BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 08:34 PM

As used in the US for "dry stuff," the "cup" is a measure of volume. A working definition is that it's the volume occupied by a half-pound of water.

Since the density of things varies widely, a "cup" of flour will be a much smaller weight than a cup of water - and a cup of "sifted flour" will be a smaller weight than a cup of "unsifted flour." A cup of whole-wheat will be a different weight than a cup of "refined" flour.

While the common Euro practice of weighing things is significantly more "precise" than the US practice of measuring by volumes, most recipes are so inaccurate that precise measurement is somewhat over-rated.

Since a recipe always calls for a "cup of something" a "density" is implied, and the conversion is built in - if you measure by volume. Most practiced cooks use handfulls, splashes, glugs, glurks, pinches, dashes, and sprinkles in their actual cooking

(3 glurks is the amount you get when you tip up a small bottle until it goes "glurk - glurk - glurk." A glug is the corresponding measure for a large jug.)

A few recipe books - mainly those for special diets - give conversions between volume and weight, but the conversion depends on the specific thing being measured.

John

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: IvanB
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 08:24 PM

DaveO, I never sift. But I always use a very scant cup when a cup of flour is called for. Never had any problems.

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: Gareth
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 07:59 PM

Just remember the US of A pint is smaller measure than the UK pint. No doubt encouraged by American Brewers.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 07:39 PM

But if you're me, you just shake it about a bit until it looks sort of even.

Consistency is the thing.... as long as you remember to be consistent, it should be OK. I'm consistently reminded why I don't do baking any more.

LTS who got her cookie back and has remembered what she was supposed to be doing tonight whilst child was destroying computer.... damn, damn. No bread for tomorrow now.....

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 07:29 PM

Note that when measuring flour by volume it should always be freshly sifted flour. So that "one cup flour" really means "one cup sifted flour. Sift onto a separate surface, such as a sheet of waxed paper, and then lightly transfer (without packing) into the cup measure, and level off the top with a knife or spatula.

If you don't sift, or pack the flour in the cup measure, you will have too much flour, and can get disastrous consequences.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: GUEST,Cookieless Squeak
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 07:14 PM

Why did you not ask me? I could have shown you a cup and we could have weighed it out together....

It's about 8oz (250g), on average, but it doesn't really matter as long as the same cup is used. If the recipe calls for 2 cups of flour, then don't be using a pint mug and a dolls teacup.....

LTS whose cookie appears to have crumbled momentarily, it's what happens when you let the child play with the computer.....

Subject: RE: BS: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 07:04 PM

Good day, m'Lady. A cup is a cup is a cup, whether being used for dry or wet measure. A cup is equal to 0.2365882 liters or 8 ounces, liquid (US). If you were to put 8 oz. of liquid in a cup, mark the side, pour out the liquid and then use that much dry, you would be fine.

All the very best,

Mick

Subject: U.S. - U.K. Weights & Measures
From: lady penelope
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 06:54 PM

Can some one help me? I've been looking at a lot of American recipes and I'm having a bad time with the use of the term 'cup'.

I understand it when it refers to a liquid, but I keep finding it being used for things like flour, vegetables etc. I 've looked at loads of sites for equivalent weights & measures, but none of refer to "cups' as a dry weight. Is there an approximate weight for a 'cup' or is it really that variable?

Sort me out, you lot know everything!

TTFN M'Lady P.