When it comes to the perfect baked goods, how you measure your flour makes all the difference. Often, you may try a new recipe with hundreds of rave reviews only to find that you didn’t get the same results as the reviewers or the picture in the recipe looks nothing like what you concocted in your kitchen. So I am here to help you measure flour the right way to yield the perfect baked goods every time.
If you are dipping your measuring scoop right into the bag of flour and then tossing it into your recipe, then get ready to learn new habits. While you may get away with it in some recipes like cakes, you will definitely be scratching your head when you use this method while trying to make pastry doughs, biscuits, cookies, scones… and the list goes on.
The most accurate way to measure dry ingredients is by weight. This is the way I grew up following recipes. A scale was essential in our house no matter what we were baking. Since I moved to the US, recipes call for cups of ingredients and that’s where things can get tricky.
But fear not, let’s dive in…
HOW TO MEASURE FLOUR ACCURATELY
Measuring flour properly can be done by following these 3 easy steps:
1. Use a fork, spoon, or whisk to fluff the flour in its bag or container. Flour tends to settle and get compact. If you dip your scoop into the flour, you will have more flour than is called for in the recipe. In contrast, sifting your flour before you measure it will result in too little flour. You want to use a fork, spoon, or whisk and move it through the flour, loosening it up.
2. Using a spoon, fill the measuring cup with flour. Avoid the urge to push the flour down with the spoon as you fill your scoop. Just allow the spoonfuls of flour to fall into the measuring cup and settle naturally into all the crevices. Use a measuring cup or scoop that is specifically for dry ingredients.
3. Level off the excess flour by running a kitchen leveler or the back of a knife along the brim of the measuring cup. Some measuring cups and spoons come with a leveler, but the back of any knife will work. Gently push off any excess flour, and there you have it! Perfectly measured flour.
Remember that baking comes down to a science, and many of the recipes you come across will be tested to yield the best results. Knowing these little kitchen tricks will help you produce perfect goodies and feel more confident in the kitchen.