Another good way to measure peanut butter is to take a larger pyrex measuring cup than the amount of PB you need and put 1/2 cup of water in it. Then measure the peanut butter into the water until the water is displaced to the amount of PB you need (i.e at the 1 1/2 cup line you would have 1 cup of peanut butter). Pour out water and then the PB will come right out.

Both great tips. I like the plastic wrap, because that will fit into a 1/2 or 1/4 cup measure easily. Thanks!

Great tips thank you!

Good tips; my method is to have a scale and a reference chart that tells me a cup of PB weighs ten ounces.

(Of course that same chart gets me in trouble with the Bakers Union when debating how much a cup of flour weighs. LOL!)

Well, darn, now I don't have any reason to use my fingers to scrape the last bit of peanut butter out of the cup. (grin)

I always considered it my "baker's bonus". Now I'm going to just forget I ever saw this thread....

Annie

annie, LOL, you could always lick the plastic wrap--I'm sure I will... ;-)

I measure PB the same way I measure chocolate. I stuff as much as I can in my mouth at once and then I eat it. Works perfectly everytime. Actually, I just use my rubber spatula. Next time, I am going to try the saran wrap method. I guess I'll have to make cookies to test it out!!

With anything sticky; PB, honey, syrup, I coat the inside of the cup with oil or non-stick spray. Then the food comes right out.
Clare

The measuring cup & water method is great for measuring Crisco too, and Crisco isn't nearly as much of a "baker's bonus" as peanut butter!

Great tips! I never would have thought of either of those - the wrap or the water!

I tend to "eyeball" stuff like that, simply because I don't want the hassle of trying to scrape them out and then wash the measuring tool afterwards!! Which is probably why I don't do much baking - I hate measuring lol!!

I go nuts when I walk in the kitchen and hubby or kids are measuring out butter for something like Kraft mac & cheese!! I keep telling them - you're not making a souffle!! It's not rocket science! Just put in a blob around the size of a tablespoon and you're good to go! Because, of course, who gets to wash the greasy measuring spoons? Me!

Lisa

I like the water tip! I might try that. I always eyeball peanut butter because trying to pack it exactly into a measuring cup just doesn't work. I made peanut butter cookies a couple of weeks ago and they came out fine.

For butter and shortening, I just use the sticks which have the tablespoons marked off.

I've used the water tip for years for Crisco. I actually remember being taught that in Home Ec by Ms Jones back in the 1970 (and then sharing it with my mother), so it's an oldie!! Never thought of using it for peanut butter though.... or plastic wrap either!

But I have to admit that I splurge nowadays and regularly buy the Crisco sticks. I still use Crisco for my biscuits and a few other things and it's nice to just unwrap the 1 cup stick and plop it into the flour and then cut in.

Grace

I use a Pampered Chef "Measure-All" Cup, similar to a Wonder Cup (which is the one that causes "interesting" comments each time it comes up in a post - LOL).

You place the inner cup at the measurement line, pack the "solids" into the 2-piece cup, then push the inner cup up and you have a perfectly measured amount that you can cleanly remove from the bottom of the plunger cup. NO waste, no mess, no guessing.... Bless the person who invented this handy kitchen tool.

-Grainlady

I was taught the water displacement method in Home Ec back in the '50's. (So now I've dated myself.) It's easy, quick, no waste, no mess, no guessing. And a LOT more economical (i.e. cheap), ;>)than Pampered Chef.
Rusty

But the plastic wrap allows you to pack the stuff into the cup without having to dig it back out.

The fat should float in the water. Not sure about peanut butter.

I've used the water tip for years with various things....something my DGM and DM did all the time. Clare's tip with the cooking spray came into play several year ago. Thanks to the swaps and Diana I have one of those push-up measuring cups too. They all work great but then there is nothing wrong with licking your fingers like Annie mentiioned...LOL! I'll be trying this method next time. Thanks for the tip!

David

Annie, don't you test the PB before you measure it???? I know that each evening around 10 pm, I check my jar to make sure it is still safe to eat.........

Peppi, That's exactly what Raymond does!! I know this only because there is spoon evidence every morning in the sink. See, and I thought he wasn't helpful around the house.

I do use the displacement method.

Peppi, I do check my jar at work most mornings, I've been neglecting my houshold duties in the evening, I guess.

Oh my gosh, I'd better go straight home tonight and check that jar of peanut butter to make sure it didn't go bad on me....

Annie

I have to take meds with something so I keep crackers and peanut butter by my chair in the living room for late night in case I forget, am not getting around good and don't want to go out to kitchen. I keep two jars by my chair. One for me and one for the dog [Jessie]. It's good to keep track of which is which. I usually have the chunky kind and him the smooth, but one time we both had the smooth........ Now I keep his plastic spoon right in his jar. It's for the best.

The best part about the plastic wrap is you don't have to wash the measuring cup!