what is sour cream measured in

With a video tutorial and in-depth explanations, learn how to properly measure baking ingredients and why measuring is so crucial in baking.

With every recipe I publish, my goal is to help you become a more confident baker. Baking from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re set up with the right resources and tools, you can put the FUN back into your kitchen.

Today we’re focusing on something that may seem trivial to you, but it’s the most important step in every recipe you bake. Measuring ingredients properly is imperative. You see, baking is not very forgiving. It’s a science and estimating measurements could spell disaster. While you can easily get away with a handful of this or that when you’re cooking dinner, even the slightest baking miscalculation could turn your soft chocolate chip cookies into rocks. Understanding the correct measuring technique for a particular ingredient will guarantee better baking results. Because the difference between a recipe success and a recipe failure could lie within 1 mis-measured ingredient.

When it comes to baking, it pays off to be a perfectionist. Learn how to properly measure baking ingredients so your next recipe is a success.

All the sour cream I have seen in supermarkets is sold by weight, not by volume. A typical container size is 1 lb (16 oz ~ 454 grams). Pint is a unit of volume equal to 16 fluid oz ~ 473 ml. If a recipe calls for a pint of sour cream, I would say use a measuring cup to measure out a pint (16 fl oz).

How to Properly Measure Baking Ingredients

Flour is the most common mis-measured ingredient. Whether you’re using bread flour, cake flour, all-purpose flour, or any other flours on the market, use the “spoon & level” method. Do not scoop the flour out of the container/bag with your measuring cup because you could end up with 50% more than you need. Rather, using a spoon, scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Do not pack the flour down and do not tap the measuring cup as both cause the flour to settle in the cup. After you’ve spooned the flour into the measuring cup, use the back of a knife to level off the top of the measuring cup.

• Drill this in your head: Spoon & level flour. Do not scoop flour.
• How do I measure sifted flour? If a recipe calls for “1 cup of flour, sifted”—measure the flour, then sift it. If a recipe calls for “1 cup of sifted flour”—sift the flour then measure. It all depends where the word “sifted” is in the ingredient wording. If “sifted” is before the ingredient name, sift before measuring. If “sifted” is after the ingredient name, sift after measuring.

My favorite containers for bulk storing ingredients are these tightly sealed flour keepers. (Affiliate link, I love them!) I own about 10 and recommend them to anyone who asks. I use them for my all-purpose flour, cake flour, bread flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and more. They hold 3.8 quarts, which is about one 5 lb bag of flour. I use a label maker to make labels for each—they’re placed on top.

Make sure you are using the correct type of oats that your recipe calls for. To measure oats, use the same spoon & level method that you use for flour.

Whole oats and quick oats are different and depend on the cut of the oat. I most often use old-fashioned whole rolled oats in recipes like granola, oatmeal bars, and oatmeal cookies. Quick oats are finely chopped whole oats that have a more powdery consistency. When a more powdery, fine oat is ideal in a recipe, I use quick oats. To avoid having two different types of oats on hand in my baking supplies, I make my own quick oats from whole oats. This is very easy: pulse whole oats in a blender or food processor about 5-10 times to break them up to reach the quick oat consistency.

CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR (Powdered Sugar/Icing Sugar)

Measure confectioners’ sugar using the same spoon & level method as flour, explained above. Sift confectioners’ sugar if the recipe calls for it. If your confectioners’ sugar is extra lumpy though, it’s best practice to sift it anyway. (No one wants pockets of powdered sugar in their otherwise smooth whipped cream!) As detailed above in the Flour section, 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted means that the sugar is sifted after measuring and 1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar means that the sugar is sifted before measuring.

Whether you’re using natural or dutched cocoa, measure cocoa powder using the same spoon & level method as flour and confectioners’ sugar. Like confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder can clump up. If a recipe calls for sifting it, make sure you take the time to do so.

Liquid sweeteners include maple syrup, molasses, honey, corn syrup, agave, etc. Measure these thick and sticky liquids in dry measuring cups.

• A handy tip: To easily measure sticky sweeteners, spray the inside of the measuring cup lightly with nonstick spray. This will make it much easier to get the sweetener out of the cup!

Liquids used in baking such as milk, water, oil, etc should be measured at eye level. Using a liquid measuring cup, pour the liquid into the cup. Then, bend down to make sure the liquid is EXACTLY at level with the measuring requirement of the recipe.

The semi-liquids I’m referring to here are ingredients like sour cream, yogurt, peanut butter, applesauce, mashed banana, etc. Measure these semi-liquid ingredients in dry measuring cups. They are too thick to be accurately measured in liquid measuring cups. Spoon & level, like you do with sugar or flour, then use a rubber spatula to help release the ingredients into the mixing bowl.

• What about butter? Butter is usually sold in sticks, either 1/2 cup (8 Tablespoons) sticks or 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons) sticks. This makes measuring very convenient—simply slice off however much you need in a recipe. If your butter isn’t in stick form, use a dry measuring cup to measure it. If a recipe calls for melted butter, measure the butter in its solid state, then melt it.

The add-ins I’m referring to here are chocolate chips, chopped fruit, sprinkles, nuts, etc. Simply scoop or pour them into a dry measuring cup. These ingredients aren’t typically used to make up the structure of a baked good, so there’s no need to be as precise.

I find the following measurement equivalents helpful.

• 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
• 1/8 cup = 2 Tablespoons
• 1/4 cup = 4 Tablespoons
• 1/3 cup = 5-1/3 Tablespoons
• 1/2 cup = 8 Tablespoons
• 2/3 cup = 10 and 2/3 Tablespoons
• 3/4 cup = 12 Tablespoons
• 1 cup = 16 Tablespoons

• 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint
• 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces = 1 pint
• 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces = 2 pints = 1 quart
• 8 cups = 64 fluid ounces = 4 pints
• 4 quarts = 128 fluid ounces = 1 gallon

How do you measure 1 cup of sour cream?

FAQ

Is sour cream sold by weight or volume?

What measuring cup is best for sour cream?

How many cups are in 1 lb of sour cream?

How much is a cup of sour cream?

How do you measure sour cream?

For 1 cup of sour cream, you should use a one cup measuring cup for dry ingredients. To do this, simply use a spoon to scoop the sour cream into your measuring cup. Once it’s full, use your spoon or the back of a knife to level it off. You can also scoop directly out of the container if you wish.

How to make sour cream from sweet cream?

You will need the following ingredients: 1 can of whey-free cream, 2 squeezed lemons, 1 spoon of salt and pepper to taste. Then you will follow the following method of preparation: squeeze the lemon and remove the seeds, mix all the ingredients in a bowl, take it to the fridge for 10 minutes and it is ready.

How many Oz in a cup of sour cream?

One cup of sour cream is the equivalent of 8 oz. Other units include one cup being equivalent to a half pint, two cups to one pint, and so on. What Is Half a Cup of Sour Cream? Half a cup of sour cream in terms of ounces is 4 oz. This is also the equivalent of ¼ of a pint. How Much of a Cup Is an Ounce?

How do you measure sour cream & yogurt?

Unlike regular liquids, you can measure sour cream and yogurt in traditional measuring cups. Spoon the yogurt in, then sweep a metal spatula or the flat side of a knife across the top of a cup-like you would with a dry ingredient. Pre-wrapped sticks of butter usually come with markings for tablespoons.