluff and Spoon: Fluff the flour utilizing a spoon after which spoon scoops of the flour into the measuring cup and fill the measuring cup so there’s a mound on prime.
Scrape: Use the straight fringe of a knife to scrape throughout the highest of the measuring cup to take away any extra flour.

A picture of how to properly measure flour. — Spoon the flour within the measuring cup.

How you can Measure Flour with a Scale

To be extra exact with measuring your baking substances, use a food scale!

Tare the Scale: Earlier than you start measuring your baking substances, you have to tare your scale, or primarily reset it and “zeroing” the dimensions. It’s sometimes carried out when there’s nothing positioned on the dimensions. Nonetheless, for accuracy, I like to recommend that you just tare the dimensions after putting an empty bowl or measuring cup on it. This ensures that the load of the container isn’t included in your last measurement.
Spoon and Scrape the Flour: Spoon scoops of the flour into the measuring cup and fill the measuring cup so there’s a mound on prime then scrape off the surplus with a knife.
Weight: Utilizing your scale, weigh the measured 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Utilizing this technique the flour ought to weigh between 120 and 125 grams.

Quantity vs Weight

Quantity measurement includes utilizing both dry or liquid measuring cups. When completed accurately with the suitable cup, it’s a dependable technique for measuring baking substances. Nonetheless, essentially the most correct strategy to measure substances is by weight. Utilizing a kitchen scale to measure in grams offers exact measurements.

Flour scooped incorrectly showing why it's important to properly measure baking ingredients. — The grams of flour when scooped incorrectly.

A chart of dry ingredients volume and weight.

Does How I Measure Flour Actually Matter?

Sure! The way you measure out your substances can have a direct affect on how your recipe seems. Sometimes the ratio of sugar to flour in cookies is about 1:2, so for each 1 cup of sugar you must have 2 cups of flour. It will range barely relying on the feel of cookie you like in addition to your local weather. Drier climates require rather less flour, the place as humid climates would require a little bit extra.

Measuring and including an excessive amount of flour: Cookie dough with an excessive amount of flour shall be crumbly and dry. In case you press it collectively, it would break aside into items. The cookies will bake up with too little unfold and be fairly dense.
Not including in sufficient flour: In case you ever marvel why your cookies prove flat, that is your downside! Cookie dough with too little flour shall be sticky and really comfortable. It gained’t maintain the indent of a fingerprint as a result of it is going to be too sticky. The cookies will unfold an excessive amount of and find yourself flat.
Flour measured accurately: Cookie dough with simply the correct quantity of flour shall be in regards to the texture of play dough, with just a bit little bit of stickiness. The cookies will find yourself with simply the correct quantity of unfold and chewiness.

3 cookies laid out showing what they look like with different amounts of flour in the recipe. — Instance of what cookies from the identical recipe appear to be utilizing totally different quantities of flour.

How you can Pack and Measure Brown Sugar

When laid out in a recipe, brown sugar ought to be packed tightly into the measuring cup. Use a spoon to scoop the brown sugar into the cup after which press the spoon down in opposition to it till it’s tightly compacted down. Spoon extra sugar into the measuring cup and press it down till it’s degree with the highest of the measuring cup.

Unpacked brown sugar in a measuring cup on a scale. — The grams of brown sugar scooping incorrectly with out packing.

Packed Brown Sugar Tip

Correctly packed brown sugar will preserve the form of the measuring cup after it’s poured out. Loosely packed brown sugar will fall out right into a unfastened pile.

A photo of scooped brown sugar in a glass bowl next to packed brown sugar in a bowl showing the difference.

How you can Measure Liquid Elements

Measuring baking substances can typically imply liquids! Liquid substances ought to all the time be measured utilizing liquid measuring cups. Though the quantity of a dry measuring cup technically matches that of a liquid measuring cup, it’s not correct to fill a dry cup with liquid such as you would a liquid measuring cup.

Choosing a dry measuring cup with liquid substances will lead to barely lower than the recipe requires. Whereas this may not be a serious concern in cooking, it may possibly enormously have an effect on baking outcomes. Even a small distinction in measurement can disrupt the chemistry of a baking recipe. If you end up measuring liquid, get right down to eye degree of the measuring cup and be sure that your liquid is even with the marked measurement line.

Liquid being measured properly at eye level showing the importance of how to measure baking ingredients properly.

Measuring Sticky Elements

If you end up measuring baking substances equivalent to peanut butter, honey, syrup or molasses, spray the measuring cup with some baking spray in order that the ingredient doesn’t stick and also you gained’t go away any behind within the cup.

Frequent Measuring Errors

Utilizing the Mistaken Measuring Cup: For baking it’s tremendous necessary to be correct so the chemistry of the recipe isn’t altered. At all times use liquid measuring cups for liquid substances and dry measuring cups for dry substances.
Don’t Ignore the Particulars in a Recipe: Observe the precise measuring directions in your recipe! If a recipe requires a heaping cup of flour, don’t degree it off with a knife. Make certain it’s heaped barely excessive fringe of the measuring cup. If the recipe requires packed brown sugar, actually pack the brown sugar in there! The following tips are there for a motive and typically they will make or break the recipe.
Substituting Elements: If you’re substituting an ingredient in a baking recipe, be sure that it’s one thing you already know will work. For instance, most gluten free flour won’t work the identical means as all-purpose flour in a recipe. Until the GF flour is a selected mix with a binder to interchange the perform of gluten, you’ll probably find yourself with a crumbly mess with no construction.

Baking Conversion Chart

I all the time wish to have measurement conversions accessible at a fast look! Whether or not you might be measuring out substances or it is advisable to know a conversion of oven temperatures, I’ve received you lined with this chart!