Measuring wet ingredients can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re baking with them. The most common wet ingredients include eggs, oil, water, cream, milk, and even butter in some forms. There are several tools that can help you measure such items accurately, however, so you might want to invest in those.
When you have the right equipment on hand, you’re less likely to spill the wet components and make a mess. This will save you a lot of hassle and make sure that waste is minimized. Ingredients such as butter, sugar, cream, and oil can be quite expensive when you tally the costs. When you’re saving every single drop of that precious liquid, you might see a sizable decrease in your spending. Here are a few other reasons why measuring ingredients is important.
Without further ado, let’s have a look at the best tools available for helping you measure your wet ingredients:
Liquid Measuring Cups
Liquid measuring cups are your best bet for getting just the right amount of wet ingredients in your recipe. If you add too much of these ingredients, you’d probably end up with a runny- undercooked result. Too little liquid, however, will give you a very dry texture.
You need a separate set of measuring cups for liquids due to the meniscus on them. This will help you determine just how much you’ve poured inside. It’s especially useful to have a set like the OXO Good Grips 2-cup Angled Measuring Cups on hand when you have to use a lot of thin liquids.
First off, most liquid measuring cups have some markings on their sides. These indicate the volume, usually in both ounces and grams. This way, you’d be able to accurately measure the right amount of liquid before pouring it into the other ingredients.
Next, you need to pour the ingredients into the measuring cup correctly. This means placing the cup on something flat, like a counter or table. No holding it in your hands, as they might shake and cause you to spill something or read the measurement inaccurately.
Finally, find the cup’s meniscus. You may have to bend down a bit for this, as it requires getting your eyes level with the required measurement line. There will probably be a slightly concave effect at the top of the poured liquid. The bottom of this curve should touch the measurement line you want.
There are many different types of cooking oils, milk, and other wet ingredients out there. You might not get the same pouring experience with all of them, so always start off slow to prevent getting too much or spilling the ingredient.
If you’re measuring more malleable wet ingredients, like yogurt or shortening, pack it inside the cup. You can line the cup with cling film in order to keep things clean and make for easy removal. Use a spoon to pack down the ingredients neatly and firmly. If there’s any excess peeking over the top, level it off with a knife. There should be no air bubbles inside.
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Measurement Spoons
If you just need a small amount of liquid, it’s best to go for a standard set of measuring spoons. Fortunately, you can use the same set for both your wet and dry ingredients. The Ponzi Magnetic Measuring Spoons Set is made of stainless steel, dual-sided, and stackable to boot. It’s definitely come in handy when you have to measure out a lot of wet and dry ingredients for any recipe.
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Syringes
If you need a very tiny amount of a wet ingredient, it might be better to go for a syringe. We’re talking about your regular syringe here, which might seem a bit intimidating at first.
However, a syringe will give you very accurate results, as they all have markings on their sides. If you want to try out precision baking, this tool is a must-have for your wet ingredients. Plus, you can also use syringes for filling donuts and other functions in addition to measuring.
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Using a Kitchen Scale
If you have a kitchen scale for measuring your ingredients, that’s the best situation. It’s quite easy to find a digital scale for weighing out items, even if you’re using minuscule measurements.
In order to start weighing with your scale, you’d first have to convert the required ingredients into grams or ounces. For instance, a teaspoon of water weighs around 5 grams.
You can also fill the liquid up to the required measurement in a liquid measuring cup and place the latter on the scale. Once you subtract the cup’s weight (note it down beforehand by placing the empty cup on the scale), you’d get the measurement of the liquid itself.
Tips for Measuring Wet Ingredients
Even when you have all the right tools in your kitchen, getting the accurate amount of wet ingredients for your recipes requires some care. If you’re having trouble with spills, slashes, or inaccurate measurement, the tips below may set you right:
- Even if you have a digital scale on hand, get some liquid measuring cups. These will help you out in a pinch.
- There’s no need to get a separate measuring spoon set for your liquids. They’re equally useful for both wet and dry ingredients
- When you pour the liquid ingredients into your cups, check the measurement by keeping your eyes even with the tool. Don’t watch the pouring from above, but bend down and check the level from the side.
- When you need just a small amount and are using spoons, make sure to keep the liquid level with the brim.
- You might want to pour your liquid over the mixing bowl so that no spills will go to waste. However, this might ruin the ratio of the ingredients, so begin by pouring over a sink until your hand is fairly steady.
- Measuring thick liquids might be tricky, as they fill up the cup and spoon much faster than thin liquids. When measuring out a liquid like honey, molasses, or syrup, keep a light hand and pour slowly to avoid overflowing.
- Some liquids like honey and syrup might stick to the spoon or cup. This will make it difficult to put the whole measurement inside your mixing bowl. Oil your cup or spoon before pouring or scooping the thick liquid to avoid this issue. This will ensure that the whole volume slips out quite easily.
- Whenever possible, choose the measuring spoon or cup that has the closest volume to the amount you need for your recipe. For instance, one full cup should be used to measure three-quarters of a cup if you don’t have the latter size.
Volume Equivalencies for US Measurements
| US Standard Units | Equivalency |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 milliliters |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 milliliters or 3 teaspoons |
| ¼ cup | 59 milliliters or 4 tablespoons |
| Half a cup | 118 milliliters or 8 tablespoons |
| 1 cup | 237 milliliters or 16 tablespoons |
| 1 pint | 473 milliliters or 2 cups |
| 1 quart | Approximately 1 liter or 2 pints |
| 1 gallon | 4 quarts |
How to Care for Your Measuring Tools
It is important to take care of your measuring tools so that they remain useful and accurate over a long time. If you let the ingredients sit in your tools for long or do not wash them properly, the accuracy of your measurements becomes questionable. Hence, washing every measuring tool properly with soapy water is necessary. Also, you must prevent your measuring tools from dropping on the ground as it might damage them and provide you inaccurate measurements.
Moreover, in the case of a scale, you must get the scales checked in due time. Repeated usage of measuring tools might tweak their calibration a tad bit. Therefore, also pay heed to tuning your scale balance periodically.
To extend the life of your measuring tools and increase their accuracy, you must store them properly. Do not cramp them in a cupboard or drawer; otherwise, they might bend or even break. Also, it is essential to dry them thoroughly before storing them in their proper cases. You can also get a new case that suits your tools as these cases usually have padding; thus, helping protect your tools from damage.
Another critical point for thoroughly cleaning your measuring tools is not leaving them in contact with oil or dirt. Oils cause corrosion and make your tools useless. Also, always use a non-abrasive cloth to clean the tools before storing them properly. The best way to wash your wet measuring tools is to immerse them in warm soapy water for a little while and then wash them thoroughly.
Conclusion
Having the right amount of liquid every time will increase the chances of getting your baking results just rights. Plus, such measurements will also help you make several types of salads and dressings for a healthy diet. Making an effort to measure those sticky liquid substances might be a pain in the neck at first, but a sincere baker and cook will soon get the hang of it. Check your budget and see what tools you need to have a safer, easier, and more cost-effective result in the kitchen.