Oxo, a well-known brand of kitchen products and accessories, makes a useful mini-sized silicone measuring cup.
The mini measuring cup holds up to 4oz of liquid, plus some overflow.
It’s easy to hold and pour, and relatively easy to clean.
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I bought one for use in the kitchen, as I couldn’t find a replacement for my 4oz glass measuring cup with worn-out markings, and another mini measuring cup for use in the garden.
Does it work well in the kitchen? Yes, although I tend to prefer glass measuring cups. For kitchen tasks, the Oxo silicone measuring cup is less susceptible to temperature swings.
I use my garden-dedicated mini measuring cup for measuring out liquid fertilizer, and other such things.
It won’t break, and it cleans easily.
There are less expensive silicone measuring cups out there. I bought this one because I trust the Oxo brand, and because the markings are very high contrast compared to what I’ve seen from other brands.
I’ve used mine to hold water, oil, vinegar, concentrated liquid-based fertilizer, and dry fertilizers, and can’t speak much about its resistance to other types of liquids or materials.
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Surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to hold odors, but I cannot guarantee you’ll have the same experience.
Price: $6.99
I’m mentioning this measuring cup because I have a very large bottle of way oil, and my machine has a small reservoir, making it too easy to overflow smaller funnels. I’m also prepping to change the oil in my vacuum pump. This seems like a convenient way to measure oil out.
I’ve had great experiences with the measuring cup in other uses, and it seemed like a good idea to bring it up for discussion.
I should add that, once I use a measuring cup (or other container) for non-food-safe liquids, it will never again be used in the kitchen, for food, or similar. Don’t mix up containers used for food and containers used for other purposes.
Pro Tip: If you’re going to put non-food-safe liquids in a container typically used for food-safe products, be sure to clearly mark it as such so as to avoid potential confusion or contamination.
In my freshman year of high school, my English teacher drank out of her water bottle, but it wasn’t filled with water. She had a separate water bottle that she filled with alcohol for clearing chalkboards or whiteboard. She was okay after doing a spit-take, and taught us all a valuable lesson that day.
fred
I use these Bonide cups for garden chemicals:
https://www.amazon.com/Bonide-912018-037321000-4-Ounce-Measuring/dp/B001B2XHS8
But I’ve bought mine locally and paid anywhere from $1 (in Y2k) to $2.49 (in 2019) – so I guess that Amazon adds on a few dollars in order to provide “free shipping.”
fred
Stuart’s comments about not wanting to mix use of containers for comestible versus potentially harmful substances applies to gardening and plants as well. My wife labels her measuring cups, pails, sprayers etc. She has some for plain water, ones for fertilizers, ones for pesticides and ones for herbicides.
Robert
We used to prefer glass measuring containers in the kitchen because of ease of cleaning. But it seems you used them when the kitchen is most cluttered with all the paraphernalia of making a recipe, and in the confusion they get knocked over and shatter. It’s no fun trying to find all the little shards. The best vacuum for sucking them all up is my shop vac, but it’s not welcomed in the kitchen. So we’ve been switching over to silicon or other plastics. Lee Valley has some cool ones, and then I can sneak in a tool purchase without too much outrage. “Just to get free shipping, Dear.”
Wayne R.
Today’s de rigueur granite/stone countertops really emphasize the mismatch between glass & stone. I try to use more metal or plastic containers, but also use bartender’s mats – nothing breaks and spills are limited.
Shocked
McMaster-Carr sells graduated plastic bottles, jars, and flasks [with screw-on tops] that are helpful for measuring liquids with a little precision, although they can get a little pricey.
Many people who “chew” reuse plastic drink bottles to spit in. More than once I’ve seen someone accidentally take a drink from their spit bottle thinking it was water or a soft drink. While this is (relatively) harmless but gross and somewhat amusing, it is also, as Stuart reminded us, important to: (1) keep food and drink physically separated from chemicals, (2) take a few seconds to label containers with their contents, and (3) avoid whenever possible using food and beverage containers for other purposes.
David
I use silicon measuring cups for smaller epoxy pours. They’re great, cleanup after the epoxy dries is just a flex and removing the remnants that pop off easily, and my stirrers don’t get stuck in them permanently. Very handy, and not terribly expensive. I’m not entirely sold on their accuracy for measurement, but they’ve been good enough for the work I’ve done.
Benjamen
That is a really good idea. I hate the thought of wasting plastic cups every time I mix epoxy.
Nick
I bought a set of silicone mixing cups from Rockler for this very reason. You get 4 different sizes for $5 and they look almost identical to the Oxo in the article.
Ryan
I bought the 8oz version of same mixing cup a while back. I use it for measuring the soap going into my foam cannons. I like it being soft and flexible. I know it will survive my big clod hoppers stepping on it. After 10 months of use, markings still look like new.
Adam
I picked up several of the Oxo containers years back when I had Sears points to burn. Still using them, but mainly in the Kitchen. Great for collecting bacon grease
eddie sky
Oh, this! I use a ramkin and its just to fragile if I drop to break. Great idea!
MM
The story of your teacher reminded me of an old saying:
Johnny was a Chemist, but he isn’t any more
Because what he thought was H2O was H2SO4.
Label your containers. Don’t use food containers for anything other than food.
Anyway these kind of flexible containers are handy for many tasks. I often mix epoxy and then need to fill a syringe with it. Flexible containers make it easier to get the epoxy in the syringe with less mess. And there is minimal cleanup or waste: wait for the material to harden then flex the container and the residue pops right out. This kind of thing has been around for a long time in niche trades. Dentists use rubber bowls for mixing plaster for making molds of teeth. Jewelers use them for mixing the material to make lost-wax molds.
JeffD
Generic silicone measuring cups are much cheaper. Oxo is a good brand. For the kitchen. Not the shop.