Topic: Measuring spoons

[emin-j]

I understand how critical the amount of Spice added to a Curry has on the final taste but I've only seen BIR Chef's use a ' Chef's Spoon ' to add Spices.

[Bobby Bhuna]

Hi
Bb sorry if my reply was not clear. I use standard measures, eg 1tsp=5ml and so on.
Commis

Hi Commis

So are you saying that you use measuring spoons or that your "from the cutlery drawer" spoons, when level, contain precisely the volume specified by the standard measures? If the latter is the case, I can't see how you can verify this. You must be assuming that your cutlery is the perfect standard size. E.g. I have teaspoons in my cutlery drawer that vary dramatically in size and shape.

Cheers

BB.

[Bobby Bhuna]

I understand how critical the amount of Spice added to a Curry has on the final taste but I've only seen BIR Chef's use a ' Chef's Spoon ' to add Spices.

Hi Emin-j

I agree with your point but for people like ourselves who are trying to replicate BIR curries, precision is important. I can quantify 1 tsp from a measuring spoon. I cannot however quantify E.g. a scant corner of a chef's spoon. What I am suggesting is that recipes posted quantify powders, liquids etc. in standardised units, as they currently do with weights.

Cheers

BB.

[joshallen2k]

I've only ever used measuring spoons for following recipes.

Emin-J does make an excellent point about BIR chefs using on the chef's spoon.

I still don't understand how they are able to cook a curry with a spoon and add spices from dry tubs without the whole thing getting pasty.

[Murkelo]

  Like you I use table spoons and tea spoons.. digital scales as well .. but when it comes to adding the ''hot stuff'' I do not measure properly but go by my taste, except when I cook for my wife and friends..the latter do not like it that hot.. Merry Christmas from Germany.
 

[commis]

Hi

Good point BB, Yes I do use bought measres, but find as long as I use the same tsp when measures not available, I can maintain the ratios. As for using a chefs spoon for smaller measures I will try and upload a diagram that shows the breakdown of the spoon into smaller parts. So standardisation of these units eg 1tsp, level =5ml, may help. So it's back to the kitchen and some rewriting to do for the kind recipe providers.

Seasons Greetings

Commis

[Secret Santa]

I can't believe that in the fifth year of this forum that we're still debating this!  :

This was settled, i.e. we will use metric measures, in the first 6 months of the forum start.

If this isn't in the FAQ it should be, and probably as the first point!

[emin-j]

SS I reckon at least 75% of the questions on the forum he been asked before over the past five years so nothing new there  Anyway haven't you got better things to do on Xmas eve Santa 

[Bobby Bhuna]

SS I reckon at least 75% of the questions on the forum he been asked before over the past five years so nothing new there 

Hahaha, and they'll be asked again and again. Gives people like me who have reading the threads for a couple of a years a chance to feel smart, and no doubt people who have been reading them for even longer a chance to feel smarter still

Merry Xmas!

BB.

[Razor]

Hi Bobby,

Far be it from me to suggest that precision isn't too important, but how precise are the chef's at our local BIR's?  They certainly don't use measuring spoons and I believe they just use the tip of there chef's spoons when adding quantities.  Also, when a chef writes a book, Im sure that the measures they give are based on what they "believe" they should be putting in and not really based on accuracy!  I think the same can be said about the length of cooking time.  There is no doubt that the length of cooking time can really change the taste of a final dish but I also don't believe the chefs time themselves over each dish either.

I do actually use measuring spoons most of the time but now and then, I just use a standard 5ml teaspoon and I've never really noticed any difference!  Sometimes when I watch cookery programs, and the chef sprinkles a quantity in the dish, and then suggest that it was only about a teaspoon, I get to thinking that their teaspoons must be the size of a shovel!  Do you see what I mean?

All the best for 2010,

Ray