Today’s post is contributed by my nephew, Jon Sacker, who lives in London. Jon loves to cook and is a frequent contributor to startcooking.com.

Jon was 100 percent correct when he pointed out in a previous post on measuring cups and other essential kitchen utensils that not everyone does measuring the way Americans do – by volume. Much of the world uses the metric system and measures by weight. Here Jon explains to us how to measure using a scale.

George Bernard Shaw once described Britain and America as two countries divided by a common language. This is certainly true when it comes to cooking (after all, you broil while I grill) but it gets even more complicated when it comes to translating cooking instructions, because it’s not only the words we use, but the actual way we cook which is different.

One of the biggest differences between British and American cooking is in how quantities are measured. British measures distinguish between weight and volume and the “cup” is little used as a measure. Traditionally the British system used Imperial measures where:

Weight was measured in ounces and pounds (16 oz = 1 lb = 0.4545 kg)

Volume was measured in fluid ounces and pints (20 fl.oz = 1 pt = 568 ml)

These days however in the UK like most of the world, recipes use the metric system of litres (l) and millilitres (ml), grams (g) and kilograms (kg), and degrees Celsius (or Centigrade) (°C).

In addition to these, some measures are often redefined in terms of metric units. Most countries use the following units:

1 teaspoon (t. or tsp.) = 5 millilitres

1 dessertspoon (D) = 2 teaspoons = 10 millilitres

1 tablespoon (T or tbsp.) = 3 teaspoons = 15 millilitres

1 cup (c) = 250 millilitres

However, Australian recipes use a 15 ml dessertspoon and a 20 ml tablespoon. And in New Zealand, at least, a pint may be approximated as 600 ml.

To make matters even more complicated, the pint is different between the UK and the USA. There are 16 fluid ounces to the pint in the US, and 20 in the UK.

So how do we cook here in Britain? As has been mentioned in our earlier discussion on essential kitchen utensils a set of kitchen scales is an essential piece of equipment. Traditionally these were balance or mechanical, though most these days are electronic and are very easy to use.

Scale

Scale with Bowl

The most important things to remember when using scales is that the weight must be set to zero.

Reset scale to zero

While this may sound obvious, if you are using a set of scales like mine, which need the addition of a bowl for many items, if you don’t re-zero, you’ll be in all sorts of trouble.

The great things about using scales like these is that, as long as you remember to re-zero, you can just keep on adding different ingredients to your mixing bowl.

Add ingredients, one at a time

Reset to zero after the addition of each ingredient

Don’t be put off by British recipes, they really are so very simple, after all you don’t have to remember whether you ingredients are levelled or flat – just pour it in until you have the right weight!

Thanks, Jon. That was really helpful.

Other posts on measuring:

• How to Measure Food (Video)
• Measuring Different Ingredients in Cooking
• Food Measuring and Equivalents and Conversions (Charts)
• Measuring Food around the World
• Measuring Liquids

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