How to properly measure flour for baking: by weight or by volume?

Question

Find out whether to measure flour by weight or volume for more accurate baking results.

Answer 1

For baking, the most accurate way to measure flour is by weight using a kitchen scale, as volume measurements (cups) can vary significantly and lead to inconsistent results.

Detailed Explanation:

Precision in baking often hinges on accurate measurements, and flour is a prime example where volume can lead to problems:

• By Weight (Grams or Ounces): The Gold Standard
  • Accuracy: A gram of flour is always a gram of flour, regardless of how packed or fluffy it is. This eliminates variability.
  • Consistency: Using weight ensures that your baked goods will turn out the same way every time you make the recipe, as long as other variables are controlled.
  • No Compacting: You don't have to worry about accidentally compacting flour in the measuring cup.
  • Ease: Once you get used to it, weighing is often faster and less messy than scooping and leveling.
  Many professional recipes and serious home bakers use weight.
• By Volume (Cups): Less Accurate
  • The 'Scoop and Level' Method: If a recipe provides cup measurements, the generally accepted method is to 'fluff' the flour in its container, then gently spoon it into the measuring cup until it overflows, and finally, level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife).
  • The 'Scoop Directly' Method: If you simply scoop a measuring cup directly into a bag of flour, you can easily compact it, adding significantly more flour (often 20-30% more!) than intended. This is the main reason for dry, dense baked goods.

Even with proper volume measurement, a cup of flour can still vary by as much as 20 grams from kitchen to kitchen.

Pro Tip:

Invest in an inexpensive digital kitchen scale. It's the single best tool to improve your baking accuracy and consistency, especially for flour and other dry ingredients.