Air Fryer Oatmeal Cookies
Air fryer oatmeal cookies with a chewy centre and crisp edges.
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
Arroz con Pollo a la Mexicana (One-Pot Chicken and Rice)
One-pot chicken and rice with tomato, peas and sweetcorn
Peruvian Quinoa Soup (Highland Vegetable Soup)
Peruvian quinoa soup with vegetables and fresh coriander
Salsiccia e Lenticchie (Italian Sausage with Lentils)
Italian sausages simmered with green lentils and tomato
Air Fryer Egg Muffins
Air fryer egg muffins with spinach, tomatoes and cheddar.
Spicy Sriracha Mayo Poke Bowl
Salmon poke bowl with sushi rice and sriracha mayo.
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
Prawn Masala with Steamed Rice
Prawns simmered in a spiced tomato and onion gravy, served with rice
Caldereta de Cordero Extremeña (Extremaduran Lamb Stew)
Slow-simmered lamb stew with onion, smoked paprika, wine and parsley
Agnello alla Cacciatora (Italian Lamb Stew with Tomato, Wine and Rosemary)
Tender lamb simmered with passata, white wine, garlic and rosemary in a rich sauce
Spezzatino di Manzo con Piselli (Italian Beef and Pea Stew)
Italian beef stew braised in tomato and red wine with peas stirred through
Sopa de Fideos Seco (Mexican Dry Noodle Soup)
Vermicelli toasted then simmered in tomato and stock until nearly dry, finished with lime
Arroz Rojo (Mexican Tomato Rice with Peas and Carrots)
Toasted rice simmered with blended tomato, then finished with peas and carrots
Uttapam (Savoury South Indian Pancake)
Thick uttapam made from fermented rice and urad dal, topped with vegetables
Belgische Groentestoof (Belgian Vegetable Stew)
Vegetable stew of leeks, carrots, celery and potatoes finished with double cream
Bolo Rainha (Queen’s Cake)
Festive Portuguese sweet ring bread filled with nuts and raisins, dusted with icing sugar
Wildstoof met Cranberry (Dutch Game Stew with Cranberries)
Slow-braised Dutch game stew with red wine gravy, cranberries, juniper and bay
Cinnamon Roll Smoothie Bowl
A thick cinnamon roll smoothie bowl with banana, Greek yoghurt, oats and maple syrup.
Granola Crunch Smoothie Bowl
Blend berries with banana and yoghurt, then add crunchy granola.
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
Easy
Leche Asada (Chilean Baked Milk Custard)
Chilean baked milk custard with a caramelised browned top
Simmer
Hong Shao Rou (Red-Braised Pork Belly)
Red-braised pork belly simmered until tender and glossy
Bake
Revithada (Greek Slow Cooked Chickpea Stew with Tomato and Lemon)
Slow cooked Greek chickpea stew with tomato and lemon
No cook
Greek Lemon Ouzo Spritz
Ouzo spritz with lemon, syrup, sparkling water and ice
Pan fry
Modern Kimchi Grilled Cheese Toastie
Buttered toastie with cheddar, mozzarella and chopped kimchi
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.
