measuring sticky foods

aerochic42
aerochic42 Posts: 843 Member
edited December 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,
I'm new to actual measuring of food (i've been keeping a food diary of what I was eating, but not portion size). This might seem silly, but does anyone have suggestions for how to measure "sticky" foods (hummus, peanut butter, guacamole, etc)? If I'm going to the effort of measuring out 2 tablespoons of something, I want to make sure that I can eat all that i measured out. this is particulary annoying as I brown bag my lunch and can't just lick the spoon to get it all. Any help would be great. Thanks.
aerochic42

Replies

  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    sure!

    it's called a 'push measuring cup'

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIMuYQNrWnisZHniR5LRIRlQVcAXfFN2LA0HRl6ZqVx8zXVsgb

    I have one for cups and one that has teaspoon/tablespoon measurements. I found mine at a specialty kitchen store. Pull the bottom to the measurement you want, put the food in, and then push the bottom to expel the food. Works like a big syringe, so no wasted food, or sides to scrape.
  • ssdivot
    ssdivot Posts: 193
    Sometimes I'll use my digital scale instead of a measuring spoon for things like peanut butter. If I am going to put peanut butter on a piece of bread, I put the bread on the scale, then turn it on, so it says 0 with the bread on it, then put the peanut butter on until the scale says whatever a serving is supposed to weigh. I do creamy type salad dressings that stick to the spoon this way too even though it is a bit anal :ohwell:
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    I still level it out on the table spoon then scoop it out with my fingers. lol a little gross and messy but I only do this when cooking for myself as i don't measure for other people
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?
  • emczech5
    emczech5 Posts: 224 Member
    sure!

    it's called a 'push measuring cup'

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIMuYQNrWnisZHniR5LRIRlQVcAXfFN2LA0HRl6ZqVx8zXVsgb

    I have one for cups and one that has teaspoon/tablespoon measurements. I found mine at a specialty kitchen store. Pull the bottom to the measurement you want, put the food in, and then push the bottom to expel the food. Works like a big syringe, so no wasted food, or sides to scrape.
    I second this. I have a couple of these that came from Pampered chef. 2 cup and a 1 cup. The one cup has tablespoon and tsp measurements as well.
  • _John
    _John Posts: 27 Member
    suggestions for how to measure "sticky" foods

    Place the jar of peanut butter or houmus on your digital scale and zero it. Scoop out the required quantity of product - the scale will show -85g or whatever you've removed. Job done.
  • Sp1nGoddess
    Sp1nGoddess Posts: 1,134 Member
    I weight it if it's convenient -otherwise I use measuring spoon and level it off. You can also spray it with a little oil to help it come out of the spoon.

    It's way too easy for me to underestimate peanut butter....
  • LainieKnits
    LainieKnits Posts: 11 Member
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?

    The nutrition label will give a weight in addition to a volume measurement for a serving. Example, for peanut butter the label states that a serving is 2 Tbs or 32 grams. For some foods it is easier to take a weight than it is to scoop it into a measuring spoon and then scoop it back out.
  • frosty73
    frosty73 Posts: 424 Member
    I also weigh my peanut butter. A serving size is 2 Tbl or xxx grams, so I put the spoon on the scale, zero out the scale, and then spoon out the peanut butter until it totals the xxx grams. I use this method for carrot sticks with peanut butter. Yum!
  • billthekill
    billthekill Posts: 90

    Place the jar of peanut butter or houmus on your digital scale and zero it. Scoop out the required quantity of product - the scale will show -85g or whatever you've removed. Job done.


    Damn, that's a good idea. Never thought of that.
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?

    The nutrition label will give a weight in addition to a volume measurement for a serving. Example, for peanut butter the label states that a serving is 2 Tbs or 32 grams. For some foods it is easier to take a weight than it is to scoop it into a measuring spoon and then scoop it back out.

    I eat it right out of the spoon...not hard to figure what 1 tbsp looks like...just saying
  • pitbullmama
    pitbullmama Posts: 454 Member
    suggestions for how to measure "sticky" foods

    Place the jar of peanut butter or houmus on your digital scale and zero it. Scoop out the required quantity of product - the scale will show -85g or whatever you've removed. Job done.

    Love this1:drinker:
  • original_cake_face
    original_cake_face Posts: 131 Member
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?

    The nutrition label will give a weight in addition to a volume measurement for a serving. Example, for peanut butter the label states that a serving is 2 Tbs or 32 grams. For some foods it is easier to take a weight than it is to scoop it into a measuring spoon and then scoop it back out.

    I eat it right out of the spoon...not hard to figure what 1 tbsp looks like...just saying

    The whole point of the thread was that she didn't want to eat it right out of the spoon.
  • lexximan
    lexximan Posts: 322 Member
    sure!

    it's called a 'push measuring cup'

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIMuYQNrWnisZHniR5LRIRlQVcAXfFN2LA0HRl6ZqVx8zXVsgb

    I have one for cups and one that has teaspoon/tablespoon measurements. I found mine at a specialty kitchen store. Pull the bottom to the measurement you want, put the food in, and then push the bottom to expel the food. Works like a big syringe, so no wasted food, or sides to scrape.

    want
  • dancin2011
    dancin2011 Posts: 92 Member
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?

    The nutrition label will give a weight in addition to a volume measurement for a serving. Example, for peanut butter the label states that a serving is 2 Tbs or 32 grams. For some foods it is easier to take a weight than it is to scoop it into a measuring spoon and then scoop it back out.

    I eat it right out of the spoon...not hard to figure what 1 tbsp looks like...just saying

    The whole point of the thread was that she didn't want to eat it right out of the spoon.

    Agree! The whole point of the site is ACCURATELY tracking what you're eating. This is often done by weighing or measuring out portion sizes. Not sure why people have to be mean when others are trying to improve themselves...
  • Brittany3914
    Brittany3914 Posts: 258 Member
    sure!

    it's called a 'push measuring cup'

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIMuYQNrWnisZHniR5LRIRlQVcAXfFN2LA0HRl6ZqVx8zXVsgb

    I remember learning about these measuring cups in 7th grade home ec! I completely forgot about them since! Definitely need one.
  • Leiki
    Leiki Posts: 526 Member
    ClassicPeanutPack_web.jpg

    Squeezable single serving nut butters, liquid chocolates, honey spreads....
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    sure!

    it's called a 'push measuring cup'

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIMuYQNrWnisZHniR5LRIRlQVcAXfFN2LA0HRl6ZqVx8zXVsgb

    I have one for cups and one that has teaspoon/tablespoon measurements. I found mine at a specialty kitchen store. Pull the bottom to the measurement you want, put the food in, and then push the bottom to expel the food. Works like a big syringe, so no wasted food, or sides to scrape.

    want

    oh, forgot to mention you can get them from Amazon.com if you can't find them in your area!
  • kaydensmom12
    kaydensmom12 Posts: 338
    Why do you weigh your peanut butter?

    The nutrition label will give a weight in addition to a volume measurement for a serving. Example, for peanut butter the label states that a serving is 2 Tbs or 32 grams. For some foods it is easier to take a weight than it is to scoop it into a measuring spoon and then scoop it back out.

    I eat it right out of the spoon...not hard to figure what 1 tbsp looks like...just saying

    Measuring cups and spoons can actually be inaccurate, the scale is not nearly. I weigh everything.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member

    I eat it right out of the spoon...not hard to figure what 1 tbsp looks like...just saying

    Gold star for you, but It's actually pretty easy to grossly underestimate or overestimate measurements for a lot of people.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    ClassicPeanutPack_web.jpg

    Squeezable single serving nut butters, liquid chocolates, honey spreads....

    So. Much. Disposable. Packaging :noway:
  • PegasusDeb
    PegasusDeb Posts: 665 Member
    I have 3 sets of measuring spoons & 3 of those little "shot glass" style measuring cups that I keep in rotation! Then I have a set of small rubber scrapers. They work awesome for getting into those smaller things.

    I've seen those pushup measures, but always wondered if they would work, or be hard to keep clean. Do they disassemble?? That's just me being grossed out though! LOL
  • original_cake_face
    original_cake_face Posts: 131 Member
    I have 3 sets of measuring spoons & 3 of those little "shot glass" style measuring cups that I keep in rotation! Then I have a set of small rubber scrapers. They work awesome for getting into those smaller things.

    I've seen those pushup measures, but always wondered if they would work, or be hard to keep clean. Do they disassemble?? That's just me being grossed out though! LOL

    The push up ones disassemble, and you're left with the round plastic outer shell, and the plunger. They're actually easier to clean than a regular measuring cup (no digging in the corners with your sponge). And the plunger bit scrapes the sides quite well as you're pushing it out.. so it comes out quite cleanly.
  • aerochic42
    aerochic42 Posts: 843 Member
    Thanks for the ideas. Right now I'm going with the place the jar on the scale, zero it out and then remove the correct amount theory. That's for a couple of reasons - one of which is limited money for the push cups and the other being once I've measured/weighed things out a few times, I'm usually pretty good with learning the size. I just have to keep remembering to care to measure.
  • LoveAddison
    LoveAddison Posts: 8
    if your counting calories you would want to measure everything you eat
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