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