How to Measure Flour
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How to measure flour the right way for precise, accurate measurements and perfect bakes every time!
Have you ever followed a baking recipe, only for your sugar cookies or muffins to turn out dry, lumpy, or overly chewy? It’s possible that you followed the recipe exactly right. But you might have made one simple mistake: measuring flour the wrong way.
It might sound obvious, but in fact, the way you measure your flour can dramatically impact your final product.
Baking is a science and the ratio of ingredients functions like chemistry. Inaccurate measurements can result in the failure of a recipe. I talk more about the importance of precise measurements in the Baking Fundamentals post.
Today I’m going to teach you everything you need to know about the best way to measure flour for even, reliable baked goods every time.
The Wrong Way to Measure Flour
It’s quite common to simply stick your measuring cup into a bin or bag of flour, level it off roughly, and dump it into your mixing bowl.
However, this method can actually be quite inaccurate. Depending on the weight and kind of flour you’re using, you’re likely to trap a lot of air in your measuring cup. Or, if you pack the flour in, you’ll add much more flour than the recipe really needs.
Flour compacts. A 1-cup measuring cup can hold much more than 130 grams of flour. 130 grams is my standard cup measurement for all-purpose flour.
When I weighed the flour that was scooped out with the measuring cup, it was a staggering 150 grams. That’s 20 grams more flour than needed.
As you can see above, the flour that was scooped weighs more (a lot more!) than the properly measured flour on the left.
Most recipes call for 2 cups of flour or more. If you were to measure 3 cups of flour using this method, you’d end up with a half cup more flour than needed.
This amount of extra flour will leave you with dry, crumbly cookie dough, cookies that don’t spread during baking, and dense or dry brownies and cakes. Plus some frustration with the recipe not turning out like it was supposed to!
The Right Way to Measure Flour
Let’s focus on all-purpose flour since 95% of all my recipes call for this flour. It’s versatile and can be used in cookies, bread, cakes, brownies, pizza dough… just about anything. You can learn more about other types of flour in my flour basics post.
When I measure all-purpose, I go off the assumption that 1 cup is equal to 130 grams. This is pretty standard, but as I stated above, it can vary with different types, brands of flour, and measuring cups.
The most accurate way to measure flour is to weigh it with a small, inexpensive kitchen scale. You can get them for around $20.
The added benefit of using a scale is you won’t have a ton of measuring cups to clean afterward.
How to measure flour using a scale
When using a scale, there is no need for measuring cups! Simply turn the scale on, place the bowl on the scale, then “tare” or “zero” it so it is not weighing the bowl.
Add the amount of flour you need. “Tare” or “zero” out the scale again then add the amount of the next ingredient. Do this for each ingredient you need to add to the mixing bowl.
How To Measure Flour Without A Scale
So what is the proper way to measure flour for baking if you don’t have a scale? You’ll still need that dry measuring cup, but you won’t use it as a scoop.
Instead, use a spoon or scoop to fluff the flour in your container and fill the measuring cup. The flour should be light and airy, not packed.
Important: the key to perfectly measuring flour is to avoid packing the flour into your measuring cup. That’s how you end up with too much flour and tough, dry baked goods.
When your measuring cup is full, use a flat surface, like the back of a butter knife, to level it off. Push the excess flour back into your flour container.
Can you guess how much the flour weighs when it’s measured this way? 130 grams! And that is going to yield the perfect recipe.
However, my cup measurements don’t necessarily weigh as much as the next baker’s. This goes for more than just flour!
If you go by weight measurements rather than cup measurements you know you’re using the exact amount that the recipe calls for.
The majority of the recipes on Baked by an Introvert include both cup and weight measurements. Use one measurement or the other! Do not mix measuring techniques as this can yield inaccurate results.
Your recipes and excellent explanations are making me a better baker! Thank you!
This is the most helpful explanation I’ve seen about how to measure flour. Question: when and why is it necessary to sift flour?
Thanks!
It’s always a good idea to sift flour, especially for cakes and cupcakes. Sifting aerates the flour giving you a lighter texture. If a recipe calls for 1 cup sifted flour, measure the flour after it has been sifted. If it calls for 1 cup flour (sifted), measure the flour and then sift it.
Great recipe, how did you get to your calorie count?
I worked it out in my fitness pal and each brownie came in at 255 calories??
I’m not sure what brownie recipe you’re referring to but calorie counts should not be taken at face value. There are a lot of variables which can give different results from what’s listed on the recipe. The brand of ingredients you used and the size of your servings are just a couple examples that will cause varying calorie counts.
Thank you so much for your reply.
My BF can’t have all-purpose flour. Your brownies look amazing, and I was all excited to share this recipe but then I noticed the all-purpose. Have you ever tried an alternative flour?
Bob’s Red Mill has a gluten-free flour that works as an equal substitute for all-purpose. I’ve never tried it myself but I trust the brand enough to recommend it. It’s worth a shot!
Hello, Can you tell me about how many ounces that is, as I have a kitchen scale that does not include metrics.
130g= 4.585615oz
Wow…as a very late baker, I am discourage because my cakes are dry and dense. I am hoping that by changing my methods of measuring it would make a difference. Any other advise would be most appreciative and helpful.
Regards
Anne Marie
I’m so glad you found this helpful!
This is so helpful! Baking is my weakness.. I hate measuring! I’m more of a “taste as you go” cook. Lately all my baking projects have been to dense- I’ll try this next time!!
A valuable lesson and a great reminder for those of us who get a little lazy sometimes! Thanks Jen!
This is very useful! I can bake the same cake 100x and more times than not I do not recreate the same cake…ever!
This requires me to slow down lol!
Thanks!!
I’m so glad you find this helpful, Jackie! Happy Baking!
This is a fabulous post, Jennifer! I was measuring flour all wrong until I went to culinary school years ago! This is going to help SO many people!! Cheers doll – to baking up a storm! <3