Measuring Cups and Spoons
When following a recipe, measuring cups  and spoons should be the first thing you reach for. You might think that you can get along just fine by "eyeballing it", but I wouldn't recommend doing that! Whether you're a novice or an expert chef, measuring utensils are a major staple of the kitchen.
| Types of Kitchen Measuring Tools |
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Dry Measure Cups - Used for measuring flours, small legumes like lentils, sugar, and other dry goods.
- Generally range in size from 1/4 cup to 1 cup.
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Measuring Cups - Used for measuring liquids; large ones can double as a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Range from 1 cup to 8 cups.
- Frequently have both English and metric measurements painted on.
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Measuring Spoons - Used for measuring small quantities, especially of spices and other flavorings.
- Range in size from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon.
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Materials- Stainless Steel
- A good choice for dry measure cups and measuring spoons
- Look professional; heavy duty. They won't bend from added weight, and you can melt butter right on stovetop.
- There are a few stainless steel liquid measure cups available, but they are unusual.
- Glass
- Pyrex® -- the best-known brand name for borosilicate glass -- is a reliable kitchen standard.
- Large glass measuring cups -- 1, 2 and 4 cup capacities -- are indispensable.
- Glass cups have the advantage of being microwave safe, so you can melt chocolate chips or butter in under a minute.
- Pyrex® is heat resistant, so if you pour hot broth into the cup it won't distort or shatter it.
- Any other kind of glass is not recommended for measuring. Look for either Pyrex® or another borosilicate glass.
- Glass is almost never used for measuring spoons or dry measure cups.
- Plastic
- Plastic measuring tools are lightweight and generally inexpensive.
- While not as sturdy as stainless steel and glass items, if you don't do a lot of measurement-intensive cooking you might do just fine.
- The OXO angled measuring cup is plastic.
- Wood
- Wood measuring spoons and dry measure cups are attractive and usually sturdy.
- Be careful to wash very carefully; wood can retain food particles and bacteria if not properly cared for.
- Wood is generally not used for liquid measure cups, where it is preferred to use a clear material.
Other Buying Tips- Long handles. Who wants to fumble with a flimsy holder when dealing with boiling hot water?
- Measuring spoons should fit in jars easily. Long, rectangular spoons fit more easily in narrow containers.
- Included sizes of the measuring cup and spoons. Spoons should include 1/8 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp and 1 tbsp. Commonly used sizes for cups are 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1.
Other Special Features
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- Easily measure solids or liquids while looking straight down into the cup.
- Eliminates need to bend down to counter level to check measurements.
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- Makes pouring dry goods like flour easier.
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- Also known as The Wonder Cup.
- Sliding mechanism eliminates mess when measuring anything sticky.
- Slide bottom down to do desired measurement, then push it out.
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