cups and grams on same labels

bobmoorhouse
bobmoorhouse Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I usually snack on nuts and have always measured the servings using a measuring cup. I just bought a scale and was surprised to see that the serving size listed by weight and the serving size listed by volume are not the same. For example, the nutrition facts on my container of almonds say a serving size is 1/4 cup (30g). When I weigh a 1/4 cup of the almonds, however, it weighs nearly 60 grams. I am confused because the conversion at the website below says 1/4 cup of almonds should weigh 30g, just as the label says.

Which should I trust, the scale or the cup?

https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/food-weight-to-volume

Replies

  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Always trust the scale for solid foods. Measuring cups are for liquids, scale for solids.
  • 2essie
    2essie Posts: 2,846 Member
    I would trust the scale every time.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    The scale. Cups assume that you aren't filling them to overflowing, contents can settle, if you're dealing with something like brown sugar, loose vs packed can account for a large difference in calories.

    My go-to breakfast involves a cup of grapes, Greek yogurt, and a granola bar. I measure the grapes into a cup and then weigh them. And it can be anywhere from 155 to 182 grams. The MFP database says a cup of grapes should be around 95 grams so...

    And when you're dealing with calorie-dense stuff like peanut butter or mayo, weighing really matters.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited March 2018
    estherdragonbat wrote: »
    The scale. Cups assume that you aren't filling them to overflowing, contents can settle, if you're dealing with something like brown sugar, loose vs packed can account for a large difference in calories.

    My go-to breakfast involves a cup of grapes, Greek yogurt, and a granola bar. I measure the grapes into a cup and then weigh them. And it can be anywhere from 155 to 182 grams. The MFP database says a cup of grapes should be around 95 grams so...

    And when you're dealing with calorie-dense stuff like peanut butter or mayo, weighing really matters.

    Weighing a serving of peanut butter for the first time is always a huge shocker.
  • bobmoorhouse
    bobmoorhouse Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks for the quick replies, everyone. I know the scale would be more accurate, so I guess I was just surprised to see that the difference was nearly double, especially since, if anything, I was erring on under-filling the measuring cup. As one of you have seen a similar thing with grapes, however, I guess it isn't uncommon.

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Manufacturers figure the serving size in grams and determine the nutrition info based on that, then they estimate what that serving would be by volume. And yes, the estimate is often very wrong!
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