question for British people

pangy1958

My gran always said size of a walnut, i think it was 2oz

Zomoniac

Obligatory:

LondonEliza

Digital scales - one of my lifestyle changes most helpful tools (well that and the really heavy ones I lift

ackeebee

yes, a food scale is essential if you are counting calories. i have a weight watchers digital one which my dear sis gave me almost 2 years ago. i also have measuring cups and spoons.

LittleMissDover

Obligatory:

lol, the date thing drives me crazy!

Showmm

I am Canadian and live in the UK. Weighing things on a scale is much easier. If I'm having breakfast cereal, I put the bowl on the scale, measure out my portion and it's done. If I used a measuring cup, I'd have one more thing to clean up. I only use cup measurements on MFP when I'm estimating something that's already been portioned out for me like vegetables side dishes at a dinner party.

mazdauk

Can't live without scales! otherwise my cereal bowl is twice as full as it should be, and my pasta would be astronomical. Also cakes and biscuits (cookies) don't really work if not properly measured. I do have measuring cups for use with my US recipe books but mostly use a conversion chart to weigh stuff.

sheofthesea

To be fair, zomoniac, British use quite a few of the measurements listed as American on this chart. We've lived all over the world, and I was shocked when we moved to the UK to discover how many imperial measurements are used here. I assumed we'd use kilometers, but no... And I'm just as likely to encounter a pound as a kilogram. (Conversation overheard at the market recently: "I'd like a pound of cherries." "Pound money or pound weight?"

I use whatever unit of measurement is used in the recipe. Just as it isn't challenging to use either Celsius or Farenheit, there really is no bother in using kilos or cups or pinches or good handfuls.

As for cups, a measuring cup is not a tea cup or a coffee mug or child's bottle. While I understand being new to cups as a measurement, the idea that it wouldn't be a uniform measurement makes no sense to me.

Most good US cooks, particularly bakers, use scales instead of cups. However, cups are easier for some jobs, and that is how most US recipes made. It seems like more work to me to pull out a scale to measure my breakfast cereal.

And what the heck is up with a stone? Still haven't gotten that one into my brain yet.

Obligatory:

Deipneus

To be fair, zomoniac, British use quite a few of the measurements listed as American on this chart.

We Americans are crazy enough to use it but the Brits INVENTED it!

funhouse77

I would actually die without my kitchen scales. I weight EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING!!!! I have been known to bring them TO THE DINNER TABLE if we having a self service kind of dinner. (My family are used to me now lol) Digital ones are a must. They don't have to expensive, but certainly digital. Mine are from Tesco, £12, and they are great.

grapefruitannie

I'm Scottish and have digital kitchen scales that measure in grams or ounces. I never use recipes that use cups as a measurement, all my recipe books use grams. I've some older recipes that were my mother's, they use ounces, which is why I got the scales I did.

English here and the same. I've never been into a kitchen that didn't have scales, many people have several (i still have my nan's balance scales with weights as well as proper digital ones), although i have been to plenty who don't have measuring cups or spoons as we just don't use them!

I do all my baking in oz cos i was taught by my mum, who was taught by hers.... but most cooking i do 9n g because modern recipe books are written thst way. I don't think i've ever cooked in cups - on the occasional time i,ve used a US recipe ive translated it into g

I'm british and i have a scale that measures grams and ounces, i couldn't be without mine as i can reset it to zero and load straight to plate its brill best bit of equipment i have brought so far.

Always wondered about cups! thought how can that be accurate my cup may be bigger than yours ( Derr) didn't realise there were actual measureing cups (doh) can you tell im new to measuring lol x

clperrett

I have electronic kitchen sclaes - I think they might be made in the US though, they measure in grams, ounces and cups also has a different measurement for UK fluids and US fluids. Water weighs differently over the pond I believe

I couldn't bake without my scales!!

postrockandcats

Use a kitchen scale if you want to be acurate .

This!

I'm American and use a scale for baking.

anne2605

Digital scales. Grams or ounces doesn't matter.

My friend brought me back a set of American measuring cups from one of her trips there. The first time I started using MFP, I thought "great" I'll use them (after 2 years in the drawer). I measured out a cup of breakfast muesli and popped it in my bowl. I thought "wow, that's generous". I did this for 9 days and then realised I was eating way more muesli per day than I should have been (is it 250g per cup)? I should have been eating 50g :noway:

Zomoniac

To be fair, zomoniac, British use quite a few of the measurements listed as American on this chart.

We Americans are crazy enough to use it but the Brits INVENTED it!

I think the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians set most of the groundwork, actually.

Zomoniac

To be fair, zomoniac, British use quite a few of the measurements listed as American on this chart. We've lived all over the world, and I was shocked when we moved to the UK to discover how many imperial measurements are used here. I assumed we'd use kilometers, but no... And I'm just as likely to encounter a pound as a kilogram. (Conversation overheard at the market recently: "I'd like a pound of cherries." "Pound money or pound weight?"

Oh I know, and I hate it. It is slowly but surely being phased out, but traditional market stall vendors (as you experienced), butchers and grocers use imperial. In supermarkets all food is exclusively in metric. Most people only know their height and weight in imperial. I only use metric because it makes sense. Most people have no idea what I'm on about though.

And what the heck is up with a stone? Still haven't gotten that one into my brain yet.

A stone is 14 lbs, as far as I'm aware we're the only country in the universe that uses it.

cityjaneLondon

Oh yes, I always use my scales. I have two sorts, one mechanical which is great if you just want to weigh some pasta, bread or rice and the other digital for baking as I can zero it for adding ingredients to a bowl. I vary as to whether I use grams or pounds and ounces as I am 63 and was brought up on oz and lbs. Depends on the day, but I definitely think in Imperial. I also use a set of spoons. I bought some cups to use with American recipes, but I don't think I've ever got them out of the drawer.
When I was younger and was starting on my dieting life all the calorie books were written in Imperial so that's how I learnt the values. I still know all the calories for everything, but only in oz.
But I do weigh everything. It's so easy to cut a slice of bread and be at least 100 calories out!

CEHayes73

Scales all the way otherwise how could I weigh 20g cheese? Not in a cup surely?

I'm in Canada, we're metric, and I have no idea how many miles I travel - kilometers, I understand - but for cooking I learned from my mom who was brought up using imperial measure. I don't have a kitchen scale, I use cups, etc. For cheese, if I was using it grated, I would measure in a cup. If not, I know 1 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches is one serving of cheese (I think 30g).

khall86790

For grams it is best to use kitchen scales. However, after a little while of doing this I have started to be able to guess by eye particularly if it's foods I cook with on a regular basis.
E.g. 1 tbsp = 5grams (random figures, not accurate to anything in particular)

Zomoniac

Scales all the way otherwise how could I weigh 20g cheese? Not in a cup surely?

I'm in Canada, we're metric, and I have no idea how many miles I travel - kilometers, I understand - but for cooking I learned from my mom who was brought up using imperial measure. I don't have a kitchen scale, I use cups, etc. For cheese, if I was using it grated, I would measure in a cup. If not, I know 1 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches is one serving of cheese (I think 30g).

You want confusing travel, try living in the UK, where all fuel is sold by the litre, and all fuel consumption is measured in miles to the gallon. Trying to work out the cost of the journey you just did in your head is quite the feat of number juggling.

twelfty

To be fair, zomoniac, British use quite a few of the measurements listed as American on this chart.

We Americans are crazy enough to use it but the Brits INVENTED it!

that's ridiculous a nappy/diaper was invented and you used it doesn't mean you have to carry on using it as an adult does it? that's how the world develops

FredDoyle

Scales all the way otherwise how could I weigh 20g cheese? Not in a cup surely?

I'm in Canada, we're metric, and I have no idea how many miles I travel - kilometers, I understand - but for cooking I learned from my mom who was brought up using imperial measure. I don't have a kitchen scale, I use cups, etc. For cheese, if I was using it grated, I would measure in a cup. If not, I know 1 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches is one serving of cheese (I think 30g).

You want confusing travel, try living in the UK, where all fuel is sold by the litre, and all fuel consumption is measured in miles to the gallon. Trying to work out the cost of the journey you just did in your head is quite the feat of number juggling.

It's no different in Canada, or it's worse for us old farts. I grew up with Imperial measurements and switched to metric.
Add to that, that the US and Imperial measurements are different...a US gallon is smaller than an Imperial one. Hence, so are quarts, pints, etc.
So here, we use a mix of both. Trademen's licenses are written/taught in metric (mm/metres), and pipe, wire, fittings are sold in imperial 1/2", 10 feet etc. I'm 5'-7" tall, weigh 164 lbs., live 25 km. from work. It takes 60 litres to fill my truck's gas tank which gets 25 miles to the gallon. When making wine/mead, you add 8g of yeast to 6 US or 5 imperial gallons...
Oh ya, my wife's British and weighs 10 stone. She's trying to get down a few pounds. I'm just trying to lose 1 or 2 kilos more.

jennontheroad

I asked the question originally.
I am from Canada and understand and use the metric system for everything.
However, I do not have a kitchen scale, and neither does anyone I know. I have never even seen a kitchen scale in any one's home, although they could be tucked away, I suppose.
All my close friends cook and bake from scratch as we are health-minded people, and none use scales.
When I follow a recipe I use American style standard measurements, or mL.

I think eventually I'll get a kitchen scale, for baking, and for measuring foods like cheese, which is hard to determine how much you're eating.

beattie1

I use scales, because I have no idea what a "cup" measurement is.

Also, found out that what I was using as a "tablespoon" was actually a much larger dessert spoon. God damn spoons. Y U come in so many sizes and shapes?

This is incorrect. A tablespoon is around 15mls, a dessert spoon is around 10mls & a teaspoon is around 5mls. Have another look at your spoons!

She said a tablespoon was larger than a dessert spoon!

Yep, that's true - what's your point?

beattie1

For grams it is best to use kitchen scales. However, after a little while of doing this I have started to be able to guess by eye particularly if it's foods I cook with on a regular basis.
E.g. 1 tbsp = 5grams (random figures, not accurate to anything in particular)

Maybe what we call a teaspoon in the UK is called a tablespoon in the US? 1teaspoon would be about 5 grams of most things (spices for instance). A tablespoon is about 15 ml of liquid / grams of powder. I'd use a tablespoon to serve out a dish but not to eat with - it's too big to fit in most people's mouths comfortably!

beattie1

OK, it's a clash of terminology again! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon

"In the US and parts of Canada, a tablespoon is the largest type of spoon used for eating from a bowl. In the UK, Europe and most Commonwealth countries, a tablespoon is a type of large spoon usually used for serving. In countries where a tablespoon is a serving spoon, the nearest equivalent to the US tablespoon is either the dessert spoon or the soup spoon.

A tablespoonful, nominally the capacity of one tablespoon, is commonly used as a measure of volume in cooking. It is abbreviated as T, tb, tbs, tbsp, tblsp, or tblspn. The capacity of ordinary tablespoons is not regulated by law and is subject to considerable variation.

In the USA one tablespoon (measurement unit) is approximately 15 mL; the capacity of an actual tablespoon (dining utensil) ranges from 7 mL to 14 mL. In Australia one tablespoon (measurement unit) is 20 mL."

"Common tablespoons intended for use as cutlery (called dessert spoons in the UK, where a tablespoon is always a serving spoon) usually hold 7 mL to 14 mL,[5] considerably less than some tablespoons used for serving."

mazdauk

I never knew US tablespoons were smaller than ours!!

OP - I recommend a digital "add and weigh" type of scale, where you can put the mixing bowl (or whatever) on the scale befre you put it on, zero the scale for each new ingredient and switch between liquid and dry measurements. I use a Salter one - its only me secong in 25 years (the first had a nasty accident with a hot hob :embarassed: ) and I use it for everything - especially cereal!

jenniferwren

Yep, most homes will have a set of scales or a measuring cup. I have both, I use the scales when I want to know exactly what amount I'm eating but I will use the measuring cup when I'm just baking and want to have a rough idea. Usually when baking cakes or dough you can tell by the texture if it hasn't enough of something.

With certain things that you cook often you just get a feel for.

It's not really something I've thought about but in away I thought all kitchens would have a set of scales. I've heard cup used as a measurement before but I've only recently realised how much it mean as when I hear cup I always think of a tea cup which certainly holds a lot less than a cup when referred to in recipes.

P.S. I think I might be the one and only Brit up at this time.

yes, what on earth were you doing up in the middle of the night :happy:

jenniferwren

Scales all the way otherwise how could I weigh 20g cheese? Not in a cup surely?

I'm in Canada, we're metric, and I have no idea how many miles I travel - kilometers, I understand - but for cooking I learned from my mom who was brought up using imperial measure. I don't have a kitchen scale, I use cups, etc. For cheese, if I was using it grated, I would measure in a cup. If not, I know 1 inch by 1 inch by 3 inches is one serving of cheese (I think 30g).

You want confusing travel, try living in the UK, where all fuel is sold by the litre, and all fuel consumption is measured in miles to the gallon. Trying to work out the cost of the journey you just did in your head is quite the feat of number juggling.

It's no different in Canada, or it's worse for us old farts. I grew up with Imperial measurements and switched to metric.
Add to that, that the US and Imperial measurements are different...a US gallon is smaller than an Imperial one. Hence, so are quarts, pints, etc.
So here, we use a mix of both. Trademen's licenses are written/taught in metric (mm/metres), and pipe, wire, fittings are sold in imperial 1/2", 10 feet etc. I'm 5'-7" tall, weigh 164 lbs., live 25 km. from work. It takes 60 litres to fill my truck's gas tank which gets 25 miles to the gallon. When making wine/mead, you add 8g of yeast to 6 US or 5 imperial gallons...
Oh ya, my wife's British and weighs 10 stone. She's trying to get down a few pounds. I'm just trying to lose 1 or 2 kilos more.

Loving these posts, I'm in the UK too, good job we're all used to converting measurements in our heads :laugh: :laugh: Also does everyone automatically know how far say... 50 yards is, or is that a British thing too?

XXXMinnieXXX

I use scales. Think it's too easy to over or underestimate with cups! It was a pain at first, but used to it now! X