I might seem really simple to buy some measuring cups and/or measuring spoons, but once you add any criteria to your search, it actually get’s quite difficult.
In need new measuring cups (normally 1/4 to 1 cup sizes) and measuring spoons (1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sizes) I started to search, expecting the hunt to last just a few minutes. That wasn’t at all the case though, because I had some requests that limited the number of products available by a huge margin…
My Criteria
Here’s what I was looking for in an measuring cup and spoon set:
- Made in USA, France, Germany, Japan, UK,. Norway, Italy
- Not sold through Amazon
- Not made of plastic or melamine
- No colorings or coating (brass, copper, etc.)
- New, not used or vintage
- Built to last
Maybe that seems like a crazy set up circumstances, maybe not, but finding kitchen equipment that matches the above is near impossible. Clearly there is some demand for such products because you seen brands coming up with desirable countries of origin in their names. For example:
Miu France products aren’t manufactured in France. I’m sure that this doesn’t matter to most buyers, but the name is confusing. If you search for “measuring spoons made in France” these will usually be the top result, or quite near it.
Possible Buys
- King Arthur Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
Stainless steel, 14-piece set, made in China - All-Clad Standard Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
18/10 stainless steel, 8-piece set, made in China - All-Clad Stainless-Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons Ultimate Set
Same as above, but 14-piece set, eye-watering $120 price - OXO Measuring Cups and Spoons Set
Stainless steel, 8-piece set, made in China - Liberty Tabletop Measuring Spoon
Made in New York, but expensive and made of pewter
My ideal would be measuring spoons from E. Dehillerin, but these are hard to track down if you aren’t in Paris. They don’t seem to have measuring spoons on their website, but I’m pretty sure they do sell them!
I’m sure there are other options out there, but I’m also sure that I’ve made too much of what should be a simple purchase.
Concluding The Hunt
Ultimately I ended up buying the All-Clad standard measuring cup and spoon set. The set is all made of 18/10 food grade stainless steel, it’s way over-built so it’ll last forever, and it’s nicely polished. Each of the cups and spoons are dishwasher-safe.
The kit is expensive — about $60 — but they come from a trustworthy seller (Williams Sonoma).
The range includes the following sizes:
- Cups: 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2- and 1-cup
- Spoons: 1/4-tsp, 1/2-tsp, 1-tsp and 1-Tbs
That’s the perfect selection for me. Any larger set will include off-sizes that I don’t need, like 2/3 cup or 1 1/2 tsp, which I can easily make using smaller sizes.
And that’s it for now. Check back for a full review in the coming weeks.