Measuring flour

How flour is measured changes how much goes into a recipe. University of Illinois Extension warns that scooping with a measuring cup packs the flour down and may result in 150 percent of the correct measurement.

The recommended method is to stir the flour in its container, gently spoon it into a dry measuring cup until it heaps over the top, and level it with a straight edge. Do not shake the cup, and level over the flour container or wax paper, not the bowl of ingredients.

Dry cups are meant for dry goods such as flour and sugar, while clear liquid cups with a pouring spout should only be used for liquids. Too much flour makes baked goods dry and dense, so careful measuring matters.