1/22/10

9 Kitchen Tip: Three Ways of Measuring Shortening

This is a great gadget for measuring peanut butter or shortening.  But I have to hand wash it... Don't have one?  That's okay.  I am going to show you two other sure fire ways of measuring shortening AND getting it out.
I needed 1/3 c. of lard for my tamales.  The lard was in a block with NO measuring guides.  What to do?  Just fill up a see-through liquid measuring up with 1 c. of cold water.

Then add shortening/lard until the water line reaches the desired measuring mark.  See the water touching the 1/3 line?  That means I have 1/3 c. of lard.  Make sure the shortening or lard is NOT sticking to the sides of the measuring cup.  Drain the water and you're good to go!

Don't have a liquid measuring cup?  Here's my 70's style Tupperware cup, packed tightly with shortening.  I take the straight edge of my table knife and push it all the way down the side...

and go all the way around the edge of the cup...

and repeat going all the way around the edge of the cup...you will see the shortening start to come out...You will only have to go around the edge of the cup about 4 times.

The shortening will just magically "pop" out.  No scooping.  No scraping.  See how clean that is?  Give it a try!


9 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great tips. I have the same measuring cup as you show in the first picture. I use it all of the time and really like it.

    I didn't know that you could measure lard in water like that. Clever!

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  2. I like the water method! I use an ice cream scoop with a release on it and I just scrape it off. My ice cream scoop measures 1/4 cup.

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  3. Carol, what a great idea! Love the ice cream scoop for more than just ice cream~

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  4. huh, I had never heard of the water thing, that is cool.

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  5. I push a piece of plastic wrap down into my measuring cup, fill with shortening and level off, pull on the plastic and out pops your measured chunk of shortening. When you are done just throw the plastic away.

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  6. Great tips, as always. What about those 70's style measuring cups?! I love mine!

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  7. You are full of great tips!! I'm bringing a pie for Thanksgiving and I'm looking at your pie crust tutorial and all the links! Thanks Frieda! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  8. I have a goofy question...does the lard have to be *under* the water? My husband says it does, but when I measure this way it usually just floats in the water, doesn't get submerged (unless I push it down so it sticks to the bottom).

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  9. Wendi ~ It will float and it doesn't have to be under the water. Just make sure that it is not sticking to the bottom of the cup. If it is sticking above the water AND sticking to the bottom, you will need either a larger measuring cup or measure your lard in smaller increments.

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