How do you measure 2 cups of flour?

To measure ingredients using a dry measuring cup, first of all be sure that the ingredients you are measuring are indeed dry, such as flour, sugar, nuts, dried fruits, etc. Do not measure liquids such as water, eggs, or milk with a dry measuring cup, as they do measure slightly different than dry ingredients. Dry measuring cups usually have flat tops where you can level off an ingredient and wet/liquid measuring cups usually have a notched spout where ingredients may be poured out.

The technical way to measure dry goods is to scoop the ingredient into the cup and use the flat side of a butter knife to level it off. Try not to shake the ingredient too much in the cup and try not to tap it, as these actions compact it and could throw off your measurement for your recipe. Compacted flour for example, could have an extra Tablespoon or so in it.

One of the few exceptions to this rule is brown sugar. If a recipe calls for "packed brown sugar," press it with your fingers into the cup and level any excess off with the back of a butter knife.