How to Properly Measure Baking Ingredients

Cooking dinner is forgiving; however, baking is science. Exact measurements and using better measuring techniques will set you up for success. Let's cover these skills to make baking fun and easy, so your family can't wait to devour your delicious creations. Below are several ingredients that we will cover to Properly Measure Baking Ingredients. Read next to see how to measure flour correctly.

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HOW TO MEASURE FLOUR CORRECTLY
HOW TO MEASURE BAKING SODA & BAKING POWDER
HOW TO MEASURE CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR/POWDERED SUGAR/ICING SUGAR
HOW TO MEASURE BROWN SUGAR
HOW TO MEASURE WHITE GRANULATED SUGAR
HOW TO MEASURE INSTANT/DRY YEAST
HOW TO MEASURE COCOA POWDER
DRY INGREDIENT EQUIVALENTS:
HOW TO MEASURE LIQUID INGREDIENTS
HOW TO MEASURE LIQUID SWEETENERS
HOW TO MEASURE THICK LIQUIDS
HOW TO MEASURE BUTTER
LIQUID INGREDIENT EQUIVALENTS:
FIND GREAT MEASURING EQUIPMENT HERE
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HOW TO MEASURE FLOUR CORRECTLY

The mistakes on measuring flour ranks #1, no matter if you're using all-purpose, cake flour or bread flour, etc. Read here to see how to measure flour correctly.

If you own a scale, use it to weight flour. See Mine Here. For absolute reliability, always weigh the flour.

Place a bowl on the scale then zero out the scale. Next, add flour

Otherwise, use a butter knife in the flour container to cut through the flour to loosen it. To give you an idea, do a checkerboard design in the flour making lines up and down then right to left or left to right. Next, use a tablespoon to scoop flour into your measuring cup. Do not scoop the measuring cup into the flour as you will end up with packed flour that equals up to approximately 25% more flour than needed. Heap the flour just above the measuring cup then level with the side of a butterknife. Don’t tap the measuring cup on the counter or with the knife.

If the recipe calls for sifting, for example:

Sifted flour requires you to sift prior to scooping with a spoon.

Flour, sifted requires you to spoon into measuring cup, level, then sift,

HOW TO MEASURE BAKING SODA & BAKING POWDER

First, check the expiration date on the container or use these methods here to test if your product is expired.

Baking soda and baking powder can settle or be slightly packed together. Shake, stir, or run your knife in the container to break up the powder. To give you an idea, like the flour, do a checkerboard design in the powder making lines up and down then right to left, left to right.

Scoop the measuring spoon into the container, then use the side of a knife to level.

Read this article on the differences in baking soda vs baking powder.

HOW TO MEASURE CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR/POWDERED SUGAR/ICING SUGAR

Break up the powdered sugar using a butterknife. To give you an idea, do a checkerboard design in the powdered sugar making lines up and down then right to left or left to right.

Next, use a tablespoon to scoop powdered sugar into your measuring cup. Do not scoop the measuring cup into the powdered sugar as you will end up with packed powdered sugar that equals up to more than required. Heap the powdered sugar just above the measuring cup then level with the side of a butterknife. Don’t tap the measuring cup on the counter or with the knife.

If the recipe calls for sifting, for example:

Sifted powdered sugar requires you to sift prior to scooping with a spoon.

Powdered sugar, sifted requires you to spoon into measuring cup, level then sift,

HOW TO MEASURE BROWN SUGAR

Brown sugar is white sugar flavored by molasses. Dark brown sugar simply has more molasses. Most of the time light and brown sugars are used interchangeably, unless the recipe specifically calls for one.

No need to break the brown sugar up before measuring, unless you have a brick of brown sugar. Learn how to soften your brown sugar here. Brown sugar is typically packed into the measuring cup or measuring spoon.

HOW TO MEASURE WHITE GRANULATED SUGAR

Scoop measuring cup directly into the container, level off with a knife.

HOW TO MEASURE INSTANT/DRY YEAST

A standard packet of yeast is 2 and ¼ teaspoons. Scoop the measuring spoon into the yeast container and level off with a knife.

HOW TO MEASURE COCOA POWDER

Scoop measuring cup directly into the container, level off with a knife.

DRY INGREDIENT EQUIVALENTS:

1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
⅛ cup = 2 Tablespoons
¼ cup = 4 Tablespoons
⅓ cup = 5-⅓ Tablespoons
½ cup = 8 Tablespoons
⅔ cup = 10 and ⅔ Tablespoons
¾ cup = 12 Tablespoons
1 cup = 16 Tablespoons

HOW TO MEASURE LIQUID INGREDIENTS

Use a liquid measuring cup and pour in liquid at eye level for accuracy. Liquids are self leveling. Place the measuring cup on the counter, pour liquid in and wait until the liquid stops moving, lean down to read the measurement.

HOW TO MEASURE LIQUID SWEETENERS

Spray the inside of the measuring container with nonstick cooking spray before measuring. Use dry measuring cups to

Liquid sweeteners include maple syrup, molasses, honey, corn syrup, agave, etc. Measure these thick and sticky liquids in dry measuring cups.

HOW TO MEASURE THICK LIQUIDS

Use dry measuring cups since these ingredients cannot self-level in a liquid measuring cup. Scoop into container or spoon into measuring cup and level off with knife. Use a rubber spatula to remove all ingredients from measuring cup.