[sundvor]

Yeah - I started getting food boxes with picked ingredients that I cook every week a few years ago ... to add to the "cup" situation there's also the tablespoons/teaspoons situation they like to go nuts on their smaller ones.

My favourite was seeing "half" a tablespoon of something.. not having a full derivative of measurement devices for this unit, thankfully with 3 teaspoons to a tablespoon that was merely 1.5 teaspoon.

And then they have eg "sprinkle", "dash" and "pinch". As in "add a dash of water". Grr, those are _not_ beginner friendly units. I've destroyed a dish by adding a "big pinch" of salt (my fingers probably much bigger than theirs).

I find measuring with grams and millilitres much easier.

[cogman10]

Salt is the worst because a pinch of kosher salt is wildly different from a pinch of granulated salt.

That said, one key part of cooking is knowing when the measurements matter. Most herbs and spices will flavor a dish exactly the same if you add a teaspoon or a tablespoon.

Those measurements matter the most when there's a chemical reaction that's strongly influenced by the ratios. For example, having enough emulsifier in a cheese sauce.

[sundvor]

Yep - it was indeed a teaching moment for me. :-) Dealing with a bit of high blood pressure as well, I'm learning to err on the side of caution when it comes to salt.

[cogman10]

Suggestion for that, look into using MSG instead of salt.

Obviously doesn't work everywhere, but it does work in many places.