topic Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH? in Recipes

A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:33:32 GMT

Not providing the link, but saw an article today from betterreport dot com.

What's the difference between a pinch, dash or spalsh? Are they the same?

What about a glug, splash or drizzle ... or a knob of butter?

Here's an excerpt:

Home cooking isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re anything like Homer Simpson and have started a fire while making cereal. But if you’ve followed a recipe, you’ve probably heard culinary terms like pinch, dash, and splash. While those measurements may sound vague, they’re shorthand for exact amounts you should adhere to while making your meal. If you don’t pay attention and use a pinch instead of a dash, you could wind up with an utterly under-seasoned meal. Here are tips for decoding any of those seemingly confusing recipe instructions.

Pinch vs. Dash

Both pinch and dash sound like equally tiny amounts that you add to food, but a dash is double the size of a pinch. A dash equals 1/8 of a teaspoon, whereas a pinch equals 1/16. There are shorthand terms for even smaller amounts as well, including smidgen (1/32 of a teaspoon) and drop (1/64 of a teaspoon). There’s also “hint,” which equals the extremely negligible amount of 1/128 of a teaspoon. On the flip side, you’ve got a “tad” — the largest of any of these amounts at about 1/4 teaspoon. It’s best to buy a set of smaller measuring spoons to portion out these exact amounts.

This was all news to me! lol

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Ainhisg — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:47:34 GMT

I have three sets of the Pourfect measuring spoons. Does anyone remember those? Anyway, they have spoons for dash, pinch, and smidgen, and I do use them. Best measuring spoons and cups ever made imo.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Hoovermom — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:50:57 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
I have three sets of the Pourfect measuring spoons. Does anyone remember those? Anyway, they have spoons for dash, pinch, and smidgen, and I do use them. Best measuring spoons and cups ever made imo.

@Ainhisg : Those are so cool.......my DM was a fabulous cook, and I would ask her how much of something went into a recipe. Her answer was a pinch of that, a dash of this, and a smidgen of this LOL. To this day I am still a horrible cook.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

WORKING GAL — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:41:46 GMT

@Ainhisg- I have the measuring spoons, cups and Pourfect bowl set. I gave my purple set to the my daughter as they were too dark for me to read the measurements. I have the golden yellow set and I wish they would have put the measurements in a contrasting color so they were easier to read. I do use them all the time and like that the cups and bowls are microwave safe.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Sooner — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 20:45:01 GMT

It is whatever I want it to be! I love to cook by whatever I feel like at the moment and I'm a great cook!

I can make up recipes on the moment, think of creative things to add, and almost always measure something then put in a little extra to add a little more zip.

I think it scares my hubby, but recently he has started cooking more "on the edge" and has come up with some winners!

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Tinkrbl44 — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 02:30:15 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
I have three sets of the Pourfect measuring spoons. Does anyone remember those? Anyway, they have spoons for dash, pinch, and smidgen, and I do use them. Best measuring spoons and cups ever made imo.

@Ainhisg

Wow, I'm impressed .... three sets?

The company is probably out of business by now.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Carmie — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 03:01:55 GMT

I only follow recipes exactly for baked goods like cakes and cookies. I've never seen one that said a pinch, dash or splash.

If I am making bread or some other yeast dough, I go by sight and feel....and use a scale for measurement, but some adjustments are always needed.

I don't really use written recipes for cooking. I just go by what I think the measurement is and never use measuring spoons or measuring cups.

I do make an old world cookie that uses yeast. The recipe is old. The directions say to use a coffee cup when measuring flour. I have always wondered what size coffee cup.

The recipe always comes out great, but I have to play around to get the dough just right.

@Tinkrbl44 Your post was enlightening. I learned something.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Ainhisg — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:17:25 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@Ainhisg wrote:
I have three sets of the Pourfect measuring spoons. Does anyone remember those? Anyway, they have spoons for dash, pinch, and smidgen, and I do use them. Best measuring spoons and cups ever made imo.

@Ainhisg

Wow, I'm impressed .... three sets?

The company is probably out of business by now.

Yup...I cook/bake almost daily. They're not out of business; the website indicates that it is wholesale only, but the cup/bowls/spoons are available from Amazon and perhaps other places.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

candys mine — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:24:41 GMT

@Carmie If your recipe is from the U.S the measure for a coffee cup is 8oz. The Measure for a Tea cup is 6 oz. The measures may be different if your recipe came from " The Old Country"

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

wagirl — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:08:06 GMT

I do have stainless steel measuring spoons that have those tiny measurements--except the splash.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

RedTop — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 16:54:10 GMT

I don't give these terms a second thought, just throw in what I want and move on. There are 2 handwritten recipes by Mamaw in one of her old cookbooks that say a dash of cinnamon, which means I open the top of the cinnamon and flip it hard once for a quick dash into the bowl. A pinch of nutmeg is what fits between my right index finger and my thumb.

Those interpretations have been made clear to my daughters and are written on those recipes in case they forget.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

lynnie61 — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:12:35 GMT

@Carmie It's NOT our size coffee cup, that's for sure. 🤣🤣.

Re: A PINCH, DASH OR SPLASH?

Icegoddess — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:53:06 GMT

@wagirl wrote:
I do have stainless steel measuring spoons that have those tiny measurements--except the splash.

@wagirl I have those too, as well as a set of 2 tsp, 1 1/2 Tbs, & 2 Tbs, and a set of 2/3 Cup, 3/4 Cup, & 1 1/2 Cup.

Something you don't often see is 1/3 tsp in any of the sets. My mother had a set of copper measuring spoons I saved mostly for sentimental purposes, that had a 1/3 tsp spoon in it. I finally found a plastic set that had the 1/3 tsp spoon in it when I was looking for something to measure hair color after changing the measure so as to not have so much waste.

Being exact with measures is a thing with me. I remember being sent to a management class and one of the first things the instructor told us to do was to draw a straight line. She then said: Now, the Engineers in the group are looking for something to use as a ruler. Yep, that was me.

I do find it frustrating when I get something for the garden, but I only need to use a small amount and have to figure out the dilution rate.