Liquid versus dry measuring cups in terms of cooking: Why do we need both? How do the volumes differ?

Answer 1

1 cup in a liquid measuring cup = 1 cup in a dry measuring cup.

The difference between the two is the liquid measuring cup has more container over the 1 cup mark plus a little pouring "spout" while a dry measuring cup is exactly 1 cup.

Measuring liquids it's easier to use a liquid measuring since liquids slosh around and liquids have a meniscus. The larger liquid container makes it easier to transport and pour liquids. Measure dry ingredients in a dry cup so you can level off the dry stuff to exactly 1 cup.

I find that if you only have one choice, I would use a dry measuring cup since dry ingredients are typically more critical in a recipe than the liquid ingredients so you want to measure the dry ingredients more accurately. Also, if you pour a liquid into a dry measuring cup, you're going to get the the desired amount, just don't spill it while you're moving it to the mixing bowl.

Answer 2

The measure appears the same but the way the tool is made makes the difference. It is difficult to level flour off to one cup in a liquid measure which has a portion of glass above the one cup line. It is difficult to fill a one cup dry measure with water and then pour it without spilling some or being exact.

Answer 3

ones a liquid and ones a solid, the volumes and masses differ from the two