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Cooking Basics

Cooking Methods

If you are on the hunt for a healthier recipe, look for cooking methods that don’t require additional fat.

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putting a casserole in the oven to bake

No Added Fat:

  • Baking: To cook in an oven 
  • Grilling: To cook from direct heat that is below the food 
  • Broiling: To cook from direct heat that is above the food, typically in an oven or toaster oven.
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sauteing vegetables on stove

Needs Added Fat:

  • Frying: To cook by submerging at least part of the food in a skillet of fat 
  • Sautéing: To cook quickly over high heat with a little fat 
  • Stir-Frying: Similar to sautéing. In stir-frying, the food is constantly moved around by stirring or shaking the pan.

How to Measure Ingredients

Make sure your recipe turns out great every time by measuring your ingredients correctly.

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measuring cups for dry ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • Dry measuring cups are meant to hold the exact amount of an ingredient when they are filled to the top.
  • Spoon your dry ingredient into the measuring cup. Do not scoop the measuring cup directly into the ingredient. Overfill the cup and then level off with the flat edge of a butter knife. 
  • Do not pack down, shake, or tap dry ingredients while measuring. Brown sugar is different. Recipes often call for brown sugar to be packed down.
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liquid measuring cup

Liquid Ingredients

  • Liquid measuring cups typically have a pouring spout and a handle. Liquid measuring cups will show multiple measurement lines on the side of the cup.
  • Fill the liquid measuring cup to correct measurement line. 
  • Be sure to place the cup on a flat surface and check the amount by looking at the liquid at eye level. 
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measuring spoons

Measuring Spoons

Measuring spoons can be used for wet and dry ingredients when you are measuring very small amounts.

Measurement Conversions

Changing the size of a recipe can mean lots of extra math. Check out these handy tools that can help take the guesswork out of doubling or halving any recipe!

Liquid Measurements
Cups Tablespoons Teaspoons Millimeters Fluid Ounces
1/8 cup 2 T 6 tsp 30 ml 1 oz
1/4 cup 4 T 12 tsp 59 ml 2 oz
1/3 cup 5T + 1 tsp 16 tsp 79 ml 2 2/3 oz
1/2 cup 8 T 24 tsp 118 ml 4 oz
3/4 cup 12 T 36 tsp 177 ml 6 oz
1 cup 16 T 48 tsp 237 ml 8 oz

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Solid Measurements

Cups Tablespoons Teaspoons
1/8 cup 2 T 6 tsp
1/4 cup 4 T 12 tsp
1/3 cup 5T + 1 tsp 16 tsp
1/2 cup 8T 24 tsp
3/4 cup 12 T 36 tsp
1 cup 16 T 48 tsp

Weight Measurements

Grams Ounces
14 g 1/2 oz
28 g 1 oz
113 g 4 oz
227 g 8 oz
340 g 12 oz
454 g 16 oz

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Volume Measurements
Gallons Quarts Pints Cups Fluid Ounces Liters Milliliters
1 gal 4 qts 8 pt 16 cups 128 fl oz 3.78L 3785 ml
1/2 gal 2 qts 4 pt 8 cups 64 fl oz 1.89L 1893 ml
1/4 gal 1 qt 2 pt 4 cups 32 fl oz 0.95L 946 ml
1/8 gal 1/2 qt 1 pt 2 cups 16 fl oz 0.47L 473 ml

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