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The Best Measuring Cup

Last updated on March 7, 2024

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If you’re surfing an urge to cook or bake, ride that wave and get started! But before you turn on the oven or fire up your stovetop, make sure you’ve got some of the most important cooking tools on hand: measuring cups.

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Cooking is basically chemistry. You need the right ratios of ingredients to concoct the perfect meal, or else you’ll wind up with flavorless cakes and badly seasoned beef. Measuring cups and spoons guarantee a picture-perfect result. 

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Measuring cups for dry ingredients usually come in sets of five, with measurements from ¼ cup up to 1 cup. Some measuring cup sets go up to 2 cups, including every increment from 1 cup and above. They’re usually made from plastic or stainless steel. The measurements are printed on, painted on or etched into the cup’s handle. 

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Measuring cups for wet ingredients look like a pitcher. There may just be one large cup with many marked increments of measurements or a set of cups for different sizes. Liquid measuring cups are usually made from plastic or very thick glass.

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Measuring spoons will help you add the perfect level of spice to your dish. They typically come in sets of six, measuring from ⅛ teaspoon to 1 tablespoon. They are also usually made from plastic or stainless steel, with measurements painted or etched onto the handle. 

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You’ll need measuring cups, liquid measuring cups and measuring spoons to make your favorite meals. Check out our Tips & Advice for more info on buying these kitchen staples. 

Our Picks For The Top Measuring Cups

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best Overall

U-Taste Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

U-Taste

Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

Not only does this measuring cup set include five cups, but also five measuring spoons. Each piece is constructed from a durable 18/8 stainless steel that won't rust. Measurements are engraved, so you never have to worry about them rubbing off, and the handles have added thickness to make them easier to hold.

Overall Take

Everything You NeedThis measuring cup set works well with both dry and liquid ingredients.

 Spouted Build

Hudson Essentials Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set

Hudson Essentials

Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set

With this measuring cup set, you'll get 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 cup measurements. Each cup is forged from a solid stainless steel that won't stain or retain odors. Perhaps the best feature about this set is the built-in spouts, which allow for easy transfer of liquid ingredients.

Overall Take

High-Quality ChoiceSince these measuring cups are dishwasher safe, cleaning up after a day of baking is a breeze.

 We Also Like

OXO 2-Cup Measuring Cup

OXO

2-Cup Measuring Cup

Liquid ingredients are trickier to measure, but this measuring cup removes all the guesswork. We like that the patented angled surface lets you read the measurement from above, so you won't have to pour, check, pour, check every few drops.

Overall Take

Plastic PickThis measuring cup has an angled surface for easily measuring liquid ingredients.

 Fit In Spice Jars

Spring Chef Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

Spring Chef

Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

This set of spoons will be a staple in your kitchen for years to come. The tough stainless steel is dishwasher safe, and every measurement is engraved on each handle. We love that they're designed to fit inside spice jars for quick seasoning.

Overall Take

Long-Lasting BuildThese measuring spoons are beautiful and well-made.

What to Look For

  • Plastic measuring cups and stainless steel measuring cups each come with their own pros and cons. Plastic cups are less expensive, but they might not hold up as well in the dishwasher. Stainless steel cups and spoons will last much longer, but they’re usually a bigger investment up front. 
  • You can measure liquids with a set of dry ingredient measuring cups, but investing in a liquid measuring cup is well worth it. It’s much easier to view the measurement as you pour, you’re less likely to spill your liquids and many liquid measuring cups are freezer, microwave and oven safe.
  • To accurately measure dry ingredients, add them to your measuring cup or spoon and level it off with the back of a knife. If a recipe calls for “tightly packed” ingredients, push as much of the dry ingredient as you can into the measuring cup or spoon, then level it off with the back of a knife.
  • To accurately measure liquid ingredients, pour the liquid into the liquid measuring cup and place it on a flat surface. View the cup from the side and look for the liquid’s meniscus. (The meniscus is the slight concave curve in the liquid’s surface.) The bottom of the meniscus should line up with the measuring line. Some liquid measuring cups are designed with a piece of plastic that lets you read the measurement from the top. If you’ve got one of these cups, you can just read the measurement from there.
  • Hand wash plastic measuring cups or place them on the top rack of your dishwasher. Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons should be fine in your dishwasher’s cutlery basket. 

More to Explore

You probably know a few daring home cooks who eyeball their ingredients, but most of us want to exercise a bit more caution. Even cooks thousands of years ago didn’t want to botch their dinner: the first written recipe that we know about appeared around 1600 BC on an Akkadian tablet in southern Babylonia. Early cookbooks from ancient Greece and are referenced in other writings from the time, but they were lost. 

Some cooks throw caution to the wind instead of measuring out their ingredients, but there’s nothing wrong with following a recipe — if it was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it’s good enough for modern cooks!

More to explore