Newbie

I'm from NY State and I find the recipe instructions in grams very confusing. Are there any translations in cups, ounces, and pounds.

I know that the rest of the world uses the metric system, but unfortunately we do not.

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brian_martin2001

Chefsteps didn't use volumetric measurements often because they are relatively inaccurate. If you look at the recipes, there should be a button "edit and scale" and when you click on that, there Will be an option to convert into pounds and ounces. I will recommend that you invest in a scale that measures grams, simply because metric mass measurements are more accurate than the British Standard mass measurements.

HammeredChef_DEFINITELY_does_NOT_work_at_22134

Trust me when I tell your life will be sooooo much easier if you take Brian's suggestion and buy a scale. You simply put the container on the scale, hit tare and start adding ingredients, hitting the tare button after each one. It saves counter space (no measuring spoons or large measuring cups) and there is nothing to wash up afterwards. You will get absolutely repeatable results. After you get your scale try this experiment: weigh a cup of flour in one of your measuring cups and then using a different measuring cup do it again. The difference will surprise you...measuring spoons are the same way

Oh, and welcome to the CS Forum!

One more thing, when you use "edit and scale" those ounce measurements are weight and NOT fluid measurements.

tshewman

Welcome Anna Marie! First, I suspect many of us here felt exactly like you are. Many I suspect have changed to the metric system (some may have not). The gramsetc will become much less confusing over time, so don't give up on it completely. That said, as mentioned below, the nicest things about the recipes is at the top of the ingredients page there is an "edit scal and units" button. Simply click on it and select oz's and you should be good to go (also note the volume vs weigth comment-quite important). Have fun and feel free to shoot us all questions. We're all digital/virtual students like yourself so glad to help when we can. :-)

artstype

A good example as to why using weight instead of volume measures is the case of salt. Super fine table salt weighs twice as much as some kosher salt by volume, and 1.5 times other kosher salt. Same with many sea salts. If you use table salt in a recipe that calls for kosher and measure by volume, your food will be inedibly salty.

I have 2 scales, http://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-Professional-Digital-Kitchen-Tempered/dp/B003MSZBSI/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1447689800&sr=1-5&keywords=Ozeri+kitchen+scales and http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-AWS-1KG-BLK-Signature-Digital/dp/B002SC3LLS/ref=sr_1_23?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1447689711&sr=1-23&keywords=kitchen+scales both are very compact and inexpensive.

As to metric/non-metric weight systems, the math is easier working in metric scale when you need to alter a recipe, so give it a chance, When you buy meat in the US, the weight is often given as pounds and a decimal. How many ounces is 2,13 pounds? (let's see, if .25 pounds is the same as a 1/4 lb that means it must be the same as 16/4, which equals 4 ounces, and half of 1/4 lb is the same as 0.125lb, which is a little less than 0.13lb...) Working in base 16 math is much more complicated than the metric system in such circumstances.

BTW, "tare" is the process by which a scale will zero out the weight of the object you put on it. For example, if you put a bowl that weighs 5 ounces on such a scale and press "tare" it will reset the scale to zero, so that you can see the weight of what you put into the bowl thereafter. I usually weigh ingredients in this manner individually rather than keep adding more ingredients to the same bowl, as if you put in too much, it is more challenging to undo it.

wolfiegirl

Buy a scale and go with it! It's SO much easier, faster and more importantly, accurate. No guess work or measuring devices....just you and your scale and a bowl. Done. I think if you try it you'll find how much easier it is! In a bit of time you'll be frustrated when you find a good bread recipe you want to try and it's in (ugh) cups....oi.

wes.sand

I affirm the responses below. It isn't a conspiracy. Get a good digital scale - they all weight grams. It really is much easier when get used to not having to have multiple sets of measuring cups and spoons. It is also precise. I thought they had a primer video on using a scale.