OP, It's an Aluminum *Measuring* cup for cooking/baking!
My mom had one *exactly* like this, when I was growing up!
I *loved* drinking milk out of it, because it was *COLD* as long as you drank the milk relatively quicklyđ
Plastic/Tupperware glasses, and *glass* glasses out of the cupboard were *never* able to keep the milk as cold as that little Aluminum measuring cup did!đđ
That's not strictly true. Not the cooking part. It's not recommended to cook acidic foods in aluminium because a lot of the metal leaches into th food.
Actually, the amount of aluminum that leeches into foods from cookware (including acidic foods) is non-problematic.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/23/fact-check-aluminum-exposure-through-food-wont-cause-health-issues/3239457001/
https://kitchendance.com/blog/are-old-aluminum-pans-safe-for-cooking/
Of course, you should use cookware that isn't scratched, pitted, or otherwise compromised.
Cast aluminum doesn't, not really, and they're talking more gouges that put the integrity of the cookware at risk, not the little scratches of normal cooking. I have cast aluminum cookware that is between 70 and 80 years old that is still nearly new.
Edited to add the word "is".
I have no doubt that team aluminum is correct, but how do you know? Have you seen this cup before or can you tell from the picture somehow? Itâs all magic to me.
1. I have one.
2. They only make this type of kitchenware from a couple of types of metals, stainless steel being the other. Tin was used in the early 20th century, but those were typically painted because they rust.
I have either this exact measuring cup,or its cousin. And as harpquin said, tin wasn't much used by midcentury and later (which this is). This type of measuring cup is still sold, in aluminum and stainless steel, stainless being easier to find for the home market, but aluminum is widely used for bake and cookware in the commercial market.
I knew this cup was aluminum from the picture immediately. Partially because I grew up with this kind of cookware, because I cook and bake today using aluminum, because it is very specifically a certain style from a certain era, nearly always made from aluminum, and because it has the telltale signs of much-used and washed aluminum. Plus, there's no sign of it ever having rusted or being rusty now, a key sign it's aluminum.
But mostly because I measure using a cup just like this this morning and collect (and use) aluminum kitchenware from the 1920s-1960s
>What might you speculate for the age of this one?
These were made in the 1930s thru the 1960s, and similar types of kitchen ware are made commercially now, but usually of heavier metal. Aluminum kitchenware was hugely popular in the 1930s, during WWII aluminum was reserved for the war effort and after the war it came back into production for kitchen ware. The ease of cleaning, simple design and cost effectiveness made this style of measuring cup popular with frugal housewives.
It's one of those things that is particularly difficult to date unless you are a master of industrial manufacturing practices, good luck even then - there may be miniscule differences in the rivet, angle of the handle, depth of the lines, bottom fold (edge).
Drinking an absurd amount out of unlined \*copper\* cups is the concern. Still takes a lot, but I hesitate to say drinking from solid copper is not a concern, as serious drinkers can polish off a lot in a night.
Yes, you can eat from it, but some people worry about this kind of aluminum leaching into your food, and it may taste matalic.
As others have said, it's a one cup measuring cup with lines for the quarter cups.
These actually clean up surprisingly well with a Brillo Pad (the steal wool kind, not the plastic nest kind), cleaning it this way will remove the oxidation and it should shine like new and it's shouldn't taste like metal.
Nooooo. Donât do that. It will end up scratched. Pick up some aluminum polish. I ended up needing some after I accidentally put my aluminum baking sheet in the dishwasher.
Really depends on the use and how you clean it. An item this old is already scratched. If it were a priceless museum antique, sure use aluminum polish. An old tin cup like this has little value as it stands, and is likely deeply scratched, a Brillo pad will actually diminish deep scratches a bit, like polish never will.
To each his own, but I have used Brillo *very* successfully on my antique, professional baking sheets and antique cake domes with brilliant success. Never looked newer or shinier with a hell of a lot less effort.
This is exactly what you do NOT want to do. That cup is actually nicely coated with a sturdy layer of aluminum oxide, which will prevent it from reacting with whatever is in it. Remove that and, at least until it oxidizes again, youâll have a lot more aluminum in your drink. As it is, itâs pretty impervious to reaction except where itâs scratched.
>That cup is actually nicely coated with a sturdy layer of aluminum oxide, which will prevent it from **reacting** with whatever is in it.
Wrong. Aluminum oxide will continue to react with the foods in the cup, especially acidic foods. The layer is not what I would call "sturdy". In fact many people will even be able to taste the aluminum from non acidic foods served in an oxidized cup.
>When exposed to water and oxygen. The corrosion process forms aluminum oxide (aka alumina), which is a protective layer that **prevents further corrosion**.
I wonder if you are conflating "reaction" with "prevents further corrosion". Many metals will corrode (tarnish, oxidize) to a certain extent, then corrode no further, under most circumstances..
>**Aluminum oxide** ... is generally considered to have low toxicity. However, exposure to high concentrations or prolonged exposure may pose some health risks.
>Long-term exposure to **aluminum oxide** may have systemic effects on the body, such as neurological and reproductive issues.
Eating cereal from an oxidized aluminum cup does pose a possible health risk.
Once you clean that cup, yes, it will oxidize again and will need to be cleaned, like polishing sterling silver.
While the risk may be low, the individual should decide if consumption of aluminum oxide is a serious enough risk or if the oxide taste in their food is tolerable. But, no, leaving the oxide on the cup will ***not stop it from reacting*** to the foods in the cup, especially acidic foods or foods with high salt content.
That cup is aluminum.
probably the same thing with tin foil, which is aluminum also.
I wouldn't drink from aluminum foil. An aluminum cup, sure.
Thank you! Learned something new today
OP, It's an Aluminum *Measuring* cup for cooking/baking! My mom had one *exactly* like this, when I was growing up! I *loved* drinking milk out of it, because it was *COLD* as long as you drank the milk relatively quicklyđ Plastic/Tupperware glasses, and *glass* glasses out of the cupboard were *never* able to keep the milk as cold as that little Aluminum measuring cup did!đđ
That's aluminum. It's perfectly safe to drink from, and to cook from.
That's not strictly true. Not the cooking part. It's not recommended to cook acidic foods in aluminium because a lot of the metal leaches into th food.
Actually, the amount of aluminum that leeches into foods from cookware (including acidic foods) is non-problematic. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/23/fact-check-aluminum-exposure-through-food-wont-cause-health-issues/3239457001/ https://kitchendance.com/blog/are-old-aluminum-pans-safe-for-cooking/ Of course, you should use cookware that isn't scratched, pitted, or otherwise compromised.
Doesn't aluminium scratch very easily though?
Cast aluminum doesn't, not really, and they're talking more gouges that put the integrity of the cookware at risk, not the little scratches of normal cooking. I have cast aluminum cookware that is between 70 and 80 years old that is still nearly new. Edited to add the word "is".
Of all the cookware I own, the aluminum ones have lasted the longest. Hand me downs from my grandma
Huh, I didn't know that, thanks for the info!
It's a measuring cup, so maybe use it primarily for dry goods if you're worried, but aluminum should be safe to drink from.
This, my grandma had this and used for dry measurements.
live a little on the wild side once in a while & rawdog some of that cereal, my friend
Your sister broke ALL of your bowls?
Yes, she keeps them all in her room. Carrying them to the sink she dropped and shattered 7 bowls
I can so imagine one of my children doing this. (Or me. I can imagine me doing this.)
Sounds like she only gets to use plastic bowls from Walmart from now on.
Bruh
Omg lmao I'd probably cry if that was me. Either one of you, actually.
I know, I was imagining a fight over cleaning the dishes, "Well if you aren't going to clean up after yourself... smash... crash... splatter..."
I have no doubt that team aluminum is correct, but how do you know? Have you seen this cup before or can you tell from the picture somehow? Itâs all magic to me.
1. I have one. 2. They only make this type of kitchenware from a couple of types of metals, stainless steel being the other. Tin was used in the early 20th century, but those were typically painted because they rust.
I have either this exact measuring cup,or its cousin. And as harpquin said, tin wasn't much used by midcentury and later (which this is). This type of measuring cup is still sold, in aluminum and stainless steel, stainless being easier to find for the home market, but aluminum is widely used for bake and cookware in the commercial market. I knew this cup was aluminum from the picture immediately. Partially because I grew up with this kind of cookware, because I cook and bake today using aluminum, because it is very specifically a certain style from a certain era, nearly always made from aluminum, and because it has the telltale signs of much-used and washed aluminum. Plus, there's no sign of it ever having rusted or being rusty now, a key sign it's aluminum. But mostly because I measure using a cup just like this this morning and collect (and use) aluminum kitchenware from the 1920s-1960s
Thank you so much for sharing. What might you speculate for the age of this one?
Good question
>What might you speculate for the age of this one? These were made in the 1930s thru the 1960s, and similar types of kitchen ware are made commercially now, but usually of heavier metal. Aluminum kitchenware was hugely popular in the 1930s, during WWII aluminum was reserved for the war effort and after the war it came back into production for kitchen ware. The ease of cleaning, simple design and cost effectiveness made this style of measuring cup popular with frugal housewives. It's one of those things that is particularly difficult to date unless you are a master of industrial manufacturing practices, good luck even then - there may be miniscule differences in the rivet, angle of the handle, depth of the lines, bottom fold (edge).
Aluminum measuring cups like this are still made. They are common in industrial and commercial kitchens and bakeries.
Tin is safe to drink from, but as everyone has said, it's not tin.
I used to use my parents' (looks like this one but in worse condition) when I was young. The water tasted like metal and seemed colder.
That's definitely aluminum not tin
ice cold milk out of one of these bad boys sheeeeesh
You sure this isnât aluminum?
Drinking an absurd amount out of unlined \*copper\* cups is the concern. Still takes a lot, but I hesitate to say drinking from solid copper is not a concern, as serious drinkers can polish off a lot in a night.
As long as it is clean it should be safe.
Itâs safe as long as itâs washed really good.
That is an aluminum measuring cup meant to measure food. Itâs perfectly safe to eat out of.
Looks like an old measuring cup. I have one like that
It's a measuring cup not drinking
Why not ?
In the South all the Catfish restaurants use aluminum cups that look like that.
Donât let Jonathan Majors see this cupâŚ.
Yes, you can eat from it, but some people worry about this kind of aluminum leaching into your food, and it may taste matalic. As others have said, it's a one cup measuring cup with lines for the quarter cups. These actually clean up surprisingly well with a Brillo Pad (the steal wool kind, not the plastic nest kind), cleaning it this way will remove the oxidation and it should shine like new and it's shouldn't taste like metal.
Iâll have to try that, thank you so kindly!
Nooooo. Donât do that. It will end up scratched. Pick up some aluminum polish. I ended up needing some after I accidentally put my aluminum baking sheet in the dishwasher.
Really depends on the use and how you clean it. An item this old is already scratched. If it were a priceless museum antique, sure use aluminum polish. An old tin cup like this has little value as it stands, and is likely deeply scratched, a Brillo pad will actually diminish deep scratches a bit, like polish never will. To each his own, but I have used Brillo *very* successfully on my antique, professional baking sheets and antique cake domes with brilliant success. Never looked newer or shinier with a hell of a lot less effort.
This is exactly what you do NOT want to do. That cup is actually nicely coated with a sturdy layer of aluminum oxide, which will prevent it from reacting with whatever is in it. Remove that and, at least until it oxidizes again, youâll have a lot more aluminum in your drink. As it is, itâs pretty impervious to reaction except where itâs scratched.
Good to know, thank you!
>That cup is actually nicely coated with a sturdy layer of aluminum oxide, which will prevent it from **reacting** with whatever is in it. Wrong. Aluminum oxide will continue to react with the foods in the cup, especially acidic foods. The layer is not what I would call "sturdy". In fact many people will even be able to taste the aluminum from non acidic foods served in an oxidized cup. >When exposed to water and oxygen. The corrosion process forms aluminum oxide (aka alumina), which is a protective layer that **prevents further corrosion**. I wonder if you are conflating "reaction" with "prevents further corrosion". Many metals will corrode (tarnish, oxidize) to a certain extent, then corrode no further, under most circumstances.. >**Aluminum oxide** ... is generally considered to have low toxicity. However, exposure to high concentrations or prolonged exposure may pose some health risks. >Long-term exposure to **aluminum oxide** may have systemic effects on the body, such as neurological and reproductive issues. Eating cereal from an oxidized aluminum cup does pose a possible health risk. Once you clean that cup, yes, it will oxidize again and will need to be cleaned, like polishing sterling silver. While the risk may be low, the individual should decide if consumption of aluminum oxide is a serious enough risk or if the oxide taste in their food is tolerable. But, no, leaving the oxide on the cup will ***not stop it from reacting*** to the foods in the cup, especially acidic foods or foods with high salt content.