Measuring Basics &
Techniques
How to Measure Accurately
Ingredients can be categorized into
3 categories:
• Liquid – Milk, juice, water, oils etc.
• Dry – Flour, sugar, baking soda & powder
• Solid – Nuts, chocolate chips, butter,
shortening, peanut butter etc.
Measure Ingredients by CUP type
• Liquid:
– Water, Milk, Juice,
Oils, etc.
• Dry / Solids:
– Flours, sugars,
chocolate chips, rice
crispies, cornflakes,
fruits etc.
Standard Measuring Cups
1
½
1/3
¼
When measuring solid ingredients like
shortening or peanut butter
• Pack into measuring cup, get out all air
bubble, level off, then scrape out
Measuring Shortening by Water
Displacement
The water displacement
method is best for measuring
amounts less than 1 cup.
When 1/2 cup shortening is
called for:
Fill a standard measuring cup
with cold water to the 1/2 cup
mark.
Add shortening until the water
reaches the 1 cup level.
Measuring Dry / Solid ingredients
• Fill measuring cup to overflowing
• Level off with a straight edge knife or spatula
Flour should NEVER be packed, but
should be SPOONED/SIFTED into the
measuring Cup
Measuring Solid Ingredients like
Shortening, brown sugar, peanut butter
• Packed into the measuring cup.
• Level off with a straight edge knife or spatula.
Measuring Eggs
• Crack Eggs into a separate bowl
• You won’t get shells in the mixing bowl.
• If egg is bad, you can throw it away
without wasting ingredients.
Halving 1 egg=
mix the egg in a
bowl with a fork
and use half of it.
Use MEASURING SPOONS WHEN…
Measuring 1/8 Cup or less
Measure both
dry and liquid
ingredients in
measuring
spoons.
Never Measure Ingredients Over the Mixing Bowl
NEVER Measure Ingredients Over
the Mixing Bowl, measure over
something else
Standard Measuring Spoons
1 Tbsp.
1 tsp.
½ tsp.
¼ tsp.
A Liquid Measuring Cup
1. Extra space at
the top of the
cup.
2. Has a pour
spout.
3. Normally see
through.
Steps to Measuring liquid ingredients
• Fill to desired marking.
• Place on Flat surface
• Read the measurement at EYE level
Measure ¾ Cup
The most efficient
way to measure
½ c. & ¼ c. = ¾ c.
Abbreviations
•
•
•
•
•
Tablespoon=T. Tbs. Tbsp
Gallon=gal.
Pint=pt.
Pound= pt.
Hour = hr.
•
•
•
•
•
Teaspoon=t. tsp.
Quart = qt.
Cup= C.
Ounce = oz.
Minute = min.
Equivalents & Abbreviations
t. / tsp. = teaspoon
T. / Tbsp. = tablespoon
C. = cup
Qt. = quart
Oz. = ounce
lb. / # = pound
Gal. = Gallon
Min. = minute
Hr. = hour
Doz. = dozen
Pt. = pint
Mrs. T. and Her 3t. Babies
Helpful Hints:
•T. = Tablespoon
•t. = teaspoon
•Mrs. T. has 3 baby t.’s
•There are 3 little t.’s with
1 big T.
Equivalents To
Remember:
•1 Tbsp. = 3 teaspoons
•1/2 Tbsp = 1 ½
teaspoons
Equivalents To
Remember:
•4 T. = ¼ c.
•1/8 c. = 2 Tbsp.
•1/3 c = 5 1/3 Tbsp.
•16. Tbsp. = 1 c.
The Gallon Man
1 pt.
1 pt.
1 qt.
1 pt.
1 pt. 1 qt. 1 Gallon
1 qt.
1 pt.
1 pt.
1 qt.
1 pt. 1 pt.
Equivalents
Q
Q
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Equivalents
C
C
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T
TTT
T