Reviews you can trust.
See why.Measuring Spoons
Small design elements make a big difference.
Top Picks
See Everything We Tested
What You Need To Know
We stock approximately 200 measuring spoons in the test kitchen, as our cooks use them to measure everything from baking soda to olive oil. And while these tiny tools appear to be straightforward, a seemingly innocuous detail—numbers that are printed on the handle and fade over time or a connector ring that requires too much effort to pry open—can make some sets a pain to use.
We've stuck by our tried-and-true winning measuring spoons from Cuisipro for years, but with so many new designs on the market, we decided to retest. We chose seven sets priced from $4.99 to $16.68, all containing at least the five measures we frequently use in our recipes: 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, ¼ teaspoon, and ⅛ teaspoon. (We consider other sizes to be nonessential, so we excluded those individual spoons from testing where applicable.) The sets varied in design: Some were traditional, with a round bowl connected to a handle, and some were double-sided spoons that resembled barbells—a straight handle with a bowl on each end. One set also had bowls with sliders, which allowed us to adjust the measurement sizes.
We tested spoons for accuracy; repeatedly removed each spoon from the set and reattached it; measured ingredients of various textures (table salt, dried basil, ground turmeric, red pepper flakes, peanut butter, and brown sugar); and washed each set 20 times. We also asked users—some with large hands, others with small hands—to test each set. At the end of testing, we rated the spoons on accuracy, ease of use, and durability to form our rankings.
A Note on Accuracy
Accuracy is essential in cooking, especially when baking, so we tested accuracy with both water and unbleached all-purpose flour. We used our recommended dip-and-sweep method and weighed each spoon's contents on a high-precision scale to the hundredth of a gram.
Most measuring spoons were within an acceptable range, and any inaccuracies in the smaller spoons—the ½-, ¼-, and ⅛-teaspoon measures—were mere fractions of a gram. Of the larger spoons, though, three were problematic. When we measured water, one of the 1-teaspoon measures held, on average, 35 percent less than it should have. And when we measured flour, two 1-tablespoon measures ran too big—one model held roughly 32 percent more flour than it should have, and the other held a hefty 41 percent more.
Our test cooks design recipes to work even if you aren't using perfectly calibrated measuring tools, and we found the smaller spoons'inaccuracies perfectly acceptable given that they were off by only tenths of a gram. But we downgraded 1-teaspoon and 1-tablespoon measures that were inaccurate by 30 percent or more, as t...
Everything We Tested
Recommended
- Accuracy: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
Our winning spoons had a simple design that allowed for a continuous, bump-free sweep, with a ball-chain connector (similar to what military dog tags hang on) that was easy to open and close. This set's metal construction felt remarkably sturdy, and ingredients didn't cling to the stainless steel. And while the 1-tablespoon measure did not fit into all spice jars, it was a minor inconvenience for an otherwise easy-to-use set.
- Accuracy: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
We really liked this set's solid metal construction and its straightforward design that made it easy to level ingredients. The rectangular bowls were comfortable to maneuver into containers, and the 1-tablespoon measure fit into all spice jars—unlike those in most of the other sets in the lineup. While the attachment mechanism was mostly simple to operate, it sometimes required a little extra force, and the 1-tablespoon measure bent substantially when we scooped brown sugar.
Recommended with reservations
- Accuracy: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
This metal model felt solid and comfortable to use, and we liked that its thinner edges lent a “crisp” feel when dipped into flour, as the spoons cut into it with ease. But the 1-tablespoon measure held about 32 percent more flour than it should have; plus, it bent when we tried to scoop brown sugar. This model also had the worst attachment mechanism in the lineup, a hinged D-shaped closure that required a lot of force to open and pinched our skin once upon closing.
- Accuracy: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
These plastic spoons were comfortable to use individually and quite durable, but it was cumbersome to use one with all the others attached. There was a small ramp between handle and bowl that kept us from getting a level sweep, and flour, turmeric, and red pepper flakes occasionally clung to the plastic. Finally, the handles snap together for tidy storage, but the snaps were very tight and took considerable effort to force together.
- Accuracy: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
These stainless-steel spoons were fairly easy to dip and sweep, but the set's hefty 1½-tablespoon measure made it feel heavy and cumbersome at times (unless we detached spoons). Additionally, the 1-tablespoon measure held about 40 percent more flour than it should have, roughly 3 grams extra. The ⅛-teaspoon measure bent when we scooped brown sugar, and the round, hinged ring used to keep the set together rusted after multiple washings.
Not Recommended
- Accuracy: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
Users were intrigued by this magnetic set's design: a barbell-like shape with a round bowl on one end and a narrower, oval bowl on the other, both holding the same capacity. But it wasn't comfortable to grip the unused bowl while using the opposite end, and each spoon had a raised section in the center that accumulated excess flour. The narrower oval 1-teaspoon measure held less water than it should have—about 35 percent, or 1.7 grams, less—and the spoons bent easily, both when dipped into brown sugar and during hand-washing. The weak magnets failed to keep spoons neatly packed together. This set's 1-teaspoon measure was inaccurate, too, coming up about 35 percent short.
- Accuracy: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
This set had just two spoons, each with a slider mechanism that allowed us to change the size of the bowl to measure different amounts, with capacity options printed on the handle. But the sliders felt different; one clicked tightly into place, while the other was much looser, so much so that it slid backward when we scooped peanut butter, giving us way more peanut butter than desired. (We purchased a second set and found the same issue with the slider.) The handles had ridges that trapped ingredients, and there was a small step down from handle to bowl, so leveling wasn't fluid. Worst of all, the movable wall—the key design feature that makes the spoon adjustable—didn't form a tight seal with the bottom of the spoon, so ingredients sometimes slipped underneath into an empty chamber, which made cleanup more time-consuming. We had to snap off the cover pieces to access the empty chamber, and removing and replacing the covers also seemed detrimental to the seal, as afterward the larger spoon didn't hold liquid ingredients as well, allowing them to seep into the empty chamber instead.
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing.
0 Comments
