Cooking: Measuring Liquid Ingredients

When you’re measuring liquid ingredients in the kitchen, you pretty much have two things in mind: getting the measurement right, and trying not to spill. So we’ve got some pointers to help you add just the right amount of liquids to your recipes, no matter your level of vision. Let’s start with some general tips and techniques.

First, it can be helpful to put your liquid ingredients in the refrigerator before it’s time to measure them. That way, you can feel the temperature difference against your warm hand against your warm hand on the measuring cup, as you pour in the cold liquid.

Before you begin to pour, make sure you’re standing or sitting in a stable position. You can lean against the countertop for balance. And hold your elbows close to your body to help keep your hands steady.

If you’re pouring liquid directly from a bottle, touch the edge of the bottle to the rim of your measuring spoon or cup before you tip it. That helps you make sure you’re pouring in the right place. You may need to lift your measuring device up to the bottle to do this.

If you want to practice the methods in this workshop, try using a liquid that contrasts with your measuring cups and spoons. Adding a little food coloring to water can help when you have light-colored equipment or try using milk if you have dark-colored spoons and cups.

Also, check out the Pouring workshop in this series for more tips on how to work with liquids in the kitchen. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to find the techniques that work best for you.

Now let’s look at measuring, and we’ll start with small amounts. One handy way to use measuring spoons is to hold the spoon over a bowl or a measuring cup before you fill it. Then slowly pour your liquid into the spoon and let the excess flow into the container.

If you place your bowl or measuring cup on a contrasting surface first, like a paper towel or a dark baking pan, that can help make it easier to see where to hold your spoon and where to pour. When you’re done, simply pour the excess liquid back into the container, with the help of a funnel for large amounts or an eyedropper or syringe for small amounts.

If you don’t have an eyedropper or a syringe in the kitchen, you can usually get one from your pharmacist. A dropper or syringe is also handy for transferring small amounts of liquid directly into your measuring spoon.

To use this technique, it helps to keep your liquid ingredients in wide-mouthed jars. And make sure the jar is shallow enough that you can reach the bottom, so you can still get to the liquid, even when the level is getting low. Simply reach in with the eye dropper or syringe and pull up some liquid. Then hold your measuring spoon over the container while you gently drip the liquid into it, to measure.

Another clever way to using measuring spoons with liquids in wide-mouth jars is to start with a set of lightweight metal spoons that you can bend. Then bend the bowl of each spoon toward the handle at a right angle, so it’s shaped like a ladle. That way, you can dip the spoon into your liquid, and lift it straight up to get the right measurement.

One more way to measure small amounts of liquid is to use a one-ounce liquid medication cup, which you can also get from your pharmacist. Or you might have one that’s left over from a medicine bottle.

These little cups often have raised markings for a half-teaspoon, a full teaspoon, a tablespoon, and an ounce. And you can add your own large-print letters to make the markings easier to read. Place the cup on a flat surface, like the countertop or a table, and lean in to view it up close. Then find the correct line with your fingernail and pour in your liquid until it reaches your finger.

For larger amounts of liquid, here are some tips for using measuring cups. You don’t have to use liquid measuring cups just because you’re measuring liquid. Dry measuring cups will also give you the right amount, and some even have a pouring spout.

But you’ll need to fill them all the way up to the top, and that means it’s easier for spills to happen. So it’s helpful to work over a bowl. Lay your finger flat across the top of the measuring cup so you’ll feel when the cup is full.

And do your measuring right next to the mixing bowl, pan, or whatever container you’re adding ingredients to. If you don’t have to move the full cup very far, it’s easier to get all your ingredients in the right place, without spilling.

For more tips on using dry measuring cups, including some great ideas for tactile markings, check out our workshop on measuring dry ingredients. And for details on finding equipment with large print or braille markings, check out the Resources.

One advantage to using liquid measuring cups is that they have extra room at the top to help keep your ingredients from splashing over the brim. And they usually have a spout for pouring, which can also make them neater to use.

But it can be hard to see the lines and read the numbers on a liquid measuring cup without a little help. One way to make those measurements easier to see is to mark the outside of the cup. You can use dark or brightly colored tape, and large print or braille labels, to tell you which line is for which measure. A magnifier can be handy for this task, too. Check out our workshop series on magnifiers for some ideas and tips.

Another way to mark your liquid measuring cups is to ask a friend or family member to help you add tactile markings to the inside, using a non-toxic writing tool that leaves a raised line. Then you can reach one finger into the cup before you start pouring, placing the end of your finger on the raised line. That way you’ll be able to feel for the liquid to hit the right level.

Angled measuring cups let you look straight down into the cup to find the measurement. Or you can mark these lines with a tactile pen, too. To learn more about where to find non-toxic tactile pens, or angled measuring cups, check out the Resources.

If you don’t want to add several lines to one measuring cup, you might like using a set of measuring cup beakers. Each beaker holds a different amount, from a teaspoon to a full cup. So you can use a separate beaker for each measure. And some beaker sets come with different colored bases that can help you tell them apart. Check out the Resources for details.

As always, if you need more information or you've got your own tips to share, contact a Hadley learning expert. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice, and you'll get there.