Mittalusikka

Mittalusikka is a measuring spoon used in Finnish kitchens to measure small quantities of ingredients for cooking and baking. The term is formed from mitta, meaning measure, and lusikka, meaning spoon. In everyday use, mittalusikka can refer to a single spoon used for measuring or to a set of spoons with labeled capacities.

Sizes and standards: Finnish recipe notation typically follows the metric system. A common mittalusikka set includes spoons sized to standard measures such as teelusikallinen (teaspoon, 5 ml) and ruokalusikallinen (tablespoon, 15 ml). Some sets also include smaller fractions like half-teaspoon (2.5 ml) and quarter-teaspoon (1.25 ml). Spelling of the capacities is often shown in milliliters or with the Finnish abbreviations tl for teelusikallinen and rkl for ruokalusikallinen.

Materials and design: Mittalusikka sets are made from stainless steel, plastic, wood, or ceramic. Many sets are nested for compact storage and feature engraved or printed markings to indicate their volumes. Designs range from simple, utilitarian to decorative.

Usage and care: They are used to measure both dry ingredients and liquids when precise quantities are required. Accuracy depends on filling the spoon level with the rim. Care varies by material: metal spoons are commonly dishwasher-safe, while wooden or certain plastics may require hand washing to prevent damage.

See also: Teelusikallinen and Ruokalusikallinen, which refer to the teaspoon and tablespoon units commonly used with mittalusikka in Finnish cooking.