PanSpanMelamine Measuring Cups
Which melamine measuring cups are best for colorful everyday baking, and will their markings and handles hold up?
I’d choose the UP 4-piece set if you want a straightforward set made from melamine, with the familiar 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2- and 1-cup sizes. For more capacity options and nested storage, the Rachael Ray set is the more versatile pick; the Trudeau set is a good compact alternative with a 3/4-cup measure. One important distinction: the Nordic Ware and Farberware sets are plastic alternatives, not melamine sets. Dishwasher-safe doesn’t mean measurement markings are permanent, and melamine cups aren’t for warming ingredients in the microwave.
#1 · UP
UP 4-Piece Latte Style Melamine Measuring Cups Set, Professional Nesting Baking and Cooking Tools for Liquid and Dry Ingredients, Mint Blue
Choose these if you want melamine cups for the standard baking sizes and like a coordinated blue look. The set has easy-grip handles and a ring to keep the cups together.
#2 · Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray Tools and Gadgets Nesting/Stackable Measuring Cups Set, 6 Piece - Assorted Colors
Pick Rachael Ray for the broadest range of capacity in a colorful, stackable melamine set: it includes 1/4 cup through 3 cups, including 2- and 3-cup cups for bigger batches.
#3 · Trudeau
Trudeau Bamboo Melamine Measuring Cups, Set of 4, Multicolor
Choose Trudeau if a 3/4-cup measure is useful and you want a compact, stackable set. It’s made from bamboo and melamine and includes the other common sizes from 1/4 cup to 1 cup.
#4 · Nordic Ware
Nordic Ware Cups Bundt Measuring, Set of 6, Sea Glass
This is the pick if you want six cup sizes, including 2/3 cup, and prefer a plastic alternative to melamine. Its fluted outside gives it a distinctive look, while the inside is smooth.
#5 · Farberware
FARBERWARE 5-Piece Measuring Cup Set with Coffee Scoop, Durable Plastic Nesting Measuring Cups with Easy-Read Markings, BPA-Free, Dishwasher Safe
Choose Farberware if you’d rather have a practical plastic set with clearly marked sizes and a bonus 2-tablespoon coffee scoop. It nests for storage and has a removable ring.
Do you want melamine, or is a plastic alternative fine?
For melamine specifically, stay with UP, Rachael Ray or Trudeau. The UP set is the most direct match for the usual baking measures; Rachael Ray adds larger cups for batch cooking. Nordic Ware and Farberware are plastic alternatives, so choose them for their size range or features rather than expecting melamine.
How important are markings that won’t rub off?
Printed measurement marks can wear with repeated abrasion, and dishwasher-safe doesn’t promise they’ll stay pristine forever. For a scale you can rely on long-term, look for measures visibly molded into the cup or engraved. In the meantime, skip abrasive scrubbers and avoid scraping the markings when cleaning.
Do you need unusual sizes or extra capacity?
For the standard quartet, the UP set covers the essentials. Trudeau adds 3/4 cup, while Nordic Ware adds both 2/3 and 3/4 cup. If you often make larger batches, Rachael Ray’s 2- and 3-cup measures are more useful than a set limited to one-cup capacity.
Will you be scooping dense ingredients like packed brown sugar?
Use a firm scoop without levering against the handle: hard plastic and melamine can crack if you force or twist them. For packed brown sugar, press it into the cup with your fingers rather than using the handle as a tamper. If you want a clearly marked plastic alternative with thick construction, Farberware is the practical choice.
How they compare
Which one is yours
UP: You want a melamine set with the four standard baking sizes, easy-grip handles and a connecting storage ring.
Rachael Ray: You want colorful melamine cups that stack and include larger 2- and 3-cup measures for bigger batches.
Trudeau: You want a compact bamboo-and-melamine set with a useful 3/4-cup measure.
Nordic Ware: You want six cup sizes, including 2/3 cup, and would rather have plastic than melamine.
Farberware: You want clearly marked plastic cups, a coffee scoop and a removable storage ring.
Questions buyers ask
Do melamine measuring cup markings fade?
They can if the measures are printed and repeatedly scrubbed or abraded. Dishwasher-safe describes cleaning suitability, not whether markings are permanent, so choose visibly molded or engraved measures when lasting readability is your priority.
Are melamine measuring cups microwave safe?
Keep the cup out of the microwave: measure first, then transfer butter or milk to a microwave-safe container before warming.
Are melamine measuring cups brittle, and can their handles snap?
Melamine is hard and resists ordinary kitchen knocks, but it can crack from a hard impact or forceful twisting. Handles are a stress point, so don’t use one as a lever when scooping compacted ingredients.
Which set works best for packed brown sugar or scooping flour?
Any of the sets can measure dry ingredients, but use a gentle scoop and level it without forcing the handle. For packed brown sugar, press the sugar into the cup by hand; for flour, spoon it in and level it rather than compacting it.
Can these measuring cups go in the dishwasher?
The UP and Trudeau sets are dishwasher-safe; Rachael Ray and Nordic Ware are specified as top-rack dishwasher-safe, and Farberware is dishwasher-safe. To be gentler on any printed measures, avoid abrasive scrubbers.
Do measuring cups nest compactly in a drawer?
Rachael Ray and Farberware are designed to stack or nest, and Trudeau is stackable. The UP cups stay together on a ring, which helps prevent a loose set from scattering in a drawer.
Why choose melamine measuring cups instead of stainless steel?
Melamine is a good fit if you want colorful, lightweight cups; stainless steel is the alternative if you prefer metal. Melamine should stay out of the microwave and can crack if forced, so choose based on the material and look you want.