On 4/29/2010 9:07 PM, graham wrote:
> "J. > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 4/29/2010 4:08 PM, graham wrote:
>>> "Dave > wrote in message
>>> om...
>>>> Lou Decruss wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I like the sets of nesting stainless measuring cups. They makes it so
>>>>>> much easier to measure quarters, thirds, half cups etc. I also like to
>>>>>> use my 2 cup Pryrex for larger amounts, especially liquids because
>>>>>> there
>>>>>> is room to add other things, like wet ingredients where an egg and/or
>>>>>> oil is required.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was under the impression the pyrex was only for wet measures and for
>>>>> dry you needed plastic or SS. Was I mis-informed?
>>>>
>>>> I was certainly never under that impression. My mother always used Pyrex
>>>> measuring cups. She had them in 1,2 and 3<4?> cup sizes. A cup is a cup
>>>> and when baking it is important to have accurate measurements. That is
>>>> easier to do with liquids than with dry ingredients when using a large
>>>> cup
>>>> . It is hard enough to measure one cup of flour in a measuring cup when
>>>> the 1 cup line is below the top of the cup. My biggest problem is when
>>>> you
>>>> have to measure a fraction of a cup of packed brown sugar. That is where
>>>> the nesting stainless cups are especially handy.
>>>>
>>> But with scales, one never has these problems.
>>> As for Pyrex measuring jugs, they must be the poorest pourers in the
>>> business and after a few years will frost over if they are put in the
>>> dishwasher.
>>
>> That's water hardness that causes the "etching".
>>>
> More likely the dishwasher detergent.

Researching further I find that we're both right, kind of. The harder
the water the more detergent you need. In very soft water you can get
"etching" from excessive detergent and from too high a water temperature.

Personally I've never had a problem with it--when I was in college a got
a set of tall glasses with Pepsi-Cola labels painted (or somehow marked)
onto them. That was more than 30 years ago and they've worn out two
dishwashers--the labels are now white but the glass is still as clear as
ever.

While scales are useful, you seldom find recipes with quantities given
by weight.