It also won’t stain or retain smells, and it’s heat-safe. Though it’s not entirely shatter-proof, tempered glass (which Pyrex is made of) is strong enough to resist breaking when you drop it. Plastic is less likely to break than glass, but it can still crack, melt, or warp, and it may pick up stains. Silicone is the most durable-it’s heat-resistant, and it won’t shatter-but it is also the most likely to pick up stains and smells.

Durable and stain-resistant: We included glass, plastic, and silicone cups in our testing because each material has different advantages in terms of how well a cup will hold up in the long run.We also favored cups that allowed us to measure out small increments of liquid: Although some liquid measuring cups have markings down to only ½ cup, the best allowed us to easily measure as little as ¼ cup. But bright, bold text may remain legible for longer (gentle hand-washing can also prevent the marks from fading). Unfortunately, most liquid measuring cups have printed-on markings, which can wear off over time. Well labeled: We looked for models with markings that were easy to read and that included measurements in cups, milliliters, and fluid ounces.

This is the most common size we see in home kitchens, and we think it’s the most useful: It’s more compact and easy to lift than an unwieldy 4-cup model and more versatile than a 1-cup model.

Available in a 2-cup capacity: Although you can get liquid measuring cups in multiples sizes (most commonly 1 cup, 2 cups, and 4 cups), we focused on testing only 2-cup models.

We also paid attention to the spot where the handle met the cup: If there’s a crevice there, or if the handle is raised above the edge of the cup, it can be tricky to cleanly sweep a knife across and level the ingredients.

Easy to fill and to level: We looked for cups that were wide enough to easily pour ingredients like oats or dried beans into.

Measurements marked in milliliters as well as in cups are also useful for converting European recipes, but, again, we didn’t consider this to be crucial. Half-measurements marked on the sides of the cups can be helpful (especially if you want to wash fewer cups), but they aren’t essential. Printed measurements can rub off over time, and measurements stamped on the bottom or inside of a cup are impossible to read if there’s anything actually in the cup.

Clearly labeled: We looked for cups that had measurements stamped or etched on the handle.

Short, wide handles help cups stay stable, and they can also be more comfortable to hold.

Well balanced: We found that cups with long or heavy handles tended to tip backward when we set them on the counter, which is annoying if you want to pour something into them.

Metal cups also won’t warp in the dishwasher or pick up stains from ingredients like turmeric. Plastic can flex or snap, but a good, heavy-gauge steel handle can stand up to the abuse of brown sugar and other heavier ingredients without bending.

Made of sturdy stainless steel: Most experts we spoke with said they prefer stainless steel, and we agree.

We also appreciate how compactly these cups nest together and that they have secondary measurements stamped on their sides (not all the clones do), allowing you to use one cup for multiple measures. They have short, durable handles that are easy to grip and that won’t bend under pressure or cause the cups to tip over (as some longer handles do). In our tests, we found them all to be equally and impressively accurate. But if you can find the ChefsGrade, KitchenMade, Hudson Essentials, or Lee Valley Lifetime measuring cups for cheaper, get them. We recommend the Simply Gourmet 7 Piece Measuring Cups Set because, as of this writing, they’re the best deal of all the similar sets we’ve tried, offering seven cups for about what other brands charge for six. There’s no “original” set these cups are a white-label good, produced by one manufacturer for other companies to stamp their names on. Which is to say, you can find numerous nearly identical sets for sale on Amazon under different brand names. Our favorite dry measuring cups are the most durable and accurate ones we’ve found in many hours of testing since 2013.

Liquid measuring cup