Measuring portion: weight vs volume
SerenInfantino
Posts: 1 Member
Hello, I have begun eating oatmeal for breakfast more regularly recently and I need some advice with measuring the portion. According to the nutrition label, the serving size of 150 calories is 1/2 cup or 40g (dry). However, using my food scale, weighing 1/2 cup comes out to be WAY more than 40g. Close to 60g, in fact. I've used different measuring cups, and I know my scale is accurate and calibrated. What is the reason for this vast difference, and which measurement should I rely on, the 1/2 cup measurement or 40g (which comes out to be less than a 1/3 of a cup)? Thanks for and help you can give me!
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Replies
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Measuring cups are not accurate. That's why the common recommendation is to weigh your food in grams. The 40 grams is the real 150 calories, not the "half cup".7
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If you can weigh it, you should weigh it. Cups/eyeballs are estimates. Grams/oz are not.2
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Always weigh pasta and grains dry.1
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European baking recipes always specify the flour by weight. Consider that!
However, once you've weighed your oatmeal a few times, you get a sense for what the portion looks like in the cup and you can just measure accordingly.
I add nuts, which are very high in calories, and are thus worth measuring accurately. For a long time I weighed them, but finally I can just reach into the bag and grab something that is very close to an oz. Every so often, I check myself.
In general, you learn to estimate portions through weighing and can eventually eyeball things well enough. It's a good life skill.0 -
I just weigh everything, even liquids.1
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