The Perfect Beaker

I can't help but think of Grandpa Munster when I wield my new Emsa Perfect Beaker Measuring Cup. This cone-shaped gadget, made of lightweight but sturdy plastic, measures in cups, ounces, tablespoons, teaspoons, milliliters and cubic centimeters, and pints. You can easily measure, for example, one cup plus two tablespoons, or combine different ingredients in the same container. Since it's narrower at the bottom, the smaller measurements are quite accurate. The Emsa beaker is supposedly designed for both wet and dry ingredients, but I don't think its shape is practical for precise measurement of dry ingredients because you can't level them off in this cup. It's terrific for liquids, though. The beaker has a lip around the top edge that makes pouring easy, and it comes with a plastic lid in case you want to shake ingredients together or store them. I find the lid a little hard to get on and off, but that's my only complaint. I still love Oxo's angled measuring cups, which allow you to measure while looking down instead of stooping, but this beaker is a useful addition to my kitchen. You can buy it at Amazon ($7.95).