Do you know how to measure flour correctly? If you’re the slightest bit uncertain, this tutorial is for you! To be clear, the best way to measure flour is with a scale, but not all Amerians own a scale.
The second-best method is “spooned and leveled.” All of the recipes on this blog use this method, so I want to share exactly what that means today.
If your baked goods don’t always turn out like the pictures, your measurements might be off. Let’s fix that. With this method, your cookies, muffins, and pizza dough will turn out consistently from batch to batch.
Why does your measuring method matter?
Fact: When you weigh your flour on a scale, you’ll always end up with exactly the same amount. Baking is a science, so this level of consistency is ideal.
When you measure flour by the cup using the spoon-and-level method, the measurements will vary by a few grams, which is close enough to yield consistent results from batch to batch.
However, the measurements can vary significantly if you measure flour by the cup using other methods, and the recipe wasn’t designed for that method. If you scoop the flour straight into the cups rather than spooning and leveling the flour, you could end up with 25 percent more flour.
That’s a lot of extra flour. It will throw off the texture of your baked good, making it dry and dense. It will impact the baking time, requiring more time in the oven to cook through and turn golden on top. The result will taste less flavorful.
Bottom line? Measurements matter!
How to Measure Flour Using the Spoon-and-Level Method
Measuring flour is easy when you know how.
- Stir the flour with a large spoon. If it’s been sitting in your pantry for a while, the flour has settled, and we need to fluff it up a little.
- Working over the container of flour, gently spoon large spoonfuls of flour into your measuring cup until the cup is lightly overflowing. Do not tap the cup to settle the flour.
- Level across the top with the flat side of a butter knife. Let the extra flour fall back into the container. Repeat as necessary.
Watch How to Measure Flour
Other Measuring Methods
Even though this is my preferred method for measuring flour (and King Arthur Flour, Bob’s Red Mill, Sally McKenney and Stella Parks agree), other recipes are designed for other measuring methods.
Some recipe developers like Alison Roman and America’s Test Kitchen use the dip-and-sweep method (scoop the flour straight into the cups and level off the top).
That’s why it’s essential to determine each recipe source’s preferred measuring method before you get started. If measurements are provided in grams, you can bypass the issue by using a scale.
Common Flours by Weight
Here are the most common flours I use in my recipes.
- All-purpose flour: 122 grams per cup (typical range is 120 to 125 grams)
- Whole wheat flour, including white whole wheat flour: 122 grams per cup (typical range is 120 to 125 grams)
- Whole wheat pastry flour: 115 grams per cup (typical range is 110 to 120 grams)
- Oat flour: 88 grams per cup (typical range is 85 to 91 grams)
- Almond flour: 92 grams per cup (typical range is 85 to 100 grams)
Baked Goods to Enjoy
Now that you know how to measure flour correctly, let’s turn on the oven and start baking. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:
Please let me know what you think in the comments! I love hearing from you.
