Weight and Volume Measurements

Home cooks in North America use volumetric measurements—measuring cups and measuring spoons— for all ingredients, including dry ingredients. This is a problem when measuring certain ingredients. For example, flour settles over time. When flour settles, there is less air between particles. With less air, density is greater and more flour is needed to fill a container. On the other hand, if flour is sifted before it is measured, there is more air between particles. Density is lower, and less flour is needed to fill a cup (Figure 1.2).