Baking is all about precision. If your measuring cups aren't accurate, they can throw a whole recipe for your favorite red ...

We'll see why later. But there's a trick that lets you calculate the exact amount of water needed to cook rice without using a scale or measuring cup, and you don't even need to remember any ratios.

Here are three methods to try. Before you scoop or pour a viscous ingredient like tahini or maple syrup into a measuring cup, coat its interior with a thin layer of neutral cooking oil ...