Cooking tips: measuring, mixing and food equivalents.

Measuring Information

• For accurate measuring, use standard measuring spoons and cups. Recipe failures are often caused by measuring ingredients in non-standard measuring spoons and cups.
• For ease in measuring honey, or sticky ingredients, add oil to the measuring device. Then measure the sticky ingredient in the same cup, every drop will slip right out.
• Level off dry ingredients. Use a  scoop to pour dry ingredients into a measuring cup, then scrape off excess with the blunt end of a knife.
• Measure wet ingredients in a liquid measuring cup.
• Do not sift whole wheat flour. Stir before measuring.

Mixing Information

• Sifting the salt, leavening and spices with the flour ensures even distribution.
• Try freezing fresh cranberries before chopping.
• Sift powdered sugar before using.

Food Equivalents

Some of the following measurements are rough equivalents, especially when trying to measure fruits, nuts and vegetables where size varies.

apples

1 pound (3 medium) = 3 cups sliced

bananas

1 pound (3 medium) = 2 1/2 cups sliced, 2 cups mashed

barley

1 cup, uncooked =  4 cups cooked

beans

dry  1 cup, uncooked =  3 cups cooked

bread crumbs

1 bread slice =  1/4 cup crumbs

butter

1 pound (4 sticks) = 2 cups  1/4 pound (1 stick) =  1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons

cabbage

1 pound =  3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups shredded

cheese

1 pound =  4 to 5 cups shredded

coconut

1 pound = 5 cups flaked or shredded

chocolate morsels or chips

6 ounces = 1 cup

cocoa

1 pound =  4 cups

cornmeal

1 pound = 3 cups dry  1 cup uncooked = 4 cups cooked

crackers graham

10 crackers = 1 cup fine crumbs

cranberries

1 pound =  4 cups fresh uncooked

cream heavy whipping

1 cup = 2 cups whipped

dates

1 pound = 2 1/2 cups pitted and chopped

figs

1 pound = 2 2/3 cups dried and chopped

flour all-purpose sifted

2 pounds = 8 cups

flour bread sifted  

2 pounds = 8 cups

flour wheat all-purpose sifted

5 pounds = 20 cups

gelatin 

one tablespoon of unflavored gelatin gels about two cups of liquid

macaroni

1 pound = 4 cups, uncooked  1 cup uncooked = 2 1/4 cups cooked

marshmallows standard size

1 pound = 4 cups,  miniature 1 pound 13 1/2 cups

nuts almonds in shell

1 pound = 1 3/4 cups

nuts filberts or hazelnuts in shell

1 pound = 1 1/2 cups  shelled 1 pound = 3 1/4 cups

nuts peanuts in shell

1 pound = 2 cups  shelled 1 pound =  3 cups

nuts pecans in shell

1 pound =  2 1/4 cups nut meats shelled  1 pound = 3 cups chopped

oats rolled

1 cup uncooked = 1 3/4 cups cooked   1 ounce uncooked 1/3 cup uncooked

oil

1 quart = 4 cups

onion

1 small = 1/4 cup chopped  1 medium = 1/2 cup chopped  1 large = 1 cup chopped

potatoes

3 medium = 2 cups mashed

prunes dried

1 pound =  2 1/4 cups whole and pitted

raisins

15 ounces = 3 cups

rice

1 cup uncooked – 3 cups cooked

sugar brown

1 pound = 2 1/4 cups firmly packed

sugar confectioners

1 pound = 4 cups unsifted

sugar granulated

1 pound =  2 1/4 cups

tomatoes

1 pound =  1 1/2 cups chopped