Ounces: Weight or Volume?

ChrisRS87

I've noticed a lot of items on here are measured in ounces. But is that 1/16 of a lb, or 1/8 of a cup? (for water these are equal, not for foods that are more or less dense, smarty pants)

Cottage cheese for example, if I use a 2 oz container and measure out 4 oz, it doesn't weigh 4 oz, it might only weigh 3. So, how do you guys figure which to use on this site? I'd like to think some are obvious, but others might not be...

ashtynplatt

Good question! No idea, sorry!

JoyousRen

For liquidy things I generally assume volume. Weight for those items is generally expressed in grams.
For solids, I generally assume it's weight.

PixelFit

Hmmm, usually foods are sold by weight, so I use my food scale to measure things like cottage cheese, chips, anything really. For things like milk they usually have a volume serving size like "1/2 cup", "1/4 cup", etc. right?

Keiko385

Your best option is to get a food scale, thats the only way to be accurate

vallemic

This is why I like the metric system better (I live in Canada)... weight is measured in grams and volume (or capacity) is measured in mls.

In the standard (US system), liquids are measured in fluid ounces (think 1/2 cup, 2/4 cup, etc.). Solids are measured in ounces (weight)... so use a food scale.

lyttlewon

Solids are usually by weight, liquids usually by volume.

mfp_1

I agree. Give up the colonial units. Get a digital food scale and use grams & ml.

Ayla70

I've noticed a lot of items on here are measured in ounces. But is that 1/16 of a lb, or 1/8 of a cup? (for water these are equal, not for foods that are more or less dense, smarty pants)

Cottage cheese for example, if I use a 2 oz container and measure out 4 oz, it doesn't weigh 4 oz, it might only weigh 3. So, how do you guys figure which to use on this site? I'd like to think some are obvious, but others might not be...

Just a quick question....how can you measure out 4oz from a 2oz container?

*checks her pants for smarties* mmm...smarties!

Ayla70

As for a sensible answer, I'd agree that solids are by weight, and liquids are by volume...

mfp_1

In some jurisdictions, the law doesn't mandate weight or volume. The choice is up to the manufacturer. I think it depends on the mechanism they use for control. Interestingly, ice cream and toothpaste can be handled as liquids and the measuring devices measure volume. But some manufacturers use scales because weighing technology is often simpler/cheaper than volume measuring technology.

On the labels, I've seen toothpaste and ice cream use weight, or volume, or both. In non-metric countries, they have the extra clutter of dual units. You can't assume that the metric and the non-metric will be the same. I've seen grams used with volume ounces and ml used with weight ounces.

Then there's nonsense units like 'dry' units for fruit. They have the same name as the wet units but aren't the same volume. Sigh.

If in doubt, rely on the metric units. They're unambiguous.

lyttlewon

Just a quick question....how can you measure out 4oz from a 2oz container?

You can measure a quarter of a cup of something with a measuring cup and measure out more than a quarter of a cup in total volume. The measuring device does not need to equal the end volume that you are measuring. I imagine they are measuring into a bowl or something.

weeblex

Its one of my pet peeves about the US measuring system. An ounce is a measure of weight, a FLUID ounce is a measure of liquid, but they abbreviate it down to oz for the liquid anyway most of the time anyway.

I just know there are 8 fluid ounces to a liquid cup measurement and usually you can find something in the database that has a cups as measurement size.

weeblex

I've noticed a lot of items on here are measured in ounces. But is that 1/16 of a lb, or 1/8 of a cup? (for water these are equal, not for foods that are more or less dense, smarty pants)

Cottage cheese for example, if I use a 2 oz container and measure out 4 oz, it doesn't weigh 4 oz, it might only weigh 3. So, how do you guys figure which to use on this site? I'd like to think some are obvious, but others might not be...

Just a quick question....how can you measure out 4oz from a 2oz container?

*checks her pants for smarties* mmm...smarties!

Using a 2oz container to measure out 4 oz..... Ummm, 2 scoops?

No smarties for you