Cooking Measurements
How to Measure Liquid and Dry Ingredients

Cookie baking is an exact science and the two most important factors for success are using the correct ingredients and accurate cooking measurements of your ingredients.

While you may get away with a pinch of this and a pinch of that in other types of cooking, when baking cookies accurate measuring is essential.

So that you get the same results, don't be tempted to use ordinary everyday cups and spoons. Invest in a set of standard measuring cups and spoons.

Why? Because having the incorrect amount of flour or other core ingredients will alter the consistency of your cookies.

What are the other core ingredients? Things like butter, sugar, baking powder etc.

You can become creative with other ingredients such as nuts and dried fruit, but incorrect cooking measurements that change the ratios of butter, flour and sugar will affect your results.

Measuring Ingredients for Cooking

In order to minimise waste always measure your ingredients over waxed paper or an empty bowl. But don't measure over your mixing bowl, just in case you are over generous.

Dry Measures

• When measuring ingredients using scales, simply spoon or pour the ingredients straight into the bowl or tray.

• If using a measuring cup, fill the cup then level the surface by running a knife across the top.

• Unless the recipe calls for a heaped teaspoon or tablespoon, level the surface the same way as for a cup.

• For a scant cup, fill the cup, level the top, then scoop out 1 tablespoon.

• For a generous cup, level with a knife then add 1 tablespoon.

To measure flour, stir the flour with a fork first to lighten it. Then spoon the flour into a measuring cup. Level the flour by running the back of a knife across the top. Flour tends to settle and this method aerates the flour before measuring. Dipping the measuring cup into the flour container will give you too much flour resulting in cookies that are doughy.

Scoop the sugar or pour it into a measuring cup, then level off with a knife.

Confectioners sugar should be sifted before measuring to break up the lumps.

When measuring brown sugar, if a recipe calls for “firmly packed brown sugar”, spoon it into a measuring cup so that it rises above the rim. Then press it down firmly with your hand. Turn the cup upside down to unmold the sugar.

Liquid Measures

• For sticky ingredients such as maple syrup and honey, brush the cup lightly with oil first. They will pour out much easier.

• When measuring liquid ingredients use a clear measuring jug which is easily readable. Place the jug onto a flat surface, then check at eye level to get an accurate reading.

• When measuring liquids in spoons, use a set of measuring spoons and fill them to the brim. But remember, not to measure over the mixing bowl just in case some of the liquid spills.

Undoubtedly the most accurate method of measuring cooking ingredients is to weigh them. However, there are many who find it more convenient to use cup measurements. So we have included a handy cup conversion table.

The difference between one country’s measuring cups and another’s is very small. It’s only a two or three teaspoon variance and so will not affect the outcome of your cooking.

Cooking Conversion Tables

For easy conversions and cooking measurement equivalents, check out our cooking conversions tables.