Do you measure before or after you cook it?

I've been making a ton of vegetarian dishes and am confused about serving size. So many things shrink upon cooking. For example spaghetti squash, Do you measure it after your done cooking it or before?

Replies

  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    You can do either, but be specific in your search, i.e.: Spaghetti squash raw OR spaghetti squash roasted. Hope that helps
  • grumpster72
    grumpster72 Posts: 43 Member
    I hope we get some other answers to this as well because I tend to be confused on this question. I would think that you would want to weigh it after being that is the weight of the food that you are actually eating.
  • summersbest
    summersbest Posts: 194 Member
    I measure once the food is cooked as many things, especially veggies shrink during cooking.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    After cooking most of the time since I am not the only one eating the food. I'll look for it that way - roasted chicken thigh. Etc.

    If I'm cooking for only myself, I will often use the before cooking measurement, like 3/4 cup frozen vegetables.
  • skinnybearlyndsay
    skinnybearlyndsay Posts: 798 Member
    I usually try and measure individual ingredients first before cooking. Granted, I usually enter everything in to a spreadsheet so I can get how much a serving is, but I like that kind of thing. It's really up to your preference.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    I try to weigh everything and look for that option when logging it. So for spaghetti squash I would cook it then weigh it, and log it's weight as "spaghetti sqaush, baked" or whatever cooking method you use. If I use any fat while cooking I log it separately.