Air Fryer Vanilla Cake
Air fryer vanilla sponge cake with simple vanilla buttercream.
Dry cups vs liquid cups: the practical difference
Dry measuring cups are usually a set of nested cups with a flat rim. You fill them to the top and level off, which gives a consistent volume. Liquid measuring cups are typically a jug with a spout and headspace above the marked line, so you can pour without spilling. They are meant to be set on the counter and read at eye level. Using a liquid jug for flour encourages scooping and packing, while trying to measure liquids in a dry cup often leads to spills and guesswork. Some ingredients sit in between, such as yoghurt or peanut butter, where the best choice depends on how thick it is and how precise the recipe needs to be.
Top picks in Measuring cups
Pastis (French Anise Aperitif with Water)
French pastis diluted with cold water until cloudy
Tres Leches Cake (Milk-Soaked Sponge Cake)
Milk-soaked sponge cake with whipped cream and cinnamon
Vegetable Korma
Mild vegetable korma with coconut, yoghurt and almonds
Air Fryer Egg Muffins
Air fryer egg muffins with spinach, tomatoes and cheddar.
Peruvian Quinoa Soup (Highland Vegetable Soup)
Peruvian quinoa soup with vegetables and fresh coriander
Small habits that change the amount you measure
Packing is the big one. Flour can compact dramatically if you scoop with the cup, tap it, or store it tightly, which can make a bake dry and heavy. A common approach is to spoon flour into the cup and level it, rather than digging in. Brown sugar is the opposite: many recipes expect it to be packed, so “loosely filled” can under-sweeten and change texture. With sticky ingredients, coating the cup lightly with oil or using a flexible spatula to scrape can help you get closer to the intended amount. Finally, check that you are using the correct cup size from the set; it is easy to grab the wrong one when they are stacked.
All recipes in Measuring cups
Salted Lassi
Refreshing salted lassi made from yoghurt, cold water, sea salt and roasted cumin
Sesame Soy Poke Bowl
Tuna poke bowl with sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, sesame and soy.
Spicy Tuna Crunch Poke Bowl
Sushi rice topped with spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber and crispy fried onions.
Adobo Braised Chicken with Chorizo
Tender chicken thighs braised with soy, vinegar and bay, simmered with Spanish chorizo
Farro and Borlotti Bean Soup (Minestra di Farro e Borlotti)
Rustic farro and borlotti soup simmered with tomato, stock and rosemary
Paella de Verduras (Vegetarian Spanish Rice)
Paella de verduras with saffron rice, smoked paprika, artichokes, peppers and green beans
Chuletas de Cerdo a la Riojana (Pork Chops with Rioja Peppers)
Seared pork chops cooked with red peppers, tomato and Rioja wine sauce
Cordero Asado a la Segoviana (Segovian-Style Roast Lamb)
Segovian-style roast lamb with garlic, bay and white wine pan juices
Poulet Sauté Chasseur (French Hunter’s Chicken with Mushrooms)
Seared chicken thighs in a chasseur sauce with mushrooms, shallots, tomato and tarragon
Rice Pudding with Rose Water, Cardamom and Pistachios
Milk rice pudding scented with rose water and cardamom, topped with pistachios
Middle Eastern Rice Pudding with Rose Water and Pistachios
Thick, creamy rice pudding scented with rose water and topped with pistachios and cinnamon
Simit (Sesame Bread Rings)
Turkish simit are sesame-coated bread rings dipped in molasses before baking
When cups are enough, and when to consider a scale
Measuring cups are useful for quick, low-fuss cooking, and they are often the default in recipes written by volume. They are less reliable when ingredients vary in density, especially flour, grated cheese, chopped nuts and cocoa. If you bake often, a digital scale can remove a lot of uncertainty and reduces washing-up because you can weigh into one bowl. That said, you can still get consistent results with cups by using the same method each time and paying attention to how ingredients are filled, levelled and scraped. The key is not switching techniques mid-recipe.
Where to look next
If you are choosing recipes by how exact the measuring needs to be, Difficulty can be a helpful companion: some bakes are sensitive to small changes, while many everyday dishes are forgiving. Cooking method also adds context, because baking and confectionery tend to reward precision more than simmering a sauce or assembling a salad.
Medium
Puerto Rican Pernil (Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder)
Slow-roasted pork shoulder with garlic, oregano and lime
Easy
Prawn Marie Rose Baguette
Baguette filled with prawns in Marie Rose sauce
Medium
Suspiro Limeño (Peruvian Caramel and Meringue Dessert)
Peruvian caramel dessert topped with port syrup meringue
Medium
Millefeuille (Vanilla Custard Slice)
Puff pastry layers filled with thick vanilla custard
Sauté
Poha (Flattened Rice Breakfast)
Flattened rice poha with peas, lemon and peanuts
Bake
Briam (Greek Olive Oil Roasted Vegetables)
Greek olive oil roasted vegetable traybake
Raw
Gravlax Platter with Dill, Rye Bread and Mustard Sauce
Dill-cured salmon served with rye bread and mustard sauce
Bake
Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding with Piloncillo Syrup)
Mexican bread pudding with piloncillo syrup
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same measuring cup for dry and liquid ingredients?
You can, but it is easier to be accurate with the right style of cup. Dry cups are meant to be levelled; liquid cups are meant to be read at eye level with headspace for pouring.
Should I scoop flour with the measuring cup?
Scooping often compacts flour. Many cooks get more consistent results by spooning flour into the cup and levelling it off.
Do I need to pack brown sugar?
Many recipes that specify brown sugar by cup assume it is packed, because it is naturally clumpy and compressible. If a recipe wants it loose, it will often say so.
Why does my baking change even when I measure?
Volume measures are sensitive to how ingredients are filled and levelled, and to ingredient density. Using the same technique each time improves repeatability.
Are measuring cups universal?
Cup measures vary by region and recipe source. If a recipe provides weights, using a scale avoids that mismatch.
Aim for consistency first
Use dry cups for fill-and-level ingredients and a liquid jug for pourable ones, then stick to the same measuring habits from start to finish. That consistency is what makes recipes repeatable.
