You’ve Been Lied To About This “Important” Baking Step

Baking truly is an art, as well as a science. Seriously — unlike cooking, baking requires a bit more precision. Otherwise, your homemade cookies might taste like homemade rocks. You may feel strange not following a recipe exactly, because even the smallest tweak may lead to chaos. Well, there’s one thing for sure that you can skip — and it has to do with your equipment.

Extra Crispy writer David McCann has a mission to let everyone know that wet and dry materials can be measured in the same measuring cup. If it’s a liquid, it doesn’t necessarily have to be poured in the bowl with a large glass measuring container. And if it’s a dry ingredient, like flour or sugar, you can totally measure it out in a container that has a spout. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how something gets measured. A cup is the same regardless.

Sure, you might like to keep all of your measuring devices separate — and if it works for you, keep on baking that way.

But for some reason, most of us have just grown to accept the fact that both devices are necessary when baking cakes and cookies. In reality, they just take up precious counter space.

“When it comes to the simple desire of wanting to measure something, you really can use either vessel,” McCann writes. His personal favorite is actually a kitchen scale, since it’s hard to get more accurate than that.

There are actually a bunch of kitchen gadgets that you can do without. For example, chef Alton Brown has an issue with any sort of gadget that you can only use for one thing. Referring to them as “unitaskers,” they include popcorn makers and taco shell molds. If they’re small and seasonal, they can easily be stored away and brought out every winter. If they’re bulky, they just take up room in your kitchen. And as you know, it’s essential to have plenty of pantry space.

If you feel like you can part with them, you may want to get rid of some of your unnecessary measuring tools. By simplifying your kitchen, baking will be much less of a daunting task. Plus, you may save a little time prepping.

In the mood for some space and time-saving hacks? You should try our Surprise Cake Kit! These pans are silicone, so they’re easy to wash and store. They’re perfect for making any kind of cake your little heart desires:

Buy it here.