Silicade Recipe – Measuring Spoons Alert -Product change in 2023
Measuring Spoons for Making Silicade 5/5/23
In 2014, when the recipe for Silicade was developed, measuring spoons listed as Norpro 3061D Mini Measuring Sets were available online at Dine Company’s Restaurant Store.
By 2023 Norpro and Dine no longer sell 3061D measuring spoons and Norpro now sells newly designed 3061 oversized measuring spoons. Beware online as some companies, such as “Lily’s TV Items”, claim to sell Norpro 3061D measuring spoons but they ship only the new 3061 oversized measuring spoons.
In 2023 there are a number of similar commercially available measuring spoons, some of which are nearly identical to the 3061D and some of which are not identical in spite of attempts at standardization (see references). In 2023 a half dozen of these similar commercially available measuring spoons were tested by filling them to level, not heaping, with water on a balance with 1mg resolution. The measuring spoons sold on Amazon by three companies: Yellrin, Beryler, and Dostien, were found to be nearly identical to 2014 Norpro 3061D measuring spoons (see below table).
Do not buy Norpro 3061 or 3080 or Table Craft H723 measuring spoons as they all have over-sized level smidgens and the Norpro spoons also have non-standard incorrect level dash volumes.
| Water Volume in Cubic Centimeters (cc) of Level Dash and Smidgen Measuring Spoons | |||||
| Vendor / Year Purchased | ASIN (Amazon Number) | Bar Code | Each Engraved with Fraction of tsp | Volume of Level Dash | Volume of Level Smidgen |
| Norpro 3061D (Dine) / 2014 | No Longer Available | — | No | 0.50cc | 0.16cc |
| Yellrin (Amazon) / 2023 | B0958CDQS4 | X0031NIPLZ | Yes | 0.52cc | 0.15cc |
| Beryler (Amazon) / 2023 | B091SW8BD5 | X002UZ3227 | Yes | 0.51cc | 0.15cc |
| Dostien MS-5PC (Amazon) / 2023 | B0BBKRJXGK | — | Yes | 0.51cc | 0.15cc |
| The Following Measuring Spoons are Not Recommended | |||||
| Norpro 3080 (Amazon) / 2023 | B016VDB512 | 28901 03080 3 | No | 0.42cc | 0.17cc |
| Norpro 3061 (Amazon) / 2023 | B0002IK4PQ | 28901 03061 2 | No | 0.72cc | 0.25cc |
| TableCraft H723 / 2023 | Available from Webstaurant | 27875 05972 7 | No | 0.52cc | 0.21cc |
Note: making Silicade with Norpro 3061 measuring spoons will make it 40% stronger and making Silicade with Norpro 3080 measuring spoons will make it 17% weaker than recommended.
In the Silicade recipe one dash and two smidgens of sodium silicate monohydrate and one dash of sodium bisulfate are dissolved together in a gallon of tap water. The following table shows the amount of these chemicals per dash and smidgen:
| Volume (mg) of Level Dash and Smidgens of Silicade Ingredients | |||
| Measuring Spoon Type | Volume of a Level Dash of Sodium Silicate | Volume of a Level Smidgen of Sodium Silicate | Volume of a Level Dash of Sodium Bisulfate |
| Yellrin | 350mg | 125mg | 830mg |
| Beryler | 350mg | 125mg | 830mg |
| Dostien | 350mg | 125mg | 830mg |
Note: All three of these recommended measuring spoon types have their fraction of a teaspoon (tsp) engraved on the handle. Spoons that do not have this fraction of a tsp engraved on their handles are not recommended.
The Silicade recipe calls for a level dash and two level smidgens totaling 600mg (6.17mM) of sodium silicate monohydrate and a level dash of 830mg (6.01mM) of sodium bisulfate monohydrate added to a gallon of tap water (pH <8.5) resulting in Silicade (pH 4-5). If your tap water’s pH is greater than or equal to 8.5, in order to get the pH to just below 5 may require an added smidgen of sodium bisulfate monohydrate. After filtration through a Brita filter, two smidgens of sodium bicarbonate (i.e., baking soda) are added in order to elevate the pH of Silicade to 6.5 or greater.
References
- Pinch, Dash, and Smidgen; Internet Accuracy Project; https://www.accuracyproject.org/pinchdash.html (2009)
- Rowlett, Russ; How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement; Univ. North Carolina at Chapel Hill; http://alltootechnical.weebly.com/uploads/4/0/7/5/4075543/dict_units.pdf (December 2003) The following is quoted from this document:
“dash (ds) an informal unit of volume used in food and drink recipes. Originally the dash was usually a liquid measure, small but indefinite in amount, roughly 1/8 teaspoon or a little less. More recently it has been used as both a liquid and dry measure. Kitchen supply stores in the U.S. and other countries have begun selling sets of “minispoons” in which the dash spoon is designed to hold exactly 1/8 teaspoon, which is roughly 0.02 fluid ounce or 0.6 milliliter.” Note that this definition is of a heaping liquid 1/8 teaspoon not a level 1/8 teaspoon that is 0.51cc (0.51 milliliter).
“smidgen a very small quantity of material. Until recently, no one thought a smidgen was an actual unit of measure, but recently kitchen supply stores in the U.S. and other countries have begun selling sets of “minispoons” in which the smallest spoon, labeled “smidgen,” is designed to hold exactly 1/2 pinch or 1/32 teaspoon, which is roughly 0.005 fluid ounce or 0.15 milliliter. The word is a diminutive of “smutch” or “smudge”; it originally meant a small spot.”
Note” milliliter is equal to cubic centimeter (cc) and 1 gram of water
Links for ordering measuring spoons:
Beryler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091SW8BD5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
Dsotien https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBKRJXGK?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details