Wet or Dry?

    " Tools in your kitchen serve a purpose, and the same goes for measuring tools." So says the web site  everyday life.  Believe it or not, there is a difference between a dry measurement and a liquid one.  While there are instances when you can use a dry measuring cup for a liquid measuring cup and vice versa, using them in the wrong situation can affect the outcome of your culinary efforts.

     So lets take a look at the differences between the two.

     A liquid measure is applied to things like water, milk or oil.  And liquid measuring cups range in size and are easily identified by a handle and pouring spout.  When you fill a liquid measuring cup, you fill your ingredient to the desired line on the cup and pour it into your recipe.  Liquid measuring cups come in glass or plastic and have measurements ranging from 1/8 cup up to 3 or 4 cups.

     

    
     A dry measuring cup, however, has a flat, circular rim and handle.  they're designed for the exact amount only, meaning that if you need a half cup of flour, you fill the entire cup and receive a half cup.  Dry measures are designed to be overfilled and then leveled off with something straight such as the back side of a knife.  Dry measuring cups are usually sold in sets that range from 1/4 to 1 cup intervals.

    


      While you might think an ounce works between dry and liquid measurements, it isn't so.  In our country 1 cup in a liquid measuring cup equals 8 ounces., whereas a cup of sugar weighs only 4.5 ounces.  So if a recipe calls for a weight of a dry ingredient rather than capacity you need to convert that weight to the proper measuring cup size using the ratio of 0.125 cup per 1 ounce measure.