By: Tanya Patrice | Jul 12, 2006
Measuring cups should be an essential item in every healthy, diet friendly kitchen. This may sound like a very basic idea to some, but I know that I used to use a coffee mug to do all my measuring (and I'm not ashamed to say it). There are dry measuring cups, like the one pictured to the left, and there are also larger measuring cups more suitable for measuring liquids, such as the one pictured to the right.
Measuring cups are an important tool in portion control. Ingredients, cereal, snacks, food - anything with the potential of you over eating - needs to be measured out. Some things to look for when buying measuring cups include making sure that they are dishwasher safe (if you use a dishwasher) and that they have long handles with a good grip. Plastic ones are usually cheaper than stainless steel, but sometimes aren't dishwasher safe, and the size markings may wear out or scratch out more easily over time. I don't believe in paying $20 for a set of measuring cups - and sometimes, if they throw in the 2/3 and 3/4 cups, it costs extra. For my money, I would just measuring 1/3 twice, and 1/2 and 1/4 make 3/4 cup.
The measuring cups pictured on the left is the MIU France Stainless-Steel 5-Piece Measuring Cup Set available on Amazon.com for $11.99. The liquid measures on the right is the Pyrex Prepware 3-Piece Measuring Cup Set for $14.95. I like Amazon.com because they have user reviews of most of their products.
I recently bought a brand new set of stainless measuring cups AND measuring spoons from Williams-Sonoma, with all the in-between sizes. Their brand was MUCH cheaper, yet the same, as the *cough* All-Clad*cough* sets.
I have to say that I love them, as I really love cooking, and sometimes have to measure out multiple ingredients, and it is very nice to not have to wash them out from previous uses. But that's just me. And I always use the proper ones for wet or dry ingredients, and most people do not know that. It doesn't make a huge difference in cooking, but it does in baking, where the chemical balance is much more exacting.
OK, I'm done now! Are four comments enough for one day?