How to Measure Ingredients for Baking

FAQ about baking measures:
How to use a scale to measure flour by weight (the only accurate way). Understanding salt types. Demonstrating differences between measuring spoon types. Using a tea scale to measure salt and other small ingredients. Measuring liquids by weight and volume.

Common ingredient weight/volume

Flours
All-purpose Flour
1 cup (stir, scoop, level) = 5 oz = 142 grams
Cake Flour
1 cup (sifted into cup) = 3.5 oz = 100 grams
Cake Flour
1 cup (stir, spoon into cup, level) = 4 oz = 114 grams
Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup (stir, scoop, level) = 5.3 oz = 150 grams

Sugars
Granulated Sugar
1 cup = 7 oz = 200 grams
Brown Sugar
1 cup = 7.7 oz = 217 grams

Fats
Butter
1 cup = 8 oz = 227 grams
Oils
1 cup = 7.6 oz = 215 grams

Liquids
Water
1 cup = 8.3 oz = 236 grams
Heavy Cream
1 cup = 8.2 oz = 232 grams
Milk, buttermilk, sour cream, and half-and-half
1 cup = 8.5 oz = 242 grams

Eggs
1 large in shell = 2 oz = 57 grams
1 large without shell = 1.7 oz = 50 grams
1 large egg white = 1 oz = 30 grams
1 large egg yolk = 0.6 oz = 19 grams

Small Quantities
Instant Yeast
1 tsp = 3.2 grams
Table Salt
1 tsp = 5.7 grams
Diamond Crystal Kosher salt
1 tsp = 2.8 grams
Baking Powder
1 tsp = 4.9 grams
Baking soda
1 tsp = 5 grams

[jimmydemetriou]

Thank you Helen. I have been doing this for decades because I never trust cup measurements especially. The transition of everybody weighing eveything is very slow, so I find I have to test every baked recipe and make adjustments until it works. It's good to see a pro cook tackling this subject as I think most won't even consider why they should convert to weighing ingredients for baking. XX

[RDensd]

I just finished watching a Martha Stewart cake video on YouTube, and she was talking about the importance of properly measuring when baking, as she filled up her measuring cup with flour and raked it with the back of the knife 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I just had to pop in and let you know, how much I appreciate the fine details you go into in your videos. I’ve learned so much. You’re awesome 💕

[tombombadilofficial]

You don't know how much this helped me with my crack cocaine business! Thank you!

[josephgaudet]

Thank you! I tend to love recipes that are measured in grams, but had no idea how to go about making them. Time to put my scale to work :)

[LapisGarter]

God I love your videos. They lift my mood instantly. I wish you were more well known. И если я нахожусь в Бостоне я присоединюсь к одной из ваших классов. Спасибо за видео.

[qufeng]

Most informative video on measurement!

[hermesten]

For different types of flower I use the weight specified by the nutrition label which is usually in grams per tablespoon.

[Thehappyme]

This is a wonderful video! Thank you for posting. How would you measure eggs for a recipe. They can be so different in size and the ratio of yellow to white.

[rabbit]

Hello, Helen. I really enjoy your videos and find them very clear and informative. I am newbie to baking and sometimes am quite lost when trying out recipes. What exactly is the official weight in grams for 1 US cup of plain flour? I have come across 125g, 126g and 130g on various websites. But you mentioned 148g, so it is baffling me again. Appreciate it if you can clear this up for me. Thank you.

[alslitter]

The standard weight used for one cup GP Flour is 125 Grams

[alonnasmith]

Love your channel Helen! This is helpful but even weighing isn't full proof. Milk Street says 1 cup of AP flour = 130 grams. King Arthur flour says 120 grams. Cooks Illustrated agrees with you at 142. Kenji: 141 and Stella Parks on Serious Eats, she weighs in at 126g. Wow!

[cpiano]

Thank you for sharing this information. How do you measure butter by the slice?

[danilincks]

Hi Helen, I’m new to your channel but I’m loving it! I already made your crispy shallots (which were great, by the way) and adjusted my KitchenAid Pro mixer based on your video, thanks!!! I have a question if you don’t mind. I just happened to bake chocolate chip cookies today and since my daughter told me “they tasted different every time” I decided to forego the cups as the original recipe called for and do it by weight. I did 140 g for each cup of flour, but the “packed brown sugar” threw me off. The first cup of packed brown sugar weighed 250 g; the second one 290, the third one 275 g. I ended up just doing 250 g, but I was stumped. What would be your opinion on how much a cup of “packed brown sugar” weighs? What about regular sugar?

[Mubinasanoob]

hello, can u tell me how do we take the ratio of wet to dry ingredients in cake batter.becoz i I have tried similar times with different ratios, but all spoiled.can u please give the basic measurements .

[alexcuevas]

How about the instant yeast. how many teaspoon in 15 grams?

[SL-vsfs]

The real secret to less cleaning is to weigh liquid ingredients - no measurement cups to clean or dry! For example,
1 C Water = 8 oz.
1 C milk = 8.6 oz.
1 C syrupy liquids are 9.6 oz.

[geezertech]

OMG! OMG! OMG! 1 cup of flour equals 142 grams. I feel like I've discovered the Rosetta stone! ;)

[outsidethepyramid]

We don't really want a Dry Muffin lol