I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there is a good chance you are measuring your flour the wrong way. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there you have it.
Don’t fret! The good news is changing your ways is simple and easy to do. I know, I know. One more thing to learn, but it will make for better baking every time.
Wait, there is a right way to measure flour?
Here is the skinny. Most of us are in a hurry when it comes to baking. Whether it is brownies for a bake sale, a cake for a dinner party, or even some cookies because you decided you would rather procrastibake than finish that last thing on your to-do list. a dinner party you need to make cookies, we will grab our measuring cups and scoop directly out of the canister or bag of flour. This is a critical mistake and a big no-no.
If you ever go into the back kitchen of a professional bakery, you will see every person there using a food scale. Why? It’s the most precise way to measure ingredients – extremely important when it comes to the science that is baking.
Why am I telling you this? Well, when you are scooping your flour directly into a measuring cup, there is most likely significantly more flour in the cup than what that recipe calls for. And because we will most likely not all measure our dry and wet ingredients at home, we need ot use methods that are a bit more precise.
Should you not believe and have a food scale at home, try my way below and your old way and see the difference for yourself. The results will shock you.
How to Measure Flour
All that said, here is how to measure your flour the right way:
- Whether it is in a canister or a bag, give your flour a quick stir with a spoon. We do not want any packed flour here.
- Grab your measuring cup and use the spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Be sure to not press down packing the flour in. That is exactly what you are trying to avoid by using this method. Scoop more than you need into the cup so it is sort of mounded.
- Have a knife handy and use the straight back of it to smooth off and level the surface of the flour in the measuring cup.
- Add that flour into your recipe!
It may seem like one more step to add to your recipe, but if you start measuring your flour the right way, your recipes are going to come out perfect every single time.
Happy baking!
How to Measure Flour
Instructions
- Stir flour to break up and lumps or clumps.
- Use a spoon to loosely scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Be sure to not press down packing the flour in. That is exactly what you are trying to avoid by using this method. Scoop more than you need into the cup so it is mounded.
- Use the straight back of a knife to smooth off and level the surface of the flour in the measuring cup.
- Add that flour into your recipe!
