You might think dry measuring cups are the same no matter what the brand or place of purchase, but there are industry standards for weights and measures and not all measuring cups are manufactured to those specifications. If your set of measuring tools came from the dollar store or is dented, we say toss ‘em out. We use metal cups from Cuisipro as well as sets purchased from King Arthur Flour. Typical sets include ¼-cup, 1/3-cup, ½-cup and 1-cup – and those should be in your arsenal as a bare minimum. We also love odd-sized cups and use them all the time. These sets include 1/8-cup (2 tablespoons), 2/3-cup and ¾-cup. You can find 2-cup measuring cups as well, often sold separately. Think about when you need ¾-cup packed light brown sugar and how handy a ¾-cup measurer would be! It’s more than just the convenience factor, though. You will be more accurate. Here’s why.
If a recipe calls for ¾-cup of sugar, and you only have the traditional set, you end up measuring ½-cup and then an additional 1/4-cup. This means to get that one suggested measurement, you have to measure twice. Volume measurement is not exact and every time you measure, there is room for error. This might seem overly fussy, but it’s this kind of attention to detail that will help you get the best results. Invest in high-quality measuring tools now and they will last a lifetime. Wash and store them carefully so that they don’t dent!
Do you recommend the plastic ones Wilton sells?
The all plastic type can vary brand to brand. Some have a more rounded bottom, which can help with scraping bowls. Others are more square and help with cutting into soft brownies and such. They are all useful in their own way, but different. Wilton does make quality products.