In the world of baking, how you measure flour matters. Don’t let too much flour ruin your tasty baked goods – learn the best ways to measure flour with this ‘How to Measure Flour’ guide.
Measuring flour is an important aspect of baking. Flour is crucial to the structure of your baked goodies. If you add too much flour your cupcakes and cookies will be tough, dense, and dry. If you add too little flour your baked goods will crumble and collapse. When it comes to baking misadventures, improper measuring is usually the culprit.
Weighing
The best method to measure flour is ALWAYS going to be to weigh it. This is going to give you the most accurate measurement of your flour.
To measure flour by weight, you can use a digital kitchen scale. The weight of a standard cup of flour will depend on the type of flour you are weighing.
Flour (1 Cup) by Weight (NOT Sifted):
- All-Purpose Flour: 4.25 oz
- Cake Flour: 4 oz
- Bread Flour: 4.25 oz
“Scoop and Sweep”
The “scoop and sweep” or “dip and sweep” method is probably the most widely used method of measuring flour. Unfortunately, it is also the most inaccurate method to measure flour. With this method, you take your measuring cup and scoop it into your flour and then sweep a knife {or your finger} to level your flour across your measuring cup.
The “scoop and sweep” method of measuring flour will give you upwards of 25% more flour than you intended; the reason – flour settles and compacts as it sits. Too much flour can make your baked goods tough, dense, and dry – which is never a pleasing combination.
You should avoid the "scoop and sweep" method UNLESS the recipe/cookbook specifically states that you should measure flour this way. Some recipes/cookbooks will use this method.
“Spoon and Sweep”
The “spoon and sweep” method is your best method to measure flour if you are not going to weigh it. It will give you the most accurate measurement of flour, second to weighing.
Using a spoon fluff up your flour within the container; then use your spoon to gently scoop flour into your measuring cup. Using a knife level the flour across the measuring cup.
Never tap or pack flour into a measuring cup. This will cause the flour to settle and result in too much flour.
If the recipe/cookbook doesn’t specify a flour measuring method or you do not have the means to weigh your flour, then the “spoon and sweep” method of measuring flour should be used.
At the end of the day, the best way to measure flour is ALWAYS going to be to weigh it. I have employed this method in my kitchen and have never looked back.
If you don't already have a kitchen scale, I highly recommend treating yourself to one. They are very handy in the kitchen, and not just to measure flour. If you feel like weighing other baking ingredients, King Arthur Flour’s Master Weight Chart is an excellent resource.
Finally, if you have another method for measuring flour that's working for you then keep on using it.
Now that you know how to measure flour, it is time to bake fabulously!
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