How to Measure Flour

Learn how to measure flour, without using a digit scale, to help make all your baking recipes a success.

How you measure your flour can make a difference in your baking.

What's the big deal anyway?

Measuring flour! So who cares anyway? I mean you just fill a cup with flour and you've got what you need, right? Nope! Not at all!!!

The amount of flour in one cup can differ depending on how you are putting the flour into a cup. Flour is very compactable and you can end up with way more flour than you need.

In order to have your baking and other recipes turn out, you want to make certain that you are measuring in the best way possible.

Flour is one ingredient that makes a difference in how you measure it.

Why it matters

Occasionally, I receive feedback on my baking recipes, with some readers mentioning that the batter turns out excessively dry, despite following the instructions precisely. This leads me to suspect that the way they measure flour might be the primary culprit, although there could be other contributing factors.

Each time you measure flour, you'll encounter slight variations in the results. The objective is to minimize this variability as much as possible.

Recently, while I was at my mother's place, she was making chocolate chip cookies with a couple of her grandkids. She let the kids handle all the measuring while she operated the mixer. However, she noticed that the dough turned out unusually thick and slightly dry, deviating from its usual consistency.

Uncertain about what went wrong since all the ingredients were added, she realized that the kids had measured the flour differently. Even though they added the correct number of cups of flour, their method of compacting the flour into the measuring cups resulted in an excessive amount of flour being added.

Using a consistent measuring method that avoids compacting the flour is crucial for achieving successful baking outcomes.

Measuring flour

Professional bakers and many home bakers only measure using a digital scale and it is considered the most reliable method for measuring flour. However, there doesn't seem to be one exact weight of a cup of flour.

I've studied multiple sources for the weight of flour, and many sites and cookbooks all report something slightly different. I then did my own testing to see what the results were for me in my kitchen.

Weight of All-Purpose Flour

King Arthur Baking	4.25 ounces	120 grams
Joy of Baking	4.5	127
Bob's Red Mill	4.8	130
America's Test Kitchen	5.0	142

My Weighing Results

Fluffing and Spooning into Cup	4.50 ounces	127 grams
Fluffing and Scooping with the Cup	4.70	133
Scooping with the Cup and Leveling Against the Side of the Container	5.65	158

I tested using Wheat Montana all-purpose flour and used the following methods:

• The first was fluffing the flour and then spooning it into the measuring cup and then leveling it with a knife.
• Next, I fluffed with the measuring cup and then scooped the measuring cup directly into the container. I then leveled the cup with a knife.
• Finally, I scooped into the container and pressed up against the side of the container.

No wonder measuring flour isn't as simple as it seems! Even the experts don't agree on one exact weight!

My method for measuring flour

I rarely weigh my flour. As a home baker I never even thought about weighing my flour until recently. I didn't have a digital scale, and once I got a digital scale, it wasn't convenient to drag it out every time I was baking. When I'm baking I just want to measure and go.

Flour compacts in a container or packaging so fluffing it before filling your cup is the first step. Take a scoop or a spoon and lift the flour and shake it back into the container.

Then scoop the flour, with a spoon or scoop into your measuring cup allowing the flour to mound over the top of the cup. Use the flat edge of a butter knife to level the cup.

Flour measuring tips

• Fluff your flour - just scoop and sprinkle it back into the container. Do this each time before using.
• Avoid Packing - don't pack or press the flour into the measuring cup. It should be loosely spooned into the cup and leveled off. Packing the flour can lead to excessive amounts and affect the texture and consistency of your baked goods.
• Use Dry Measuring Cups - use dry measuring cups specifically designed for dry ingredients. These cups have straight edges and come in standard sizes (1 cup, ½ cup, ¼ cup, etc.). Avoid using liquid measuring cups, as they may not provide accurate measurements for dry ingredients.
• Be Consistent - develop a consistent method for measuring flour to ensure accuracy across your recipes. Using the same technique each time will help you achieve reliable results.

How to store flour

There are many ways to store your flour. When I open a bag of flour, I always pour it into a container with a lid that seals tight. My container is an old container that I purchased more than 30 years ago. It still works great.

I have two smaller sizes that hold my granulated sugar and my brown sugar.

I don't store my container in the original package for a few reasons.

• I find it easier to grab the container out of the pantry, rather than a bag
• My container has a large opening making it easy to fluff and measure the flour
• There are no leaks. A bag of flour often will leave a little poof of flour as it's moved around.
• Helps keep out moisture

Some favorite baking recipes

If you want to test out your flour measuring skills, here are a few favorite recipes to try:

• Oatmeal Banana Muffins
• Blueberry Lemon Cake
• Raspberry Bread
• Buttermilk Biscuits
• Lemon Cupcakes

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my kitchen and baking tips!