Weight vs. Volume

[dmbnpj]

Is the amount on the side of a Pyrex measuring cup measured by volume instead of weight?

 

[Bensiff]

Measuring cups measure volume

 

[dmbnpj]

So the amount of corn sugar is going to be larger in volume than weight?

 

[devilishprune]

I mean it's really hard to say, because sugar absorbs moisture from the air and what such, the density is going to vary. Most people just roll with 3/4 cup (volume) of corn sugar for 5 gallons.

 

[Bensiff]

So the amount of corn sugar is going to be larger in volume than weight?

It could be smaller it could be larger. When adding corn sugar you add by weight not volume. If you are asking this in regards to bottle carbing adding 3/4 cup is a generic amount based on volume and not weight. You would be far better served to use an online tool to figure out the actual weight of sugar you need for your given beer and then weigh out that much using an accurate scale.

 

[nebben]

Measuring cups measure volume.

Scales measure weight.

The two aren't necessarily interchangeable for something like sugar, which is more or less dense depending on many factors. You can guess pretty close though.

 

[Bensiff]

I would recommend against guessing. A liquid ounce is the volume one ounce (by weight) of water at 62 would take up. So unless you know what the average weight of a material to a given volume is you cannot really make a good estimate of what its weight is by its volume.

If you do not have accurate scales I would highly recommend getting a scale to measure by the lb/kg for grains and scale to measure gr/gm for brewing salts, hops, and such. The latter of which you can pick up surprisingly accurate ones from ebay for around $10-15.

 

[NorCalAngler]

Not to mention different styles require different volumes of carbonation. I cringe everytime I see a kit with a 5oz bag of sugar. I rarely use that much sugar to carb. You carb a pale ale much lower than you carb a Saison. This requires precise measurement of weight if you're bottling.

 

[tvtoms]

It's very very handy to have a nice kitchen digital scale. Easier to buy a bulk of corn sugar and weigh it based on priming sugar calculator and the specific batches characteristics. And when/if you end up bulk buying DME and hops etc, you'll sure need a scale. Resistance is futile!

 

[johnnyspade]

It's very very handy to have a nice kitchen digital scale. Easier to buy a bulk of corn sugar and weigh it based on priming sugar calculator and the specific batches characteristics. And when/if you end up bulk buying DME and hops etc, you'll sure need a scale. Resistance is futile!

I agree. My wife bakes, which is an exacting science, so between my measuring out for brewing and her baking, the scale gets a lot of work.

That measuring cup isn't smart enough to know what's in it so it doesn't work for weight.