Accurate Measuring Equipment for Cooking etc - Spoons, Cups, Jugs, etc

bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 10:20
Last edited 05/12/2019 - 10:34 by 1 other user

Why is it so difficult to find measuring spoons, cups, jugs, etc, which are actually the size they claim to be?

Yes some of the problem is different definitions in different countries - for example a US tablepsoon is 14ml, and UK tablespoon 15ml and an Australian tablespoon is 20ml - so if you are baking etc with recipes from different countries, you need all 3.

But no what I am talking about is all the tablespoons (and cups and jugs and other things) I have that claim to be specific sizes of tablespoon (or whatever) - even labelled with their supposed size - which when I measure them are not.
For example the tablespoon I have that is labelled 'tablespoon (15ml)' but measures 10ml!!!

Does anyone know of brands or shops that actually test their equipment before they sell it?

Or do I have to start buying laboratory equipment for any kind of accuracy?

Home & Garden Cookware

Comments

  • DarthAntz on 05/12/2019 - 10:26
    +1

    Lab equipment

    • Seraphin7 on 05/12/2019 - 11:04

      Depends what you're "cooking".

      • bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 11:25
        +1

        lol. people who 'cook' drugs like meth rarely bother about accurate measurements - they don't even seem to worry about using ingredients with impurities that kill people.

        • DarthAntz on 05/12/2019 - 12:09

          Or too much salt in your pizza dough, too much sugar in your cupcakes.

          I've got 3 measuring cups at home, and they're all off. It makes you a better cook in the kitchen, but makes new recipes an experiment each time.

  • apsilon on 05/12/2019 - 10:45
    +3

    As long as you're consistent does it really matter? If you're adding half a cup of one thing a full cup of something else, as long as you use the same cup the ratio is still correct.

    • AssamLaksa on 05/12/2019 - 11:08

      maybe OP has different measuring cups and spoons for different ingredients?

      • bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 11:22

        this too - for example if you need to add liquid ingredients first, you can't then add dry ingredients with the same cup or spoon that is wet with those ingredients.

        • apsilon on 05/12/2019 - 11:54

          You'd clearly be horrified to watch me bake something LOL. I rarely measure anything and if I do I have no issue using a cup or spoon for multiple ingredients. If I can't pour the ingredient out then a quick rinse and wipe with paper towel will allow me to scoop and carry on.

    • bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 11:17
      +1

      for baking which is basically chemistry it very much matters.

      in your example, if that cup is inaccurate, the ratios will still be out when you add inevitable spoon-sized ingredients.

      • Euphemistic on 05/12/2019 - 16:44
        -1

        for baking which is basically chemistry it very much matters.

        Disagree. Cooking is not a science, it is an art and recipes are a guide, not scientific measurements.

    • abb on 05/12/2019 - 13:43
      +2

      the ratio is still correct.

      That may not be the only thing that matters.

      The total volume (mass) is significant in determining the cooking time, for example.

  • 87percent on 05/12/2019 - 11:59
    +2

    when i bake, i only use recipes where the measurement are in g/ml

  • bluesky on 05/12/2019 - 13:50
    +1

    Seems no point in looking for exact measuring implements, because the authors who wrote the recipes are also probably using measuring implements that are not exact.

    The chefs themselves seem to be rather inexact. I watch the chefs on TV, and sometimes they say a "pinch of this" and a "dash of that". But yikes! For some, their words and actions seem to go way out of sync - and they put a load full of the stuff in (salt, spices, olive oil, etc).

    So for a new recipe, I always expect the first time to be a test, and second and subsequent times for adjusting the recipe until it tastes right. And I keep a record of it using my own measuring implements, for future use.

    • bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 21:06

      could you please elaborate on the record you keep as you adjust? - i'd be really interested

      • bluesky on 05/12/2019 - 21:40
        +1

        Sure. They are just online files kept in my recipe folder; nothing fancy.

        For recipes I want to keep – if I vary the ingredients or steps, I will modify the recipe accordingly (based on my own measuring cups/spoons, etc). I will also note down which utensils are used in the intermediate steps, e.g., which baking tray is used or which mixer bowl for the different portions of the ingredients, etc.

        This gets refined over tries to the easiest possible way of making the recipe. The ultimate aim is to have an ‘idiot sheet’ which I can just follow strictly, and do not have to give much thought to. I find this particularly helpful for recipes that I return to once a while, and not used often.

  • HighAndDry on 05/12/2019 - 14:33

    Something like this?

    https://www.amazon.com.au/Joseph-Nest-Measure-Piece-Measurin…

    Or is this the kind of stuff you're complaining about.

    • bargain huntress on 05/12/2019 - 21:10

      i checked the reviews and one person reckons they are not accurate. they could be mistaken but i'd have to buy them to measure them myself.

  • hawkeye on 06/12/2019 - 06:12

    For example the tablespoon I have that is labelled 'tablespoon (15ml)' but measures 10ml!!!

    With what instruments and how did you conclude this.

    • bargain huntress on 06/12/2019 - 19:38

      with a medicine measuring cup

      • hawkeye on 06/12/2019 - 20:14

        Good idea never thought of that. Maybe get real technical and buy some syringes and a jewellers scale too. Get all your gear calibrated to their true form then all you have to worry about is real temperature readings.

      • abb on 09/12/2019 - 10:45

        Do you have its calibration certificate? ;)

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join