Dumb question about measurements

toots99
toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
I just got a new digital food scale. A quarter cup is two ounces. When I filled 1/4 cup with shredded cheese and weighed it, it came to one ounce. Why is that? Is it because shredded cheese isn't very dense? So you need more of it to fill 1/4 cup to 2 ozs? The same with my edamame...1/4 cup was only 1 ounce. So have I been overestimating how much I'm eating?

Replies

  • quinnybear
    quinnybear Posts: 243
    i answered this also in your other topic, but just in case...

    you're comparing weight (ounces) and volume (a quarter cup)... two completely different things.

    ex. fill a bucket with feathers and the same bucket with rocks. which weighs more? each have the same volume, but one weighs more than the other
  • amymeenieminymo
    amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
    I think you are mixing up volume and weight.....a solid that weighs 2 ounces is going to be different than a liquid that takes up 2 ounces liquid volume.
  • argburr
    argburr Posts: 25
    Because cups are a measure of volume and ounces are a measure of weight, 2 oz of food isn't always going to be the same volume. Think about it this way: 1 cup of feathers will weigh less than one cup of pocket change... Obviously you shouldn't eat these things... just and example
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    Smash it all in there and that will get you 2 oz :laugh: I make sure my things are really packed...or maybe I'm just hoping that I can somehow fit more servings into a specific measurement...gotta get every little bit!
  • Phoenix_Rising
    Phoenix_Rising Posts: 11,417 Member
    Because cups are a measure of volume and ounces are a measure of weight, 2 oz of food isn't always going to be the same volume. Think about it this way: 1 cup of feathers will weigh less than one cup of pocket change... Obviously you shouldn't eat these things... just an example

    :laugh: :laugh:
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    The weight of 1/4 cup of various foods will all be different. Ounces as a measure of volume are different than ounces as a measure of weight. Ounces on a scale are a measure of weight, ounces in a measuring cup are a measure of volume.
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    Because cups are a measure of volume and ounces are a measure of weight, 2 oz of food isn't always going to be the same volume. Think about it this way: 1 cup of feathers will weigh less than one cup of pocket change... Obviously you shouldn't eat these things... just an example

    :laugh: :laugh:

    Mmm...pocket change.
  • JoyousMaximus
    JoyousMaximus Posts: 9,285 Member
    If you want to weigh out a serving, use the number of grams. For example, a serviing of cottage cheese is 1/2 cup (volume) and 122 grams (weight). Most packages list both.
  • mamaturner
    mamaturner Posts: 2,447 Member
    all food weighs differently that's why say 8 oz of water and 8 oz of milk especially whole milk weigh something completely different. That's also why a lot of baking recipes are specific if they're measured by weight or volume.
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    Smash it all in there and that will get you 2 oz :laugh: I make sure my things are really packed...or maybe I'm just hoping that I can somehow fit more servings into a specific measurement...gotta get every little bit!

    So that's what I mean. Is 1/4 cup of cheese supposed to be packed in there, is that allowed? :laugh:

    Thanks for the explanations, I got it now. A friend of mine recommended to go by grams as well, so that's what I'll do. :flowerforyou:
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