Learning how to measure flour correctly is one of the easiest ways to improve your baking. Too much flour can make baked goods dry, dense, or tough.
The best way to measure flour with a measuring cup is to spoon it lightly into a cup and level off the top. Avoid scooping flour directly from the bag or canister, since this can pack the flour into the cup and give you more flour than the recipe calls for.
You can also measure flour by weight with a kitchen scale for even greater accuracy. Here’s how to use both methods to get the right amount of flour for your recipes.
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How to measure flour correctly
If you are using a measuring cup, the spoon-and-level method is the best way to measure flour accurately.
Spoon the flour into the measuring cup
- Spoon the flour into a measuring cup.
- Don’t press or pack it down.
- Let the flour mound slightly above the rim.
Level the flour
- Place a knife, spatula, or other flat edge across the top of the measuring cup.
- Draw it evenly across the cup to remove the excess flour.
- The flour should be level with the rim of the measuring cup.
That’s all there is to it! Spoon the flour, don’t pack it, and level off the excess.
Why you shouldn’t scoop flour directly from the bag or canister
Reaching into the flour canister with a measuring cup and scooping out the flour can pack it tightly into the cup. That means you may end up with considerably more flour than the recipe calls for.
That extra flour can affect the texture of your baked goods, resulting in a heavy cake, dry cookies, crumbly pie crusts, or thick sauces.
The spoon-and-level method keeps the flour lighter in the measuring cup and gives you a more consistent measurement.
How to measure flour by weight
Using a digital kitchen scale is the most accurate way to measure flour. Instead of relying on the volume of the flour in a measuring cup, you measure the exact amount called for in the recipe.
Flour weights can vary depending on the type of flour, brand, and measuring method, so there isn’t one weight that applies to every kind of flour.
- Place your mixing bowl on the scale.
- Zero or tare the scale.
- Add the flour until you reach the weight specified in the recipe.
If you don’t have a kitchen scale, the spoon-and-level method is an easy way to measure flour accurately with a measuring cup.
How much does a cup of flour weigh?
A cup of flour typically weighs about 4 to 4½ ounces (112 to 126 grams), depending on the type of flour.
Here are some common flour measurements:
- All-purpose flour: about 4½ ounces (126 grams) per cup
- Bread flour: about 4½ ounces (126 grams) per cup
- Whole wheat flour: about 4½ ounces (126 grams) per cup
- Cake flour: about 4 ounces (112 grams) per cup
- Pastry flour: about 4 ounces (112 grams) per cup
These measurements are approximate because flour weights can vary by brand and how the flour is measured. When a recipe gives a weight measurement, using a kitchen scale is the most accurate option.
More baking tips
If you love to bake, here are some other cooking tips you may enjoy.
- How to soften brown sugar – Solve this common baking problem easily.
- How to make a crumb crust – For all your favorite baked goods.
- How to make a streusel topping – The perfect finish to muffins and cobblers.
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Admin note: This article on how to measure flour correctly first appeared on the blog in January 2017. This post has been updated with new photos, more concise tips, a printable project card, and a slideshow video of my favorite cooking tips.
How to Measure Flour Correctly
Learn how to measure flour with the spoon-and-level method or a kitchen scale for accurate baking results.
Materials
- Flour
Tools
- Measuring cup
- Knife or other flat tool
- Kitchen scale
- Bowl
Instructions
Method 1: Spoon & Level
- Spoon flour lightly into a dry measuring cup.
- Fill until slightly overflowing.
- Do not pack or shake the flour down.
- Level the top with a straight edge.
Method 2: Kitchen Scale
- Place a bowl on the scale and tare it.
- Add flour until you reach the weight called for in the recipe.
- Weighing is the most precise method.
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