Measure Ingredients
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What you will learn
- 1Name the measuring cups and spoons used in a kitchen
- 2Choose a dry or a liquid measuring cup for each ingredient
- 3Level off dry ingredients with the flat back of a butter knife
- 4Read a liquid measure at eye level on a flat counter
Mini Lesson
A recipe tells you how much of each ingredient to use. If you add too much or too little, the food may not turn out right. Cooks use measuring cups and measuring spoons to get the amount just right. Some cups are for dry foods, like flour and oats. Other cups are for liquids, like milk and water.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- PICK the right tool: cups for big amounts, teaspoons and tablespoons for small amounts.
- DRY or LIQUID: use dry measuring cups for flour, sugar, and oats. Use a liquid measuring cup with lines and a spout for milk and water.
- SPOON it in: spoon flour into the cup gently. Do not press it down. Brown sugar is different - you pack it in firmly.
- LEVEL it off: slide the flat back of a butter knife across the top of the cup to push off the extra.
- READ liquids at eye level: set the cup on a flat counter, bend down, and look at the line from the side.
- MEASURE over a small bowl, not over the mixing bowl, so a spill does not fall into your food.
🥄 Cups and Spoons
- CUPS: 1 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1/4 cup. Two 1/2 cups fill 1 cup. Four 1/4 cups fill 1 cup.
- SPOONS: a tablespoon is bigger than a teaspoon. 3 teaspoons fill 1 tablespoon.
Measuring is a no-heat job you can do with a grown-up nearby. If a recipe needs a hot liquid, a grown-up pours and measures it. Wipe up spills right away so nobody slips.
Words to know
measure
To find out how much of something you have.
e.g. Measure 1 cup of oats.
measuring cup
A cup made to hold an exact amount, like 1 cup or 1/2 cup.
e.g. Use the 1/4 cup for the raisins.
teaspoon
A small measuring spoon for small amounts.
e.g. Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
tablespoon
A bigger measuring spoon. It holds as much as 3 teaspoons.
e.g. Add 1 tablespoon of honey.
level off
To push the extra off the top so the cup is flat and exact.
e.g. Level off the flour with a butter knife.
eye level
Down at the same height as your eyes, so you see the line straight on.
e.g. Bend down and read the milk at eye level.
💡 Handy Tip: before you start, line up all the cups and spoons you need from biggest to smallest. Then you can grab the right one fast and never mix up a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
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