Metric Measurements In Nigella Recipes

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Nigella's recipes on Nigella.com give both metric and US cup measurements. For metric it has liquids measured by volume - so in millilitres (sometimes shortened to mls) or litres (L). Other ingredients are given by weight - grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Occasionally a liquid ingredient is given as a weight, such as the Chocolate Gingerbread, and this is usually sticky ingredients like syrup, as it can be easier to weigh the syrup direct from the container into the bowl or pan rather than transfer it to a jug to measure by volume.

We usually use a measuring jug to measure volume and these have marks on the side to show the quantity. You should put the jug on a flat surface, preferably with the marks on the jug at eye level, and then pour in the liquid to the correct measurement. For an accurate measurement you need to make sure that you read the line of the liquid in the jug at eye level, as looking at it from above or below can slightly distort the reading. Also, for most liquids the weight in grams is equivalent to the volume in millilitres (e.g. 500 millilitres equals 500grams). The main exceptions to this rule are syrups and oils. Occasionally some measuring jugs and pre-packaged items, such as wine or soft drinks or sodas, can be labelled in centilitres (cl). One centilitre is 10 millilitres, so if you need to convert from centilitres to millilitres multiply the centilitres by 10.