<P> Many dry ingredients, such as granulated sugar, are not very compressible, so volume measures are consistent . Others, notably flour, are more variable . For example, 1 cup of all - purpose flour sifted into a cup and leveled weighs about 100 grams, whereas 1 cup of all - purpose flour scooped from its container and leveled weighs about 140 grams . </P> <P> Using a measuring cup to measure bulk foods which can be compressed to a variable degree such as chopped vegetables or shredded cheese leads to large measurement uncertainties . It is easier to chop down the units for a better measure . </P>

Where is a 1/4 on a measuring cup