100 Measuring Spoons and cups:
Tested, Reviewed, Rated & Ranked
Setting out to find the best measuring spoons and measuring cups wasn't an easy task. It was the battle of measuring small differences. This article covers our testing methods and provides detailed results for each of the measuring tools we examined.
Every recipe starts off the same way: a list of ingredients and measurements.
Since the publication of Fannie Farmer’s seminal The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book in 1896, recipe writers have called for standardized measurements, and the world of cooking is better for it. Imagine how difficult baking would be if you were still expected to eyeball things like a piece of butter the size of an egg, or enough flour to fill both hands twice.
We often ignore the simple things we use every day, but why should your measuring spoons get less attention than the twentieth single-task small appliance crowding your counter?
The best cookware is the stuff you actually use, and nothing gets more use than your spoons and cups. Let’s give them the attention they deserve.
Measuring Spoons
Product Name | Peices | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
5 | $$$ | ||
5 | $$$ | ||
7 | $$$ | ||
6 | $$ | ||
9 | $$$ | ||
10* | $$$ | ||
4 | $$$ | ||
4* | $$ | ||
5 | $ | ||
10* | $ |
dry measuring cups
Product Name | Peices | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
6 | $$ | ||
7 | $$$ | ||
6 | $$ | ||
5 | $$$ | ||
6 | $$$ | ||
11* | $$ | ||
4* | $$$ | ||
4* | $ | ||
6 | $ | Disqualified |
liquid measuring cups
Product Name | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$$ | ||
$$ | ||
$$ | ||
$ |
* = set
THE SEARCH FOR GOOD MEASURING TOOLS
What makes a good measuring cup and spoon?
A good kitchen should have measuring spoons for:
- measuring 1 tablespoon and under of dry and wet ingredients
- dry measuring cups for measuring ¼ cup to 1 cup of dry ingredients
- at least one liquid measuring cup for liquids starting at ⅛ cup
Dry and liquid cups are used differently – dry cups are filled to the top and leveled off, while liquid cups are partially filled to the marking lines.
MEASURING SPOONS
There is a world of measuring spoons out there, but we’ve decided to focus on the four key spoons that every recipe expects to see:
- 1 tablespoon
- 1 teaspoon
- ½ teaspoon
- ¼ teaspoon
Some sets include other useful sizes, most commonly ⅛ teaspoon and ½ tablespoon. Choose a bigger set if you like to do everything with a single spoon instead of calculating how to split measurements into multiple spoons; choose a smaller set if you don’t like the weight of a big set on the heel of your hand while you use one spoon.
The shape of the bowl is also something to consider. Round spoons are the classic version, and are great for liquids, especially sticky ones, since you can empty them out easily and neatly. Rectangular bowls are great for getting ingredients out of jars. Even the tablespoon on some of our better-shaped sets will fit into a narrow spice jar.
Most of our spoon sets are held together with a ring, and the quality of that ring matters. The ring should hold together so you don’t lose spoons, but it’s nice to be able to take a spoon off for precise jobs. The spoons should move easily on the ring too.
DRY MEASURING CUPS
Like with spoons, we’ve defined the critical dry cups every set should have. In this case, we’re focusing on:
- 1 cup
- ½ cup
- ⅓ cup
- ¼ cup
Some sets include other measures, most commonly the ⅛ cup and the ¾ cup. Like with the spoon sets, consider how much you care about splitting measurements among cups when making your decision. The rings that hold the cups together were a contentious topic in our test kitchen.
Do you keep your cups together on the ring when storing them, or do you store them loose? If you store your cups on the ring, then you’d better get a good one that’s easy to pull cups off and on without needing to manipulate the whole stack of cups.
LIQUID MEASURING CUPS
There are a lot of sizes of liquid cup around, and while you might want to have some big ones around for dealing with large amounts of stock, we focused this review on the 1 cup size. I find it the most useful for measuring liquids as part of a recipe, and it’s my go-to unless I specifically need more capacity. The most important factors to consider in a liquid cup are markings and the handle. The markings should be easy to read, even if the cup is full of colored liquid. The handle should feel strong and sure – think about how you’d feel scooping into a pot of boiling pasta to reserve pasta water.
HOW WE TESTED
We brought 10 sets of spoons, 9 sets of dry cups, and 4 liquid cups into our test kitchen and tried them all in a range of tests. Before the results, let’s run through those tests so you can see how we came to our conclusions.
ACCURACY
Dry Cups
The whole point of measuring is to get the right amount, so your tools need to be accurate. It’s a tricky process to measure that, and we put in a good amount of work at it.
Using water to test the accuracy of OXO's Good Grips dry measuring cup.
Dry ingredients are too imprecise – they pack differently from scoop to scoop. Instead, we measured water, which is constant from fill to fill. We used a calibrated scale that reads down to 0.01 grams to measure the water, then compared that to the NIST standard for volume.
The big difficulty is the meniscus.
Forming the meniscus while testing the KitchenAid Classic measuring spoon.
Water’s surface tension draws up the center of the liquid higher than the edges, and the correct measurement is to the center. I set a spoon on the scale, knelt down so that my eye level was even to the top of the spoon, and gradually filled the spoon drop by drop with a syringe. As the level got close,
I would see the top of the meniscus each time a drop disturbed the water. I would stop and check the measurement as soon as I could see still water. I repeated each measurement three times, and found I could consistently measure to within 0.1 grams.
Wet Cups
Dry and liquid cups were much wider than the spoons, and the meniscuses were more ambiguous. For those, I only trust the measurement within 1 gram.
Liquid measuring cups had one more problem – my scale only goes up to 500 grams, and the glass cups full of water were too heavy.
EASE OF USE
While I fiddled with a syringe, the rest of the team put our test subjects to work at things closer to their actual jobs. We had a jar of flour and used all of the dry cups, noting which ones fit in the jar, and which did not. We also considered which ones were easy to scoop, which were easy to level, and which had the best handles.
For a tougher test, we used slightly staled brown sugar. The sugar was hard and difficult to scoop. This told a lot about which handles are usable, and which ones get painful. This also showed a lot about the strength of the spoons/cups. The weaker ones bent and flexed under the force needed to scoop out the hardened sugar.
Using the SpringChef leveler to measuring out a tablespoon of flour.
For the liquid cups, we tried filling them from a tap and a bottle to different measurements, then pour them. This gave us a practical look at how easy they were to read and handle.
BUILD QUALITY
Build quality is a bit more nebulous, but after we were reasonably sure everything else was done, we tried to break our new tools.
The NoroPro Grip-Ez steel measuring cups found itself disqualified from this test with its rubber grip strap designed to harbor leftover food. A disappointment to say the least, coming in at our highest price point for measuring cups.
We tried bending the spoons and breaking the handles of the cups with our hands.
We looked at the measurement markings and tried to rub them off with a scrubbing pad. Any noticeable change was a bad sign for how they would hold up after dozens of washes.
We looked at the rings that held the sets together and bashed them around a bit on the counter to see how they’d hold up.
The Norpro EZ-Grip plastic cups featured the most challenging ring of them all.
Finally, we looked at any special features a set offered, and evaluated whether it was worthwhile.
Best Measuring Spoons
We’re dealing with small differences here. As such, we’re taking our usual 5-star scale down to three stars. These capsules aim to tell you everything we found in our test kitchen – good, bad, and just strange.
1. Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set
Product Rating Summary
The Cuisipro spoons are a metal set that includes the basic four spoons plus a ⅛ teaspoon measure. The bowls are oval-shaped, and the set hangs from a latching ring. One interesting feature is that the spoons have curved tails so that each one sits level on the countertop with surprising stability. Cost for the set is $15, one of the highest-priced sets in the test.
Accuracy
The Cuisipro spoons are one of the most accurate in the test, with both the ½ teaspoon and the teaspoon measuring exactly the correct amounts.
Ease of Use
The oval-shaped bowls proved to be a good compromise between round and rectangular. They fit well into spice jars, but were very easy to empty and clean. The set is medium in weight and features comfortable handles.
Build Quality
While it held up fine in the brown sugar test, we could bend the spoons a bit at the connection of the bowl and handle. The embossed markings a readable and appear to be durable. The ring is convenient, but the latch does not fit through the holes easily.
2. Prepworks by Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons
Product Rating Summary
The Prepworks by Progressive spoons are metal, and include the basic four plus a ½ tablespoon. These are our odd set, as they are not attached on a ring, but instead stack together with magnets in the middle of the handles. The design is double-ended, with each spoon having a round end and an oval end. The cost is $16, the highest in this test.
Accuracy
Accuracy was dead-on for both the ¼ teaspoon and 1 teaspoon, with both ends tested on both measures.
Ease of Use
We loved this double-ended design, providing the best of both worlds in a single spoon. They’re also very convenient to handle since you only use one spoon at a time. These spoons performed well with both the flour and brown sugar.
Build Quality
As good as they are, these spoons aren’t perfect. The handles are a bit bendy, and when they flex, the label-plate with the magnet separates a little bit from the handle. That label is also only printed on, and it faded a little with a little scrubbing. These spoons need to be treated gently, and I don’t think these will hold up for the long haul.
3. Spring Chef Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Spoons
Product Rating Summary
The Spring Chef set are metal, and contain the usual four plus a ¾ teaspoon, a ⅛ teaspoon, and a leveler. The leveler has a flat side for leveling spoons, a pointy bit for cleaning stuff out of the corners, and a 2-inch ruler. The spoons have rectangular bowls and hang from a latching ring. Cost is $12, a little over the average mark.
Accuracy
Close to a top score, but just a smidge off. The ¼ teaspoon was right on, but the 1 teaspoon was high by 2%.
Ease of Use
The rectangular bowls are very easy to use, especially in tight circumstances. The handles feel substantial, but the edges are a little sharp. The leveler is an interesting idea, but not that useful. It’s no better than a butter knife, but you have to take it off the ring or arrange the whole mess just right. Nice idea, but not that good.
Build Quality
The handles are solid, with a little crosswise curve for stiffness. The rims of the bowls are reinforced to protect them while being bashed around. Markings are engraved near the bowls and easy to read. The ring is convenient, but the latch has to be maneuvered through the holes.
4. Easylife 18/8 Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Spoons
Product Rating Summary
The 1EasyLife spoons are a metal set, and include the basic 4 plus ¾ teaspoon and ⅛ teaspoon. The bowls are rectangular, and they hang from a latching D-ring. The price was $10, about average for the sets in this test. Like the Cuisipro, these spoons have curved handles to sit steady, but unlike that set, these spoons don’t sit level.
Accuracy
The 1EasyLife spoons were nearly perfect in this test. The ¼ teaspoon measurement was spot-on, while the tablespoon was just 0.1 mL over the standard.
Ease of Use
The rectangular shape is extremely convenient for getting into small jars. Some of the curved handles are comfortable and easy to grip, while others are awkward. The handles overall are moderately comfortable, though the edges can be a bit jabby when digging into the brown sugar.
Build Quality
Though medium in weight, the spoons resist bending fairly well. The engraved markings are readable, and the shape of the handle should protect them from damage. The D-ring is fine, but the long ends of the handles block it from sliding around completely.
5. U-Taste 18/8 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Product Rating Summary
The U-Taste spoons are metal, and contain the base four, plus a ½ tablespoon, ¾ teaspoon, ⅓ teaspoon, ⅛ teaspoon, and 1/16 teaspoon measure. I’ve never seen the ⅓ teaspoon before, nor have I seen a recipe that calls for such a thing. The spoons have round bowls and hang from a latching D-ring. Cost for this set is $14, one of the high-priced ones.
Accuracy
Accuracy was mixed for the U-Taste, with the ½ teaspoon reading 0.1 mL under the standard, but the 1 teaspoon measuring 0.4 mL over what it should.
Ease of Use
This set of spoons has deeper bowls than some of the other round models, and that was very helpful when trying to dig into the sugar. The handles feel pretty raw, and dig into the skin a bit. The set is also pretty heavy and awkward since it has so many spoons.
Build Quality
These are built to last. The handles are very stiff, and they feel very solid. The markings are engraved and read easily. The D-ring is a good choice, and the holes in the handles are very large, so it moves easily.
6. Prepworks by Progressive Ultimate 19-Piece Measuring Cups & Spoon Set
Product Rating Summary
The Prepworks by Progressive Ultimate set contains both plastic measuring spoons and dry cups, and wow, does it have a lot of them. In addition to the core set, there are 2 teaspoon, ½ tablespoon, ⅛ teaspoon, 1/16 teaspoon, and 1/32 teaspoon measures. Those last two are, uh, probably not useful. The set is held together with a plastic oval ring with a ball-and-socket closure. Price for the whole set is $8 – extremely inexpensive.
Accuracy
This was the most inaccurate set of spoons in the test. The teaspoon was 10.2% too large, and the ¼ teaspoon was 7.7% oversize. These are significant flaws, and could botch a baking recipe. I’d love to test the 1/32 teaspoon just for fun, but even the 0.01 gram scale couldn’t adequately account for something as small as 0.31 mL.
Ease of Use
We were surprised by how well these spoons actually worked. The spoons are extremely comfortable and level well. They can’t scoop the tough brown sugar well, but they’ll do.
Build Quality
Better than expected. These spoons bend, but they don’t break. The markings are well-placed on the back of the handle and are well-embossed. On the bad side, the oval ring is terrible. All the spoons really have to sit on one side, so it’s awkward to maneuver, and it falls apart with the slightest bump.
7. Amco Advanced Performance Measuring Spoons
Product Rating Summary
The Amco spoons are a metal set of the basic four spoons. The bowls are round, and the spoons hang from a latching ring. Cost was $13, which was above average.
Accuracy
The Amco spoons scored poorly for accuracy. I tested the tablespoon at 13.6 mL, 8.1% less than the correct measurement. The teaspoon measured 4.5 mL, also 8.1% less than the correct measurement.
Ease of Use
These spoons felt generally good, with sturdy, comfortable handles. One problem we found is that the bowl of the spoon sits slightly below the handle. This makes them hard to level, since the knife has to slide backward over the bowl instead of the usual forward movement.
Build Quality
Despite their sturdy feel, the Amco spoons have a tendency to bend where the handle meets the bowl. The engraved markings are readable and look like they’ll last. The latching ring is convenient and moves easily through the large handle holes.
8. New Star Foodservice 42917 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons and Measuring Cups
Product Rating Summary
The New Star spoons are part of a set of spoons and dry measuring cups. The spoons are metal, and include the basic four. The bowls are round, and they hang from a split ring. Cost for the set is $13, below average for this roundup when considering they’re part of a set with cups.
Accuracy
Accuracy for this set was solid. The ¼ teaspoon measured right on the money; the ½ teaspoon was about 2% on the high side.
Ease of Use
These spoons are extremely basic, to the point of feeling unfinished. The edges feel raw and sharp, cutting into your hand as you scoop even flour. The brown sugar was quite uncomfortable to dig.
Build Quality
These spoons are extremely bendy, with thin, tiny handles. The ½ teaspoon was slightly bent right out of the package. The edges, as noted before, feel unfinished and sharp. The engraved marks are readable, but oddly written. The split ring is fine, as long as you never want to take one off for something.
9. KitchenAid KE057OHAQA Classic Measuring Spoons, Set of 5, Aqua Sky/Black
Product Rating Summary
The Kitchenaid spoons are a plastic set including the four basic spoons plus a ½ tablespoon measure. The bowls are round, and the spoons hang from a plastic ring secured with shrink-tubing. The price was $4, one of the cheapest in this roundup.
Accuracy
The accuracy was reasonable for the Kitchenaid spoons, and was the best of the plastic sets in our test. The tablespoon was 2.7% too large, while the ½ teaspoon was worse at 8% too large.
Ease of Use
The Kitchenaid spoons have an arch in the handle that is a bit awkward. Each spoon can balance level on its handle, but they’re really hard to separate, so I don’t know that it would ever come up. That arch makes them harder to level with a butter knife, since the knife doesn’t move cleanly down from the handle to the bowl. The holes are coated in rubber, and while the connection is tight, it’s still a worry for cleaning as it changes over time.
Build Quality
These are not strong spoons, and they did not hold up well in the brown sugar test. We snapped one by hand without any significant effort. These things won’t last. The markings are very good and embossed very high. I think the marks will age better than the spoons. The ring is acceptable, but you can’t take spoons off easily, and I don’t trust it over the long haul to stay shut.
10. Chef Craft 42019 Measuring Cups, 10 Piece Set, Green
Product Rating Summary
The Chef Craft spoons were part of a set that includes both spoons and dry cups. The spoons are plastic, and the set adds a ½ tablespoon and ⅛ teaspoon to the basic four. The bowls are round, and the spoons hang from a plastic ring with a ball-and-socket closure. Cost for the set was $4.50 – well below average.
Accuracy
Accuracy was a mixed bag for the Chef Craft spoons. I tested the tablespoon at 14.6 mL, just 1.4% less than the standard. The teaspoon was farther off at 5.4 mL, a whopping 10.2% over the standard.
Ease of Use
These spoons are flimsy plastic and extremely bendy. They could not scoop the brown sugar at all. The handles are comfortable.
Build Quality
Build quality is low, as you might expect for less than $5. The handles are unworkably bendy (though we could bend one double without breaking it). The markings are good, but even after a matter of hours they are starting to pick away. The ring is terrible and falls apart at the slightest force. The spoons can’t fit around the ring joint, so they have to be used in one orientation.
Best DRY MEASURING
CUPS
1. OXO 11111102 Good Grips Plastic Measuring Cups, 6-Piece
Product Rating Summary
The OXO plastic set has the usual four cups plus a ⅔ cup and a leveler/hanging hook. The unusual feature on this set is that the cup handles snap together for storage. The cost is $8, making this one of the most inexpensive sets in the test.
Accuracy
This set is one of our best for accuracy, with the ¼ cup spot on, and the 1 cup just 2mL short of the standard.
Ease of Use
These handles were extremely comfortable, and the thumb rests naturally in a little rest on top. In this position, they scooped brown sugar better than any of the other plastic cups. The leveler is no better than a butter knife, but the snaps are a great way to keep the set together.
Build Quality
The cups are sturdy and well thought out. The handles increase in thickness after the joint for easier handling, but there is a section of handle level with the rim of the cup for easy leveling. There are two sets of marking, and both are easy to read. The ¼ cup and ⅓ cup are imbalanced and can’t hold up their handles.
2. Simply Gourmet Stainless Steel Measuring Cups 7 Piece
Product Rating Summary
The Simply Gourmet set is metal and contains the basic four cups plus a ¾ cup, ⅔ cup, and ⅛ cup. This set stores on a latching ring. All but the smallest cup have secondary markings on the inside of the cup. The cups have a small pour spout on the left side. Cost for the set is $24 – pretty pricey.
Accuracy
Tied for best-in-the-test with the OXO plastic set, the ½ cup is dead on, and the 1 cup was just 2 mL high.
Ease of Use
The handles are short, but have a nice thumb groove for a good grip. If you change your grip, though, the corners are pointy and unpleasant. The rims dig nicely into the hard sugar.
Build Quality
The handles are a little bendy and stubby, but the design of the cups is excellent. The rim has a little roll for strength, and the pour spout is a nice touch. The markings are great, with engraved marks on the handle and embossed markings on the bowls.
3. Norpro Grip-Ez Measuring Cup Set Of 6 New Bpa Free Plastic
Product Rating Summary
The NorPro plastic cups come in a set of six, with the four usual cups joined by ¾ and ⅔ cups. The cups are held together by a plastic triangular ring with a ball-and-socket closure. The price for this set is $7 – very reasonable.
Accuracy
The NorPro plastic cups were mid-pack in accuracy with the ¼ cup 5.1% short of the standard and the 1 cup 3.8% low.
Ease of Use
The handles are comfortable and provide a good grip. There’s a bit of flex on the brown sugar, but they could handle it. Annoyingly, these cups are unbalanced and can’t hold up their own handles. If you keep your cups on the ring for storage, you will not like this ring, which was extremely awkward to deal with.
Build Quality
These cups were solid for plastic, with very easy-to-read markings on the handles. The design of the handles has perpendicular ridges on the bottom for stiffness, but that leads to little pockets at the attachment that are tough to wash. The 1 cup is not quite level.
4. OXO 11132000 Good Grips Measuring Cups with Magnetic Snaps, Stainless Steel
Product Rating Summary
The OXO metal cups come in a set of the basic four. The interesting feature of this set is that the handles are held together by magnets. The handles have a rubber top and plastic bottom sandwiched around the metal. This set costs $20 – one of the expensive sets in this group.
Accuracy
These cups were very good for accuracy, with the ⅓ cup just 1 mL too big and the ½ cup 2 mL too large.
Ease of Use
These handles are a problem. They’re comfortable on the top and bottom, but sharp on the edges, right where your fingers rest when trying to scoop the brown sugar. The magnets are a nice idea, but not powerful enough relative to the weight of the cups to really keep them together unless perfectly positioned.
Build Quality
Construction on these is solid. We were worried about the three-part handles, but when we bashed them around, we couldn’t separate the materials. There are some awkward places on the underside of the handle where washing is difficult. Unlike the other cups in this roundup, the markings are not engraved or embossed, and won’t last too long. The ¼ cup and ⅓ cup are imbalanced and won’t hold themselves up.
5. Bellemain Stainless Steel Measuring Cup Set, 6 Piece
Product Rating Summary
The Bellemain set is metal, and contains the basic four cups plus a ¾ cup and ⅔ cup. The cups are held together by a ball-chain. Cost for the set is $19, which is on the expensive side.
Accuracy
These cups were medium in accuracy. I tested the ⅓ cup as 2.5% short and the ½ cup at 1.7% short.
Ease of Use
The short handles on these cups were awkward, and dug into our hands when scooping brown sugar. The corners are especially jabby. The rim of the cup dug nicely into the hard sugar.
Build Quality
The handles on these cups are bendy, but the cups themselves are solid, with a nice little roll on the rim for reinforcement. They store very compactly, but the chain will not hold them together effectively. The engraved markings are on the small side.
6. Prepworks by Progressive Ultimate 19-Piece Measuring Cups & Spoon Set
Product Rating Summary
The Prepworks by Progressive Ultimate comes as a set with both spoons and cups. The set is gigantic, and includes a 2 cup, 1¾ cup, 1½ cup, ¾ cup, ⅔ cup, and ⅛ cup beyond the basic four. It comes on two plastic oval rings with ball-and-socket closures. Cost for the set is $8 – very cheap, especially considering it comes with spoons too, and is big enough for two kitchens.
Accuracy
Accuracy here was not good. The ½ cup was 6.8% too large and the ⅓ cup was 6.3% on the big side.
Ease of Use