Essential Techniques | Test Kitchen Secrets
Question: Occasionally, I am confused about a measurement when it
calls for a certain number of ounces of a given ingredient. For instance, if a recipe calls for 3 ounces
of chocolate chips, does that mean 3 ounces in a measuring cup? Or should I be weighing the
ingredient for a 3-ounce portion?
Answer: That's a good question, and one that we are asked frequently. The short answer is, it depends on the recipe. If it calls for a weight (not a cup measurement), you should weigh the ingredient. However, when one of our recipes calls for a weight, we also give you an approximate cup measurement. For chocolate chips, we usually specify both.
A note on measuring cups: There are two main types -- liquid and dry. The liquid ones are usually glass or plastic with a handle. They allow you to pour a liquid into the cup and bring it even with a measurement line without spilling. Dry measuring cups (like the one shown above) hold the exact amount and are designed to be leveled off with a flat edge. Trying to measure liquids in a dry measuring cup usually results in spilling.
An ounce for an ounce? Not exactly: The ounce measurement can be confusing. The liquid measuring cups indicate that 1 cup = 8 ounces. But it really means 1 cup of liquid = 8 ounces. Dry ingredients, however, vary greatly in weight. For example, 1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs only 4.5 ounces -- not 8 ounces.
How to measure flour: This is especially important when baking, as improper measuring can throw off a recipe. For best results, stir the flour and lightly spoon it into the dry measuring cup. Do not tap or pack the flour into the cup; doing so would add more flour than the recipes calls for. Level the flour by taking a flat edge and pushing it across the top of the measuring cup to remove the excess.
Have a culinary conundrum? Ask the TK! Submit your question to our our Test Kitchen professionals by emailing us. We can't answer every question, but will try our best.
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On page 150 and page 158 of the April 2009 issue of Cooking Light, the receipes call for all-purpose flour. Now my question is on page 150, 9 ounces does not equal (about 2 cups) and on page 158, 4.5 ounces of all-purpose flour does not equal (1 cup). All my measuring cups show 8 oz. equal one (1) cup. Please advise what the receipes mean as I have already tried one of the receipes and it did not turn out.
Regards,
Thanks for your question. There's a difference between dry and liquid measuring cups.
1 cup = 8 FLUID ounces. The measuring cups that show 1 cup = 8 ounces are liquid measuring cups, which usually have a spout. So 1 cup of water, chicken broth, juice, etc. will absolutely weigh 8 ounces.
But 1 cup of a DRY ingredient will weigh less. For all-purpose flour, 1 cup = 4.5 ounces. You should measure dry ingredients in dry measuring cups (those with flat tops for leveling off the top).
For best results, avoid measuring flour in a spouted liquid measuring cup.
I have a recipe that calls for 1 cup of grated parm cheese. The container it came in said it cotaines 5oz.. Do I measure it in a dry measuring cup?
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There are two main types -- liquid and dry. The liquid ones are usually glass or plastic with a handle.
I was trying to make some brownies and it said to steep the cocoa in the boiling water for 5 minutes, but the water volume said to only use "tk", so how much is that exactly?
