Professional or amateur, keeping a tidy cooking space is no simple feat. Here at ES Best, no matter how simple the recipes that we attempt may be, our kitchen walls somehow become splattered with all sorts of colourful and stain-causing ingredients in a manner that even the late Jackson Pollock would admire.
Precision in the kitchen is both a skill and a virtue. Even after immense, intense training at cookery school, world-renowned chefs have been known to crack under pressure, resulting in slippery egg yolks on pristine tile floors.
But practice makes perfect and follow-along cooking videos on YouTube (RIP Bon Appetit Test Kitchen) may help budding cooks gain a true chef’s intuition without physically stepping foot in an industrial, professional kitchen.
Then, you can get to work accruing the many luxurious cooking accoutrements necessary for any aspiring chef’s home kitchen. From gleaming cherry red KitchenAid mixers to pristine copper pans, it’s easy to go gooey at the sight of Michelin-level accessories. We’d like to make the argument that the unsung hero of our cutlery and crockery drawers is a humble set of measuring cups.
We can scold the US all we want for refusing to convert to the metric system, but avid bakers and cooks know all too well that many recipes – especially older ones – will use dated imperial measurements. Measuring spoons typically reflect this, offering measurements from as little as one-quarter of a teaspoon up to a full cup.
Modern baking accessories will showcase the traditional cup measurement alongside its metric equivalent to make converting between systems a doozy. The key to an organised and stress-free kitchen is a brilliant set of measuring cups that will prevent the non-mathematical among us from getting lost in menial calculations, especially when it comes to doubling and tripling recipes.
We’ve curated a selection of the best measuring cups and spoons to complete your kitchen below. Excellent precision and mess-free baking is imminent.
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Joseph Joseph Nest Measuring Cups & Spoons, Set of 8
Masters of practical, stackable cookware, it’s no wonder that Joseph Joseph’s nesting measuring cups and spoons have made the top of our list. Designed to snap and lock together, you’ll never again lose that pesky quarter-of-a-teaspoon cup again. The eight-piece set is wonderfully compact, endlessly stylish and easy to clean.
Buy now £10.80, John Lewis
Simply Gourmet Measuring Cups and Spoons
Our runner-up for the best measuring cups award is this stainless steel set of 12 by Simply Gourmet. Complete with both imperial and metric measurements etched into the extra-long handles, these fantastic cups and spoons are complete with a handy flat-bottom design to prevent spillages. The spoon set in particular is ideal for narrow jars.
Buy now £24.98, Amazon
Dexam Measuring Cups Set with Egg Separator
Simple yet highly effective, these colourful plastic measuring cups display both metric and imperial measurements. Attached via a loop to prevent any cups from escaping, this value-for-money set also comes with an egg separator, as well as a leveller which is complete with incredibly useful conversion tables.
Buy now £6.00, John Lewis
Zeal Stack & Store Measuring Set Red
This sleek and stylish contemporary measuring by Zeal is all any home kitchen could ever need. Crafted from food-safe BPA-free plastic, this stackable set includes a one-litre jug.
Buy now £28.00, Harts of Stur
Splatterware Enamel Coated Measuring Cups Set
A fantastic gift for avid campers, these brightly coloured enamel measuring cups are sure to be spotted in the depths of backpacks. The set of four cups is connected with a metal ring and is available in three different hues.
Buy now £22.93, Etsy
Magnetic Measuring Spoons
Double-sided to make handling both liquids and solids a breeze, these colour-coded measuring spoons are made from durable stainless steel. The colour-coding system makes locating your measuring spoon of choice easier than ever, while the snap-together magnetic design offers space-saving brilliance.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
GuDoQi Measuring Cups and Spoons Set
Pretty and pink, these delightful rose gold measuring cups feature thick wooden handles for a non-slip grip. The cup itself is crafted from food-grade stainless steel and offers excellent longevity and precision by ensuring that grains and powders don’t stick to the base
Buy now £23.99, Amazon
Tresillo Ombre Gold Measuring Spoons
A beautiful gift for the avid baker in your life, these golden ombre measuring spoons combine aesthetics and functionality. Complete with a kitschy faux paperclip loop for the most stylish kitchens.
Buy now £24.50, Oliver Bonas
9 Piece Copper Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set with Engraved Measurements
Though copper cookware isn’t often a very budget-friendly addition to the kitchen, one can always start small. This nine-piece copper-plated, stainless steel measuring cup set is an eye-catching, durable, and practical baker’s accessory. The set also comes with two D-rings to keep the cups together, which is particularly useful for travelling bakers.
Buy now £22.00, Etsy
Sass & Belle Retro Pastel Measuring Cups - Set of 4
A pretty, practical and retro-inspired alternative to using a cumbersome set of scales, this set of four essential measuring cups will be a welcome addition to any baker’s workspace – not least for their aesthetic value. Each of the cups fits inside of one another for easy storage and is equipped with a handy lip for pouring out ingredients.
Buy now £12.72, Amazon
Verdict
Joseph Joseph’s nesting set of measuring spoons takes the cake for practicality and style, followed closely by the varied and ergonomic 12-piece selection by Simply Gourmet.
