FOOD · POSITIVITY · KINDNESS
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Which one should you buy?
A clear glass cup with bold markings and a spout is the right tool for liquids, and the classic Pyrex is still the one to beat.
Pick | Why | Price |
My pick Pyrex Prepware 1-Cup Glass Measuring Cup | Accurate, with bold lines that are easy to read. Microwave and dishwasher safe, resists stains, and lasts for years. | About $17 (October 2026) See it on Amazon |
Best value OXO Good Grips 1-Cup Angled Measuring Cup | Light plastic with an angled scale inside, so you can read it from above without crouching. Not for the microwave. | About $12 Check the price |
Dry measuring cups are filled to the brim and levelled off. You can't do that with milk or stock without spilling it all over the counter. A glass measuring cup has room above the line and a spout for pouring, so you get an accurate measure and a clean counter.
It's one of those quiet, everyday things. Warming milk for hot chocolate, melting butter for a cake, whisking a dressing, measuring water for rice. It gets used a lot more than you'd expect.
Why liquids need their own cup
Dry and liquid cups hold the same amount, but they're built for different jobs. A dry cup is meant to be filled right to the rim and swept flat. A liquid cup has its top line well below the rim, so you can fill it, carry it and pour it without it slopping over.
The other thing is reading the line. Liquid curves up slightly where it meets the glass. The true measure is at the bottom of that curve, not the edges. Read it from eye level and you'll get it right. Look down from above and you'll pour too little every time.
That's also why you shouldn't use a liquid cup for flour. Flour needs to be spooned in and levelled off, and you can't level it in a jug.
Pyrex 1-cup at a glance
What | Detail |
Capacity | 1 cup (8 fl oz) |
Material | Clear glass |
Markings | Bold, in cups, ounces and millilitres |
Microwave | Yes |
Dishwasher | Yes |
What to look for in a liquid measuring cup
Clear glass with markings that won't fade. Glass stains less than plastic and the lines stay put.
A good spout. One that pours cleanly into a bowl or pan.
Microwave safe. For melting butter or warming milk.
A comfortable handle. It'll often be full of something hot.
The right size. A 1-cup is perfect for small amounts. A 2-cup or 4-cup is handy too, for stocks and sauces.
The Pyrex does all of that. The one niggle is that you need to crouch down to read it properly. If that's hard for you, the OXO angled cup lets you read it from above.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
Good for you if
You follow American recipes with liquid measures in cups
You warm milk or melt butter in the microwave
You want something that will last for decades
Skip it if
Bending down to read a line is uncomfortable: choose the OXO angled cup
You mostly make soups and stocks: a 4-cup Pyrex will earn its keep more
How to get the best from it
Measure properly
Set the cup on the counter, pour, then bend down so your eyes are level with the line. Read the bottom of the curve.
Sticky stuff
Measuring honey or syrup? Wipe the inside with a little oil first and it slides out.
Melt butter gently
Short bursts in the microwave, with a stir in between. Butter spits if you rush it.
Whisk in it
It's a perfect little jug for whisking eggs or a vinaigrette, then pouring straight where you need it.
Looking after it
Avoid sudden temperature changes. Glass can crack if it goes from very cold to very hot, or from hot onto a cold, wet surface. Let it cool on a dry towel or a wooden board.
No stovetop, no broiler. It's for the microwave and the bench, not a direct flame or element.
Don't stack it with metal. Scratches weaken glass over time.
Check it now and then. If it's chipped or cracked, retire it.
Read the maker's care leaflet for its own limits.
The one rule
Hot glass goes on a dry towel or a board, never straight onto a wet counter or into cold water.
Questions people ask
Can I use a liquid measuring cup for flour?
No. Flour should be spooned into a dry cup and levelled off. A liquid cup can't be levelled, so you'll end up with the wrong amount.
How do I read a measuring cup correctly?
Set it on a flat surface and bring your eyes down to the line. Read the bottom of the curve of the liquid.
Is Pyrex microwave safe?
Yes, the Pyrex measuring cup is microwave safe. Avoid sudden changes from cold to hot.
Glass or plastic measuring cup?
Glass stains less and can go in the microwave. Plastic is lighter and won't break if you drop it, but keep it out of the microwave.
Learn with it
The basics in Chef Jon's Kitchen School.
Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
