Measuring Cups and Spoons
When following a recipe,
spoons should be the first thing you reach for. You might think that you can get along just fine by "eyeballing it", but I wouldn't recommend doing that! Whether you're a novice or an expert chef, measuring utensils are a major staple of the kitchen.
Materials
* '''
Stainless Steel'''
** A good choice for dry measure cups and measuring spoons
** Look professional; heavy duty. They won't bend from added weight, and you can melt butter right on stovetop.
** There are a few stainless steel liquid measure cups available, but they are unusual.
* '''
Glass'''
** Pyrex® is a reliable kitchen standard.
** Large glass measuring cups are indispensable.
** Glass cups have the advantage of being microwave safe, so you can melt chocolate chips or butter in under a minute.
** Pyrex® is heat resistant, so if you pour hot broth into the cup it won't distort or shatter it.
** Any other kind of glass is not recommended for measuring. Look for either Pyrex® or another borosilicate glass.
** Glass is almost never used for measuring spoons or dry measure cups.
* '''
Plastic'''
** Plastic measuring tools are lightweight and generally inexpensive.
** While not as sturdy as stainless steel and glass items, if you don't do a lot of measurement-intensive cooking you might do just fine.
** The OXO angled measuring cup is plastic.
* '''
Wood'''
** Wood measuring spoons and dry measure cups are attractive and usually sturdy.
** Be careful to wash very carefully; wood can retain food particles and bacteria if not properly cared for.
** Wood is generally not used for liquid measure cups, where it is preferred to use a clear material.
Other Buying Tips
* '''Long handles'''. Who wants to fumble with a flimsy holder when dealing with boiling hot water?
* '''Measuring spoons should fit in jars easily. '''Long, rectangular spoons fit more easily in narrow containers.
* '''Included sizes''' of the measuring cup and spoons. Spoons should include 1/8 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp and 1 tbsp. Commonly used sizes for cups are 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1.
Other Special Features
Top Brands
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Pyrex
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The Baker's Catalogue
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Calphalon
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Cuisipro
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KitchenArt
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OXO
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