The Easy Way To Avoid Losing Track Of Measurements While Baking

When attempting to correctly measure both dry and wet ingredients, there is one pitfall that even the most careful measurers among us can easily fall into, which can ruin all your efforts and make you have to start over from the beginning: losing track of what you've already added. Many of the ingredients look quite similar, like salt and sugar or flour and baking soda, so when they get added into a big heap, it can be hard to tell just by looking at the pile which ingredients have already been added. And when we have to add multiples of each one, such as 3 cups of flour for a moist and flavorful old fashioned whiskey cake, it's easy to lose count of what number you are on.

And while cooking may be an ongoing experiment in flavor and creativity, baking is a science. Of course, it's also an art form that allows you to express yourself when it comes to decorations and flavors, but when it comes down to creating perfectly baked treats, whether they are sweet or savory, exact measurements are a must. One little slip up can throw your whole bake off track so you wind up with a failed mess rather than a smashing success. For example, if you add too much flour to a cake recipe, your final result will likely come out dense instead of light and fluffy. Exact measurements are key to getting the right textures and flavors in what you bake and making sure everything cooks evenly.

Of course, you can always measure out each ingredient into separate bowls beforehand, mixing them all together once you know you have everything properly measured and accounted for, but this creates a lot of extra dishes to wash later. Instead, stick with one bowl, but keep everything going into it visually separate. Starting with the ingredient that requires the largest amount (usually flour) as a base, add each ingredient in its own separate, distinctive pile or zone rather than simply tossing them on top of each other. This makes it easier to see each item that has been added. If you've got similar-looking ingredients, like flour and baking soda, and you've also got an ingredient of a different color, like cocoa or cinnamon, you can add the soda on top of the other ingredient so it stands out. This method will allow you to more easily see what you've already added and lets you do a mental checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.

This method also makes it easier to get back on track if you lose count of your amounts, which can happen easily if you are baking for a crowd and need to double up on your recipe. For example, if you are making a double batch of rhubarb and cardamom oat muffins, you'll need 4 tablespoons of ground flax meal. If you lose count, you can simply remove what you've already got in the bowl and remeasure it to see where you left off, rather than guessing or tossing it all out and starting over. Let's face it: Time is precious, and food is expensive, so every little thing you can do to help avoid baking disasters is well worth the effort.