Improvised Methods of Measuring Food

The other day I wrote an article on measuring food (Measure foods to Improve Your Cooking).  That post addressed the use of various measuring devices.  But what about if you don’t have them here are some other ways of measuring food that might come in handy. I was always amazed that my Grandmother never really had any measuring cups or spoons when she cooked, but everything turned out great with no waste. But as I got older and started cooking I wondered how she did it. I should have guessed that there are other forms of measuring food than using the measuring cups and spoons that they recommended.
When the TEOTWAWKI occurs, some of us will be caught without items we wished we had and never thought about putting away. Stop and think of the little things that would make life easier and less stressful. Get a binder together with all these cooking hints and suggestions now.  Add to it as you read or hear about things.  I know some of you are saying that with everything else we have to worry about a binder is just more work. Well, you should have one for recipes, so just add this list to it.

The following list of ways of measuring food is from an old cookbook, I have had for many years.

Improvised Methods of Measuring Food.

      Food                             If your recipe states                   You will need approximately

Fruit

• Apples                                 1 cup                                         1 medium apple
• Bananas                              1 cup sliced                                 2 small or 1 medium
• Lemon, juice                        2 to 3 tablespoons                       1 medium
• Lemon peel                          1 1/2 to 3 teaspoons grated          1 medium
• Orange, juice                       1/3 to 1/2 cup                             1 medium
• Orange peel                         1 to 2 tablespoon grated              1 medium
• Strawberries                        4 cups sliced                                1 quart

Vegetables

• Cabbage                              3 1/2 to 41/2 cups shredded        I pound head
• Carrots                                1 cup ¼ inch slices                     2 medium
•                                           1 cup shredded                           1 1/2 medium
• Celery                                 1 cup 1/4 slices                           2 medium stalks
• Cucumbers                          1 cup chopped                            3/4 medium
• Green Onions                       1 cup sliced                                9 with tops
• Green Peppers                     1 cup chopped                            1 medium
• Lettuce                               6 cups bite size                           1 pound head
• Mushrooms                         3 cups sliced                               8 ounces
• Onions                               1/2 cup chopped                          1 medium
• Potatoes                             1 cup 1/2 inch pieces                   1 medium
• Tomatoes                           1 cup chopped                             1 medium

Dairy

• Cheese, shredded               1 cup                                           4 ounces
• cottage cheese                   2 cups                                        16 ounces
• cream cheese                     6 tablespoon                                 3 ounces
• Cream cheese                     1 cup (16 tbsp)                             8 ounces
• Cream, sour                        1 cup                                          8 ounces
• Cream sour whipped            1 cup (2 cups whipped)                1/2 pint
• Eggs, whole                        1 cup                                          4 to 6 eggs
• Egg whites                         1 cup                                           8 to 10 eggs
• Egg yokes                          1 cup                                          12 to 14 eggs
• Margarine                          2 cups                                           1 pound

Staples

• Bread/white                       12 slices                                       1 pound
• Bread                                  1 cup soft crumbs                        1 1/2 slices
• Chocolate chips                    1 cup                                          6 ounces
• Coconut                               1 1/3 cups shredded or flaked       4 ounces
• Crumbs
• Graham cracker                    1 1/4 cups crushed                     16 squares
• Saltine crackers                    1 cup crushed                            28 wafers
• Vanilla wafer                        1 cup crushed                            22 wafers
• Flour (all-purpose)                3 1/2 cups                                  1 pound
• Marshmallows                     10 miniature                                1 large
• Nuts, without shells               3 to 4 cups                                1 pound
• Shortening                           2 cups                                       1 pound
• Sugar, Brown                       2 1/4 cups firmly packed              1 pound
• granulated                           2 cups                                       1 pound
• powdered                            4 cups                                       1 pound

It’s a long list but I’m sure that you can use it. Print it out and start using this method of measuring food now so that you can have some of the measurements memorized.

Preparedness Mom