I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.

I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??

If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??

Mike

On 28/09/2015 1:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>
> Mike
>

The small tsp or even the occasional TBSP measurements in most recipes
can stay the same in the metric scale as they are too small to make any
obvious difference.
Be forewarned that the metric cup is 250ml whereas the US cup is ~236ml.
That difference can be significant in baking, where you should be
weighing anyway.
I have numerous recipes from reputable bakers where the major
ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter etc. are given in grams and the
liquids in mls or grams but things like salt and baking powder are
volumetric, i.e., tsp etc.
Graham

On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 3:47:51 PM UTC-4, graham wrote:
> On 28/09/2015 1:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> > I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
> >
> > I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
> >
> > If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
> >
> > Mike
> >
>
> The small tsp or even the occasional TBSP measurements in most recipes
> can stay the same in the metric scale as they are too small to make any
> obvious difference.
> Be forewarned that the metric cup is 250ml whereas the US cup is ~236ml.
> That difference can be significant in baking, where you should be
> weighing anyway.
> I have numerous recipes from reputable bakers where the major
> ingredients such as flour, sugar, butter etc. are given in grams and the
> liquids in mls or grams but things like salt and baking powder are
> volumetric, i.e., tsp etc.
> Graham

My motive for this is that I'm constantly re-sizing recipes when I make sausage according to how much meat I use. The USA teaspoon, tablespoon, 1/3 cup, etc are a nightmare to reduce!

On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 3:56:00 PM UTC-4, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
>
> My motive for this is that I'm constantly re-sizing recipes when I make sausage according to how much meat I use. The USA teaspoon, tablespoon, 1/3 cup, etc are a nightmare to reduce!

The small differences do not matter. Just put in how much spice or herb that you think is correct. A good result does not come from exact measure. (Even in baking, where exact weight is certainly desirable, factors such as humidity, altitude, room temperature will make the astute cook [not me] vary the quantities.)

http://www.richardfisher.com

On 9/28/2015 3:47 PM, graham wrote:
> On 28/09/2015 1:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
>> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid
>> measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>>
>> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example
>> 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>>
>> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can
>> someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a
>> 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>>
>> Mike
>>
>
> The small tsp or even the occasional TBSP measurements in most recipes
> can stay the same in the metric scale as they are too small to make any
> obvious difference.

Exactly. The only difference a metric measure of what amounts to a
pinch of dried oregano in teaspoons would be taste. Who measures herbs
or spices to the umpteenth degree?

Jill

On Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 5:27:02 PM UTC-4, jmcquown wrote:

> Exactly. The only difference a metric measure of what amounts to a
> pinch of dried oregano in teaspoons would be taste. Who measures herbs
> or spices to the umpteenth degree?

I do, sometimes. For example, when I'm making a curry and I want it to taste
exactly a certain way, I measure the spices.

Cindy Hamilton

On 9/30/2015 6:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 5:27:02 PM UTC-4, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> Exactly. The only difference a metric measure of what amounts to a
>> pinch of dried oregano in teaspoons would be taste. Who measures herbs
>> or spices to the umpteenth degree?
>
> I do, sometimes. For example, when I'm making a curry and I want it to taste
> exactly a certain way, I measure the spices.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
The OP made it sound like just a pinch would do. I don't actually
measure herbs and spices to any exact point. I may start with a
measured little bit and add more if more is required. Exact
measurements are rarely a factor, it's more (or less) to taste. Start
off with less, you can always add more.

Jill

On 9/28/2015 1:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>
> Mike
>
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...s-1919321.html

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

In article >,
says...
>
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??

No; just use a teaspoon.

> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can
someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a
1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??

No; mine weighs from 1 gm to 5 kg (which is pretty standard).
It's a Salter aquatronic electronic digital, over 30 years old and
completely reliable.

Janet UK

On Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:36:52 -0700 (PDT), "The Practical BBQ'r!"
> wrote:

>I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
>I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
>If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>
>Mike

I used to have a triple beam balance that wouhld weigh down to 0.01
grams, I think. I stole it from my high school's chemistry or biology
labs! I was an amoral teenager.

John Kuthe...

On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 12:36:57 PM UTC-7, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>

For regular dishes, spices are measured out using metric teaspoons and
tablespoons. In fact, the measuring spoons you find in the store are
likely to be metric.

In German recipes, teaspoon is Teeloeffel (TL), and tablespoon is
Essloeffel (EL).

On Monday, September 28, 2015 at 3:36:57 PM UTC-4, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??

Make bigger batches of sausage so that nothing that small needs to be measured?

For ordinary cooking, I generally eyeball a lot of measurements, although
you probably would like better control in sausage making.

A U.S. teaspoon is 5 milliliters. I'd keep using teaspoons for the little
stuff, if I were you.

Incidentally, 1/3 cup (0.33 repeating) is very close to 3/8 cup (0.325), which
is easier to reduce. You probably can't get 0.01 precision with any sort of
measuring cup.

Cindy Hamilton

The Impractical BBQ'r! wrote:
>I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups
>that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices. I assumed that I would
>need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams?

What you need is a quality psychiatrist... no cook measures/weighs a
1/4 tsp of anything, especfially not someone who fancies themself a
bbq'er... do you bbq 100 gm pork butts? You're not at all practical!

On 09/28/2015 12:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>
> Mike
>

Look for "Jeweler's Scales" on Amazon or Ebay. Many claim 0.01 grams
precision.

On Tue, 29 Sep 2015 10:16:37 -0700, Whirled Peas >
wrote:

>On 09/28/2015 12:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
>> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>>
>> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>>
>> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??
>>
>> Mike
>>
>
>Look for "Jeweler's Scales" on Amazon or Ebay. Many claim 0.01 grams
>precision.

Show us.

On 9/28/2015 12:36 PM, The Practical BBQ'r! wrote:
> I wish to convert to using metric in the kitchen. I have liquid measuring cups that are metric but I'm not certain about dry spices.
>
> I assumed that I would need a quality scale to weigh out for example 1/4 teaspoon of oregano in grams??
>
> If my assumption is correct that dry ingredients are all weighed, can someone recommend a metric scale that can go as low as weighing out a 1/4 teaspoon of dry spice??

Your assumption isn't correct. Metric recipes use a mix of mass and
volume measurements for practicality. No sense having a super
sensitive scale for measuring fractions of a gram in the kitchen when
milliliter measures are more practical.