Why Pastry Chefs Measure By Weight to Bake

Summary

The video script emphasizes the unreliability of volume measurements in cooking, advocating for the use of scales for accuracy. It demonstrates how different scooping methods for flour can result in significant weight variations, affecting recipe outcomes. Examples of measuring chopped walnuts and eggs highlight the inconsistency of volume measurements. The script illustrates the point with brown sugar packed in various ways, showing drastic differences in weight. It concludes with a baking demonstration comparing cookies made by weight versus volume, underscoring the superiority of weight measurements for consistent results.

Takeaways

• 📏 Avoid using volume measurements like cups and spoons for accuracy in cooking and baking.
• 💰 Investing in a scale, even the most basic one, is more beneficial than the most expensive measuring cup.
• 👨‍🍳 At ICE, culinary and pastry students are taught the importance of using scales from the very beginning.
• 🔍 Different methods of scooping and leveling flour can result in significant weight differences.
• 📝 Recipes that call for volume measurements can lead to inconsistent results due to variations in interpretation.
• 🥜 Measuring chopped walnuts before and after chopping can result in different weights, impacting the recipe outcome.
• 🥚 The weight of eggs can vary greatly, affecting the consistency of a recipe if not measured accurately.
• 🍬 Packing sugar differently can lead to vastly different weights, emphasizing the unreliability of volume measurements.
• 🍪 Baking cookies with weight measurements ensures consistency, unlike those baked with volume measurements.
• 👀 Visual comparison of cookies baked by weight versus volume measurements shows a marked difference in outcome.
• ⚖️ For reliable and consistent results in cooking and baking, using a scale for weight measurements is recommended.

Q & A

Why does the speaker argue against using volume measurements for cooking?

The speaker argues against using volume measurements because they are inconsistent and can lead to different results each time, affecting the quality and consistency of the final product.

What is the main advantage of using a scale according to the script?

The main advantage of using a scale is its accuracy and consistency, ensuring that the same amount of ingredients is used every time, leading to a uniform final product.

What is the first lesson taught to culinary and pastry students at ICE regarding measurements?

The first lesson taught at ICE is to avoid using volume measurements and instead use weight measurements with a scale for more accurate and consistent results.

How does the method of scooping flour affect the weight when measured with a scale?

Different methods of scooping flour, such as simply scooping or spooning and leveling it off, can result in significantly different weights when measured with a scale.

What is an example of how volume measurements can lead to inconsistencies in recipes involving chopped walnuts?

Measuring one cup of chopped walnuts can result in different weights depending on how finely they are chopped before measuring, leading to inconsistencies in the recipe.

What is the average weight of a large egg, and how can it vary?

The average weight of a large egg is about 50 grams, but it can vary widely, resulting in different weights when measured without a scale.

How does the packing method of brown sugar affect its weight when measured by cup?

The packing method, whether lightly packed, tightly packed, or further packed, can result in a significant difference in weight of brown sugar measured by cup.

What is the main message conveyed by the comparison of chocolate chip cookies made by weight and by volume measurements?

The main message is that cookies made by weight measurements are consistent and uniform, while those made by volume measurements can vary greatly in size and appearance.

What is the speaker's recommendation for ensuring product consistency in cooking?

The speaker recommends using a scale for measuring ingredients by weight to ensure product consistency, save time, and make people happy with the results.

Why are volume measurements considered 'the devil' in the context of this script?

Volume measurements are considered 'the devil' because they are highly unreliable and can lead to significant variations in ingredient amounts, affecting the outcome of recipes.

What is the practical demonstration the speaker uses to show the unreliability of volume measurements?

The speaker demonstrates the unreliability of volume measurements by comparing the weight of ingredients like flour, walnuts, and brown sugar measured by different methods, showing the vast differences in results.

Outlines

00:00

📐 The Inaccuracy of Volume Measurements

The speaker passionately argues against the use of volume measurements, such as cups and spoons, advocating for the precision of weight measurements using a scale. They emphasize that volume measurements are inconsistent and can lead to varying results in cooking and baking. The importance of using a scale is illustrated through an exercise at ICE, where culinary and pastry students compare the weight of flour measured by different scooping methods, revealing significant discrepancies. The video script also provides examples of how volume measurements can lead to different outcomes with ingredients like chopped walnuts and eggs, highlighting the unreliability of these methods. The speaker demonstrates the variability in measuring brown sugar by packing it differently into a cup, resulting in vastly different weights. The conclusion is that using a scale ensures consistent results and avoids errors in recipe execution.

05:06

🍪 Consistency in Baking with Weight Measurements

This paragraph emphasizes the benefits of using a scale for consistent results in baking. The speaker suggests that relying on volume measurements can lead to inconsistent outcomes, which can be problematic for both professional chefs and home cooks. They argue that using a scale saves time, reduces waste, and ensures that dishes turn out as expected. The speaker contrasts cookies baked by weight with those baked using volume measurements, showing a clear difference in the final product. The message is clear: for those who want to achieve consistency and satisfaction in their culinary creations, a scale is the essential tool to achieve this.

Keywords

💡Cut measurements

Cut measurements refer to the traditional method of measuring ingredients by volume, typically using measuring cups or spoons. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that cut measurements are unreliable and can lead to inconsistent results in cooking and baking, contrasting them with the more accurate weight measurements.

💡Volume measurements

Volume measurements are a method of quantifying ingredients by the space they occupy, which can be highly variable depending on how the ingredients are packed or handled. The video script illustrates the unreliability of volume measurements through examples, showing significant differences in weight when measuring the same volume of ingredients like flour or chopped walnuts.

💡Scale

A scale is a device used to measure the weight of ingredients accurately. The video's theme advocates for the use of a scale over volume measurements to ensure consistency and accuracy in recipes. The script mentions that even the cheapest scale is a better investment than the most expensive measuring cup.

💡Weight of a scale

The weight of a scale refers to the measured mass of an ingredient, which is the focus of the video's message. It is presented as a more precise and reliable method than volume measurements. The script provides examples of how different methods of scooping flour can result in vastly different weights, emphasizing the importance of weight for accuracy.

💡Culinary students

Culinary students are learners who are studying the art of cooking professionally. The script mentions that at ICE, the first lesson taught to both culinary and pastry students is the importance of using weight measurements over volume, indicating the foundational role of accurate measurement in culinary education.

💡Pastry students

Similar to culinary students, pastry students specialize in the art of baking and making desserts. The video script uses pastry students as an example to highlight the universal importance of accurate measurements in different areas of food preparation.

💡Consistency

Consistency in cooking and baking refers to the uniformity and predictability of a product's outcome. The video argues that using weight measurements ensures consistency, as opposed to the variable results that can occur with volume measurements, which can lead to different products each time a recipe is followed.

💡Chopped walnuts

Chopped walnuts serve as an example in the script to demonstrate the variability of volume measurements. The weight of a cup of chopped walnuts can differ significantly based on how finely they are chopped, illustrating the unreliability of volume measurements for ingredients that require processing.

💡Dark brown sugar

Dark brown sugar is used in the script to show the drastic differences in weight that can result from packing the sugar differently into a measuring cup. Whether the sugar is lightly packed or tightly packed can lead to a variance of nearly 100 grams, underscoring the theme of the video that weight is a more dependable measurement.

💡Chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are presented in the script as a tangible example of the differences that accurate weight measurements can make. The video shows a comparison between cookies made by weight and those made by volume measurements, highlighting the visual and likely taste differences that result from the two methods.

💡Reliability

Reliability in the context of the video refers to the dependability of a measurement method to produce the same results every time. The script argues that weight measurements are 100% reliable, while volume measurements are not, as they can vary greatly based on how ingredients are handled.

Highlights

Cut and volume measurements are unreliable and should be avoided in favor of weight measurements using a scale.

Even a cheap scale is better than the most expensive measuring cup for accuracy.

At ICE, culinary and pastry students are taught the importance of using scales from the very first lesson.

Different scooping methods when measuring flour with a cup can lead to significantly different weights.

Measuring chopped walnuts by volume can result in a 26 gram difference compared to weighing them.

Weighing ingredients like eggs and walnuts ensures consistent results every time, regardless of size or chop.

Volume measurements of brown sugar can vary wildly, from 129 grams loosely packed to 214 grams tightly packed.

Using a scale for brown sugar ensures the exact amount needed for a recipe, leading to consistent outcomes.

Comparing chocolate chip cookies made by weight vs volume measurements shows a marked difference in size and consistency.

Cookies made by weight are uniform and consistent, while those made by volume measurements vary greatly.

Using a scale for all measurements is the key to achieving consistent, high-quality results in baking.

Inconsistencies in volume measurements can lead to wasted ingredients and time, as well as dissatisfaction.

The importance of using a scale is emphasized from the very beginning of culinary education at ICE.

Examples of measuring flour, walnuts, eggs, and sugar demonstrate the unreliability of volume measurements.

Weighing ingredients eliminates guesswork and ensures precise, replicable results in cooking and baking.

The transcript provides a clear argument for why weight measurements using a scale are superior to volume measurements.

The practical demonstrations and examples given in the transcript effectively illustrate the benefits of using a scale.

Transcripts

Today we're here basically for me to convince  you that you should never use cut measurements or  

volume measurements as long as you live. They're  the devil. We're also specifically focusing on  

the difference between volume measurements, the  amount of space that something takes up, and also  

the weight of a scale, which is more accurate.  An investment in a scale — even the cheapest  

scale — is better than an investment in the most  expensive measuring cup. When we're here at ICE  

it is the first lesson that is taught to both  the culinary students and the pastry students.  

One of the first exercises they had to do today  was take flour and scoop flour in different ways  

using a measuring cup and then put it on the scale  to see the differences. Just doing it like that  

the measurement comes out to 137. Instead of  scooping they took flour, spooned it into it,  

leveled it off and then weighed that. This one  right here is 123. so just the very fact that  

you're taking a slightly different method  every time you're measuring flour gives  

you very different results. So to illustrate  further let's take some examples of what people  

measure when they're measuring a home recipe or  from a recipe book. The recipe says measure one  

cup of chopped walnuts. Does that mean that you  measure the walnuts after they're chopped? How  

finely chopped? You really don't know that and  what happens is you'll get different results  

every time. What if you measure your nuts  and then chop them as the recipe tells you?  

If you take one cup that comes out to 94 grams.

If you've chopped your nuts before  slightly, that comes out to 120 grams.  

As you guys can see, there's this huge difference  by just what you're using. Now if your recipe told  

you measure 120 grams, no matter what, chopped  or whole, you'll get 120 grams of walnuts.  

Sometimes a recipe will say measure two large  eggs the average egg okay is about 50 grams  

and they could actually vary really wildly. So  if you measure two eggs one time you could come  

up with 95 grams. If you could measure two eggs  another time you could come up with 105 grams. So  

as simple a thing as not using a scale, even for  eggs, will give you a very, very varied product.

Here's some dark brown sugar and we'll just  fill it up to the top, okay, and a proximal cup.  

To start off with, we come up with 129 grams.  Okay, basic simple cup measurement. The next one,  

if we do a lightly packed — just press it in  gently — we level it off. Okay, let's see what the  

difference is here, and on this one just lightly  packed: 184 grams. That's a huge difference.

Next one: tightly packed and by the  way everyone does different things and  

everyone puts different pressure on this so it's  going to be different for every single person.  

Further packed and we come up with 214. It's  like the perfect example that every single  

thing you do and every single cup you use  is going to give you a different product.  

They're 100% unreliable. If that recipe tells you  200 grams of brown sugar, that's it. You're done.  

It's easy, you'll never make a mistake and your  products will come out the same all the time.  

These are some chocolate chip  cookies that were done this morning,  

so these right here are according to the  recipe and these were done by weight.  

These are the same exact recipe, but  these were done by volume measurements,  

these were done by cup measurements — teaspoons,  tablespoons. We're going to bake this and then  

we'll compare later the original and then we'll  be able to see the difference. All right, perfect.

Our cookies are out of the oven and if you take  a look, this is by weight and these two here  

were done by students by cup measurements so  there's a marked difference. If i was doing  

this by weight measurement they will come out  like this every single time without question  

working with grams or weight as compared to volume  measurements. There's just tremendous difference  

so if you want your product to be  consistent, come out proper, save dishes,  

save yourself a whole bunch of time and make  people happy, using a scale is the way to go.