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This post on how to measure Ingredients was a long time coming! When it comes to baking, accuracy is everything and could mean the difference between success or failure in a recipe.
Watch the video below and learn how to accurately measure all kinds of dry and liquid ingredients so you can bake and cook like a pro.
We’re sharing all of our tips and tricks with you. Some of these ideas will surprise you!.
Watch the Video Tutorial on How to Measure Ingredients:
Our Favorite Measuring Tools:
Here are our Amazon affiliate links to all of our favorite measuring tools (as seen in this video):
Dry Ingredient Measuring Cups
Wet Ingredient Glass Measuring Cups (with pour spout)
Measuring Spoons (2-sided, magnetic)
Digital OXO Kitchen Scale
OXO Storage Containers
Progressive Flour Bin
Progressive Brown Sugar Bin (clay disk keeps sugar moist)
Avocado Oil Cooking Spray
Converting US Measurements to Grams:
Most baking ingredients in the US are measured in cups, oz, lbs, Tbsp, etc. so if you are looking for a good chart to convert ingredients, this conversion chart from King Arthur Flour is my usual go-to source for quick conversions to and from grams.
If you have a kitchen scale and a recipe provides the measurements in grams, by all means weigh those ingredients for best results. Just be sure to zero the bowl before adding the ingredient.
Looking to improve your cooking skills this year? Click to explore our How-To section with all of our cooking tutorials.
Print-Friendly Reference on How to Measure:
How to Measure Ingredients (Wet and Dry)
Ingredients
Tools For Measuring:
- Dry Ingredient Measuring Cups
- Wet Ingredient Measuring Cups, with pour spout
- Measuring Spoons
- Digital Kitchen Scale
Instructions
Measuring with Dry Ingredients Cups:
- Used for anything that does not level itself.
- Spoon the ingredient into the measuring cup and level off the top with a straight edge.
- To measure packed brown sugar, push the sugar into the cup with your hand. It is packed correctly when you turn it out onto a plate and it keeps the shape of the measuring cup.
Measuring with Wet Ingredients Cups (with pour spout):
- Used for ingredients that level themselves
- Set the cup on a flat surface and get down to the level of the measuring cup to visualize the fill line.
- When measuring sticky ingredients (honey, molasses, corn syrup), lightly spray the measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray so they don't stick to the cup and pour easily with little waste.
How to Use Measuring spoons:
- Pour liquid ingredients to the top of the measuring spoon.
- Dip spoon into spice containers then level off the top with a straight edge for an accurate measure.
How to Use a Digital Kitchen Scale
- Used when exact measures are required (i.e. almond flour for macarons, chocolate, fruit)
- Turn the scale on, place an empty bowl in the center of the scale and click "zero" or "tare" to zero out the scale so you aren't including the weight of your bowl. Add your ingredients to the bowl until desired weight displays on the screen.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Q: Did any of these measuring tips surprise you? Let me know if you learned something new 😀
I just love your recipes and videos and have tried several, The measuring tip video was super. 77 years old and did not know about the tip on the honey etc,
Joyce
I’m so glad that was helpful, Joyce! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
How to measure 11/2 cup of fresh fruits
Hi Jocelyn, fruits are normally weighed by weight, and most containers show 8 or 12 oz. But to measure fresh fruit by cup, that will depend on which recipe and if it calls for the fruit to be cut or not measured in cups.
I love watching your videos. You have lots of fun while baking. I use your site to look for recipes to try. If I found one, I watch your video first, then print the recipe. Your recipes look easy to follow. The ingredients are always available in my kitchen, if not, they’re easy to find at the grocery. Thanks also for the tips in baking, as I love baking and cooking, too.
Hello Tessie, thank you for your kind words and for trusting my recipes. I hope you’ll love every recipe that you will try!
Very helpful! Thank you!
You’re most welcome!
I never thought of spraying a measuring cup before measuring honey! Just made a recipe with 1/4 c of honey and your way is much easier!!
I’m so glad that was helpful!
Perfectly demonstrated & explained
I’m 67 years old and just learned not to scoop flour! Thanks
Thanks for checking this out, Nancy!
👍
Hi Natasha. Thanks for your tutorials. Today I learnt that you never ever know enough. I have been cooking for quite a number of years and more often than not my results are quite satisfactory. I always dipped my measuring cup into the flour and your tip re honey and brown sugar are a great help. I love your recipe of Chicken Pot Pie Soup and I haven’t had enough of it yet. Thanks
Hi Eunice! Thank you for sharing that with me! I’m so glad that was helpful!
So helpful!!! I lived your video on measuring Ingredients. Thank you
I needed that
How about how to measure cheese?
Hi Chris, it depends on the type of cheese, but usually by cup measurement (dry ingredients cup), or by weight with a kitchen scale.
Not a baking issue, but I was hoping you would touch on fresh herbs. Fresh herbs are so springy! How much do you compact them when measuring chopped herbs? Unrelated, I’ll be trying your sponge cake recipe in a couple days 🙂
Thanks for your suggestion, Sue. I’ll keep that in mind. I hope you love the sponge cake!
Loved watching your video for a chicken pot pie and it looks scrumptious and can’t wait to make it! Also, I e never made pie crust but your recipe looks easy so will have to try it! Thank you and can’t wait to see more videos!
I hope you give this a try soon! Thank you for watching our videos!
Enjoyed your measuring video. I am almost 85 and love to bake. Learned something new!!! Spray oil into glass measuring cup when measuring honey!!! Guess the same would be for molasses. Thank you!!!
I’m so glad this was helpful, Jane! Thank you for that great review!
Why don’t recipes call for a weight measurement with flour instead of a cup full, where we can potentially get 20% more? For example, 5oz of flour? Feels like we couldn’t go wrong then. Thanks.
Hi Gita, not everyone uses a scale so we try to add both measurements.
Thanks! That makes sense. I love your chocolate chip cookie recipe and always worry that I put in too much flour. It’s always a big hit with the family though. Love all your recipes. Happy Holidays.
And I, for one, appreciate that! I would be lost without the instructions for “one cup”, “2 teaspoons”, etc!!
Oh my goodness!! Loved this video! I had no idea that I was supposed to measure dry and wet things with different tools!
I also was shocked to see you weigh the chocolate chips!!! What was that?? When a recipe tells me “8 oz choc chips”…. I thought that was “1 cup”
I learned so much … thank you
Hello Kathy, you are most welcome. I’m glad you checked out the tips that I provided here as it is important to measure the ingredients correctly.
Thanks for the measuring tutorial. I really like the idea of the spray your measuring tool with cooking spray,never thought to do it through 60years of experience you never too old to learn. I love cooking and baking and recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Betty, you are most welcome. So good to know that you learned something new today, thanks for check out my website and I hope you’ll love every recipe that you will try!
This was an extremely helpful video. I have been measuring flour all wrong because I’m a scooper. The honey trick was also invaluable. You make the best videos. All your instructions are so clear. And your videographer husband does an excellent job!
Hi Mary, I’m happy that you find this very useful. Thank you for your good comments and feedback!
I just love your videos. I could watch them all day. I have learned so much from your videos. Thank you
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
Natasha, you definitely are my hero! literally every single recipe in your website I try is a huge hit! thank you so much for such perfections! love you so much!!
Blessings!
I love all your videos and am learning so much even at 69!
I’m so inspired by reading your review. Thank you, Rebecca!
I have been baking forever but I have never thought about some of these techniques !! So helpful thank you so much !!!
You’re most welcome, Amy. I’m glad you learned a lot from this article.