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Quick & easy tips for precise recipe measurements
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Have you ever found a new recipe that you were just dying to try out, but it made way more food than you needed? If so, you probably thought about cutting the recipe down. While cutting a measurement like ½ cup is fairly simple, dividing the ingredients can get trickier when the recipe calls for ⅓ cup or a single egg. We’ve put together a complete guide of common measurement divisions and conversions, along with a list of the best tips for more precise ingredient measurements to help you make delicious meals and baked goods that are just the right amount for your household.
What is Half of ⅓ Cup?
Half ⅓ of a cup is equivalent to 2 tablespoons plus two teaspoons. Because there are no standard measuring cups small enough to measure half of ⅓ cup (which is equal to ⅙ cup), breaking a cup down into tablespoons and teaspoons is the best way to divide it easily and measure it accurately.
Steps
Section 7 of 7:
How to Measure Ingredients Accurately
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Use measuring cups and spoons for dry ingredients. Dry measuring cups and spoons are designed for dry ingredients, like sugar and flour. [6] X Research source
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Don’t pack or press dry ingredients. When measuring dry ingredients, don’t use the measuring cup to scoop them from the container. This packs down ingredients like flour and sugar, which changes the measurement.
- Always spoon dry ingredients into the measuring cup, leaving a little extra mounded on the top.
- You can use a knife or spatula to level off the excess ingredients.
- Brown sugar is the exception to this rule. When spooning brown sugar, press on the sugar with the back of your scooping spoon until the measuring cup is full, and then level off. [7] X Research source
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Weigh dry ingredients with a kitchen scale as needed. Weighing dry ingredients with a digital kitchen scale is the most accurate way to divide a recipe. [8] X Research source If you need to measure by weight, check the settings of your digital scale first. Digital scales can usually be set to grams or ounces. Make sure the setting matches the unit of measurement in your recipe.
- Zero out your digital scale after placing a bowl on it for easier measuring.
- Make sure you aren’t confusing ounces with fluid ounces.
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Use liquid measuring cups for liquids. Always measure liquids on a flat surface at eye level. Place your measuring cup on a flat, level surface like a countertop to measure liquids. [9] X Research source
- Once you have poured the liquid into the measuring cup, bend or kneel so your eyes are even with the surface level of the liquid to take a more accurate measurement.
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Coat your measuring cup or spoon with oil to measure sticky ingredients. When measuring sticky ingredients, like honey or maple syrup, they tend to stick to the measuring tool throwing off the amount that makes it into your mixing bowl.
- Coat your measuring cup with a very small amount of oil or a spritz of cooking spray.
- The oil or cooking spray will prevent the ingredient from sticking, helping it to slide right out. [10] X Research source
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Halve an egg by cracking it open. Sometimes you want to divide a recipe that only calls for one raw egg. Crack the egg into the bowl and throw away the shell. Once you have the contents of the egg, it's easier to eyeball or weigh.
- If using the whole egg, whisk it to combine the white and yolk. [11] X Research source
- Either eyeball half of the whisked egg or weigh it on a scale and then remove a little of the egg mixture at a time until you have half of the original amount.
- If you only need part of the egg, separate the yolk from the white. Then, divide only the part of the egg you need for your recipe.
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Visually estimate or eyeball measurements as needed. This is the least accurate way to divide a recipe, but it can work in some situations. However, it's not recommended for baking, which requires more precise measurements for the proper consistency.
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References
- ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cut-down-recipes-whats-half-of-1-2-cup-3-4-cup-2-3-cup-and-more
- ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cut-down-recipes-whats-half-of-1-2-cup-3-4-cup-2-3-cup-and-more
- ↑ https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/cups-to-tablespoons/
- ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/cup-to-gram-conversions/
- ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/whats-the-difference-between-a-pinch-a-dash-and-a-shake/
- ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/difference-between-dry-and-liquid-measurements-7368170
- ↑ https://www.wyldflour.com/how-to-measure-ingredients/
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/the-best-kitchen-scales-product-review-article
- ↑ https://www.cacfp.org/2023/11/14/fundamentals-of-measuring-weight-and-volume/
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