Tips

Measuring in cooking is semi-important. Measuring in baking is super duper important. You must use measurements when baking at all times. Using the correct measurements can be the difference between getting a dense cake and a light, fluffy one. Here are some tips that I use when I bake:

1. Whenever baking or using measurements you want to do it by weight. I highly suggest you by a little scale that you can use in the kitchen at all times. This is really the number one way you are going to get an accurate measurement.

2. If you don't have or want a scale, make sure you use the cups correctly. The small glass cups are volume cups that are supposed to be used for liquids only. The regular measuring cups you see attached together with the teaspoons and tablespoons are the ones you want to use for the dried ingredients.

3. LEVEL OFF. I can't stress this enough. Don't think because it says one cup of flour, you can just put the 1 cup measuring cup into the flour and then dump it into the bowl. No! You must level it off. Using a baking spatula is the best way to do that. Just use the baking spatula to scrape off the excess flour or whatever dried ingredient off the top. If you don't it's not going to be accurate and therefore you won't get the results you want, if you don't level it off every time.

4. For liquids, I always go off eye level. That way it ensures I'm completely accurate with the liquids. Just squat down to eye level and make sure the liquid meets the line you want it to meet.

This may seem like a lot for just measuring, but really this isn't asking much. This will ensure that you get the perfect results every time. It's a basic lesson, but an important one.