Post by FroglegOn Fri, 07 Nov 2003 17:17:45 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
Post by Wayne BoatwrightPost by unknownPost by FroglegOn Fri, 07 Nov 2003 05:46:36 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
Post by Wayne BoatwrightPost by MaryI have a recipe calling for 8 ounces of whipped butter, but want
to use stick butter instead. How much stick butter would be
needed?
8 ounces is 8 ounces, regardless of the texture or volume. Try
whipping 2 stickes of slightly softened butter until fluffy. This
will better suit the requiremetns of the recipe.
Hmmm. Maybe not. Our wretched volume/weight measuring system
creates considerable confusion. I.e., 4oz of grated cheddar is one
(8-oz volume) cup, while 4oz of grated Parmesean is 1/2 (8-oz
volume) cup. Whipped butter is commonly sold in 8oz and 16oz tubs.
An 8oz tub sure looks like an 8oz volume to me. One could, of
course, weigh it. :-)
But then the recipe didn't state for " an 8 oz cup full".
Generally, in American recipes, if butter or solid shortening is
listed in ounces it means weight, not liquid (fluid), or cups full.
Otherwise, American recipes will state it in "cups" of butter or
shortening. Whipped butter or margarine has the amount listed on the
container as 8 ounces (weight). Whether it's whipped or not makes
little difference, except that the OP's recipe stipulated whipped. I
would assume that it's desirable to have a whipped texture to
contribute to the results.
I disagree. While butter and margarine are packaged by weight and
wrappers are often marked with oz (weight) measures, when a recipe
says "1 cup of shortening," I take a rubber spatula and mash the
requisite *volume* into a measuring cup. Americans don't (sweeping
generalization, as I just bought a scale) weigh things. We stuff
things into measuring (volume) cups. We don't cook with pounds of
flour, but cups.Those wily Europeans have cleverly separated
measurements into weight and volume, so that 100gm of grated cheese is
a consistent quantity, even if you use the fine side of the grater.
Now I'm going to have to go to the grocery store and weigh cartons of
butter, whipped butter, and butter-like-substance to prove my point.
I'll betcha, however, that the OP's "8 oz of whipped butter" refers to
volume/package size and not weight. Now if it were "8 oz of butter,
whipped" that'd be a different kettle of fish. Or butter. :-)
I'd be really interested to know. Generally, I agree completely with
what you're saying. However, I'm positive that the containers from the
store are in weight. The package of "4 sticks" of butter I have in my
freezer says Net Wt 16 oz. (1 lb) 454 g. My tub of vegetable shortening
say Net Wt. 48 oz. (3 lbs). That's weight, not volume, either solid or
liquid. Unfortunately, I don't happen to have a package of whipped
anything, but believe it will be weight. Please do post and let us know.
specifies.
"1 pound container of whipped butter or margarine".