GIFSQ Tools · Module 06 — Bakery, Pasta, Breakfast Cereals & Snacks · Tool 109 of 500
Measure the specific gravity of a cake batter: the weight of batter that fills a cup divided by the weight of water that fills the same cup.
Try sample values — fills the form with the worked example below.
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Specific gravity
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Batter density (g/mL)
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Cup volume (mL)
Equation: Specific gravity = batter weight ÷ water weight for the same cup volume. Batter density (g/mL) = specific gravity × 0.9982 g/mL (density of water at 20 °C). Cup volume (mL) = water weight ÷ 0.9982.
Method: Cake batter specific gravity by the cup method, as used in cake quality checks under AACC 10-90.01 (Baking Quality of Cake Flour): fill a cup of known volume level with batter, weigh it, and compare with the same cup filled with water.
Assumptions: the cup is filled level in both cases with no air pockets; water is at about 20 °C.
Limitations: the result depends on how the cup is filled and levelled — repeat the fill the same way each time; it measures air incorporation, not final cake volume.
Rounding: specific gravity to 2 decimal places; density to 4 decimal places; cup volume to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Method: Cake batter specific gravity by the cup method, as used in cake quality checks under AACC 10-90.01 (Baking Quality of Cake Flour): fill a cup of known volume level with batter, weigh it, and compare with the same cup filled with water.
Assumptions: the cup is filled level in both cases with no air pockets; water is at about 20 °C.
Limitations: the result depends on how the cup is filled and levelled — repeat the fill the same way each time; it measures air incorporation, not final cake volume.
Rounding: specific gravity to 2 decimal places; density to 4 decimal places; cup volume to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Worked example: 320 g of batter and 400 g of water fill the same cup. Specific gravity = 320 ÷ 400 = 0.80; density = 0.7986 g/mL; cup volume = 400.72 mL.
Enter values above to see results.
Typical cake batter specific gravity: sponge and chiffon 0.45–0.70, layer cakes 0.75–0.95, pound cake 0.95–1.05. Tool 109 of 500 — GIFSQ
