Measuring cups are a key item when baking, whether youre whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies or baking brownies. Regardless, measuring cups will provide accurate measurements for superior results. So what happens if you dont have a measuring cup?

You don’t have to use a measuring cup. Although it will make your baking life oodles easier, you can get by without one. The best option is to use a kitchen scale and weigh the water. You can also opt for teaspoons and tablespoons. As a last resort, eyeball it.

Hey! Im Michelle, a home baker thats enjoyed the past ten years in my kitchen whipping up all kinds of treats and bread loaves. While I typically have measuring cups on hand, I have baked sans measuring cups plenty of times. I’m here to tell you what works best.

Continue reading to learn how to measure a cup of water without a measuring cup!

3 Ways to Measure a Cup of Water Without a Measuring Cup

Water is a very common liquid ingredient in baking, and being precise is vital for the success of your baked goods. However, that doesnt mean you have to have a measuring cup for accuracy. Below are the top three ways to measure a cup of water without a measuring cup.

1. Kitchen Scale (Best Option)

Your best option is to use a kitchen scale not a regular scale. (Honestly, I recommend buying a kitchen scale to hand on hand, regardless. You will use it a lot more than you might think!).

• Switch on the kitchen scale. It wont work if you dont turn it on. (Duh, Michelle!)
• On top of the kitchen scale, place a glass cup. The cup should be empty at this point.
• Tap the tare or zero button. This will put the scale back to 0 so you can get an accurate measurement without the weight of the cup factored in.
• Pour water into the cup slowly until you reach your desired weight. Check the weight every now and again.

How much should it weigh? Well, that depends solely on how much water you need. Heres a handy chart to help you out.

2. Teaspoons/Tablespoons (Runner-Up)

Plenty of people have teaspoons and tablespoons in their kitchen drawer, even if they dont have a measuring cup handy. Does this describe you? Then you can rely on your trusty, smaller measurements.

Yes, this method is a little bit more of a nuisance. After all, one cup of water equates to a whopping 16 tablespoons and 48 teaspoons; youll spend a lot of time pouring and measuring. However, it provides top-notch, accurate results.

The only thing you need to know is how many teaspoons or tablespoons for the amount of water requested in your recipe. Heres a handy guide.

3. Eyeball It (Least Recommended, But Usable)

If you dont have a kitchen scale or any tablespoon or teaspoon measuring spoons, you will need to rely on your good ole eyeballs. Yes, this is the least accurate method, but it will still get the job done.

To use the eyeball method, you will need to find items that closely resemble your desired measurement and go from there. You can place these items inside or next to a glass cup to get a better idea of how much water you need to pour.

• cup = large egg
• cup = tennis ball
• 1 cup = apple

FAQs

Who knew you could measure water without using a measuring cup? (OK, but I still recommend investing in some good measuring cups.) If you want to learn more about this fun topic, Ive added a couple of commonly asked questions for you to check out.

What is the easiest way to measure 1 cup?

Of these three options, the kitchen scale is the easiest way to measure one cup of water. Thats because you dont have to fuss with guesstimates or pouring a million tablespoons or teaspoons. Simply pour the water until you reach the desired weight and viola!

How do you measure a cup with your hand?

Water can theoretically be measured with your hand. (I dont know if anyone will appreciate you doing this, though). If you decide to use this method, you will need to fill up your cupped hands to the top with water. This is the equivalent of one cup of water although not very accurate.

How do you make a measuring cup?

You can make your own measuring cup, but you will need a scale or tablespoons and teaspoons to measure accurately. Either way, you can use a permanent marker to jot down the line when it reaches , , . 1, 2 cups, etc.

You Don’t Need a Measuring Cup to Measure Water

While I highly recommend investing in a measuring cup for future baking adventures, you can get by with a kitchen scale or using your spoon measurements. If all else fails, use approximations with other items in your kitchen.

Have you tried any of these methods? Do you have any more? Please assist us!