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

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.

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.

Measuring Spoons 

  • Used for measuring small quantities, especially of spices and other flavorings.
  • Range in size from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon.

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

  • Easily measure solids or liquids while looking straight down into the cup.
  • Eliminates need to bend down to counter level to check measurements.
  • Makes pouring dry goods like flour easier.
  • 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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