The Mystery of Measurements Solved!
Do you ever say “HUH?” or flounder in frustration when a recipe throws certain measurements at you? I hope I’m not the only one that doesn’t get it sometimes. In the off-chance I’m not, I thought it would be good for all of us to take the mystery out of measurements.
And rather than just push some data at you, I thought it would be most helpful to organize this information into a chart. AND, you might want to consider copying this into your Cook’n recipe organizer. I have a chapter going called “Cooking Helps,” so that’s where I’ll be storing this and then it’ll be quick and easy to access when I need it. I also printed a copy and taped it onto the inside of the cupboard door of the cupboard above the counter where I do my baking.
Use 1 cube, 4 ounces
4 cubes, 1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
1 ounce
6 ounces
1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
Use
4 to 5 slices
2 slices
2 slices
28 saltines
15 crackers
22 wafers
3 cups uncrushed
8 ounces uncooked
1 cup uncooked
Use
4 ounces
8 ounces
8 ounces
½ cup heavy cream
1 small can
1 13-ounce can
Use
4 medium
3 medium
4 cups unpitted
8 ounces
1 pound
1 (8-ounce) package
1 (8-ounce) package
1 lemon
1 orange
8 medium
1 (12-ounce) package
1 (15-ounce) package
Use
1 (5-pound) chicken
1 pound, cooked
1 pound, cooked
Use
4 ounces, shelled or 1 pound, unshelled
Use
½ pound, fresh or 1 (16-ounce) can
1 cup dried, cooked
1 pound
1 large
1 (4-ounce) can
1 large
4 medium
1 (16-ounce) can
And rather than just push some data at you, I thought it would be most helpful to organize this information into a chart. AND, you might want to consider copying this into your Cook’n recipe organizer. I have a chapter going called “Cooking Helps,” so that’s where I’ll be storing this and then it’ll be quick and easy to access when I need it. I also printed a copy and taped it onto the inside of the cupboard door of the cupboard above the counter where I do my baking.
BAKING:
When the recipe calls for
½ cup butter
2 cups butter
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 ½ to 5 cups sifted cake flour
1 square chocolate
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 cups marshmallows
2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
4 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
2 cups granulated sugar
When the recipe calls for
½ cup butter
2 cups butter
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 ½ to 5 cups sifted cake flour
1 square chocolate
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 cups marshmallows
2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
4 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar
2 cups granulated sugar
Use 1 cube, 4 ounces
4 cubes, 1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
1 ounce
6 ounces
1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
1 pound
CEREAL – BREAD:
When the recipe calls for
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 cup small bread cubes
1 cup fine cracker crumbs
1 cup fine graham cracker crumbs
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1 cup crushed cornflakes
4 cups cooked macaroni
3 ½ cups cooked rice
When the recipe calls for
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 cup small bread cubes
1 cup fine cracker crumbs
1 cup fine graham cracker crumbs
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1 cup crushed cornflakes
4 cups cooked macaroni
3 ½ cups cooked rice
Use
4 to 5 slices
2 slices
2 slices
28 saltines
15 crackers
22 wafers
3 cups uncrushed
8 ounces uncooked
1 cup uncooked
DAIRY:
When the recipe calls for
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup whipped cream
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
When the recipe calls for
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup whipped cream
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
Use
4 ounces
8 ounces
8 ounces
½ cup heavy cream
1 small can
1 13-ounce can
FRUIT:
When the recipe calls for
4 cups sliced or chopped apples
1 cup mashed bananas
2 cups pitted cherries
2 ½ cups shredded coconut
4 cups cranberries
1 cup pitted dates
1 cup candied fruit
3 to 4 Tbsp lemon juice + 1 Tbsp grated lemon rind
1/3 cup orange juice + 2 tsp grated orange rind
4 cups sliced peaches
2 cups pitted prunes
3 cups raisins
When the recipe calls for
4 cups sliced or chopped apples
1 cup mashed bananas
2 cups pitted cherries
2 ½ cups shredded coconut
4 cups cranberries
1 cup pitted dates
1 cup candied fruit
3 to 4 Tbsp lemon juice + 1 Tbsp grated lemon rind
1/3 cup orange juice + 2 tsp grated orange rind
4 cups sliced peaches
2 cups pitted prunes
3 cups raisins
Use
4 medium
3 medium
4 cups unpitted
8 ounces
1 pound
1 (8-ounce) package
1 (8-ounce) package
1 lemon
1 orange
8 medium
1 (12-ounce) package
1 (15-ounce) package
MEATS:
When the recipe calls for
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
3 cups chopped cooked meat
2 cups cooked ground meat
When the recipe calls for
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
3 cups chopped cooked meat
2 cups cooked ground meat
Use
1 (5-pound) chicken
1 pound, cooked
1 pound, cooked
NUTS:
When the recipe calls for
1 cup chopped nuts
When the recipe calls for
1 cup chopped nuts
Use
4 ounces, shelled or 1 pound, unshelled
VEGETABLES:
When the recipe calls for
2 cups cooked green beans
2 ½ cups lima beans or red beans
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup grated carrot
8 ounces fresh mushrooms
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups sliced or chopped potatoes
2 cups canned tomatoes
When the recipe calls for
2 cups cooked green beans
2 ½ cups lima beans or red beans
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup grated carrot
8 ounces fresh mushrooms
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups sliced or chopped potatoes
2 cups canned tomatoes
Use
½ pound, fresh or 1 (16-ounce) can
1 cup dried, cooked
1 pound
1 large
1 (4-ounce) can
1 large
4 medium
1 (16-ounce) can
Sources:
- www.istock.com
- www.news18.com
- www.safefood.com
- www.health.harvard.edu
- www.diagnosisdiet.com
- www.masterclass.com
- www.mskogstrom.com
- www.blog.gygi.com
Alice Osborne
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2006
Email the author! alice@dvo.com
