Have you ever wondered why the weight of a cup of flour can vary so much depending on where you look? In the complex world of cooking and baking, it's not uncommon to encounter discrepancies in ingredient measurements. One such example is the weight of “1 cup of all-purpose flour.” Depending on the source, you may find this measurement listed anywhere from 120 grams to 142 grams! This variation raises important questions about standardization in recipe writing, especially for those who want to achieve consistent results in their culinary endeavors.
When we dive into the details of these differences, we quickly realize that the method of measuring flour is not universally agreed upon. Some cooks delicately spoon flour into a cup, while others scoop directly from a container, leading to heavier measurements. This article explores the reasons behind these discrepancies, the implications for home cooks, and the potential for a more standardized approach to ingredient measurements.
In a time where cooking has become more popular than ever, understanding the nuances of ingredient measurement can make a significant difference in the final outcome of your dishes. By examining various sources, we can learn how to navigate these differences and ultimately make better cooking choices!
This is the second article in a series giving you a behind-the-scenes look into the hows and whys of the decisions that go into our recipe writing at the L.A. Times.
A reader recently asked me, after reviewing the first recipe we published with our new metric weight measurements, why our weight for “1 cup all-purpose flour” — stated as 142 grams — was different from another publication that listed a cup as being 120 grams. Is there not a standard? And if so, who’s right and who’s wrong? Questions like these show people are paying attention to the details.
How does a cook know who to trust in an instance like this? Should you apply the standards of one source (say, the L.A. Times) to all the others? In this case, no, you should adhere to the weights called for within each publication’s recipes because not all brands measure flour the same. But therein lies the dilemma.
Some recipe developers reach their weight measurement by spooning flour delicately into a cup, while others call for scooping the cup into a canister, which obviously makes the measurement a little heavier. As an example, I sent the reader this list, which shows the variations among several publications that list the weight of “1 cup of all-purpose flour”:
King Arthur Flour: 120 grams
Bake From Scratch: 125 grams
Washington Post: 126 grams
The New York Times: 128 grams
Bon Appétit
