We were given a 0.5L Pyrex measuring jug as a gift back in 2005 when we were moving away; my folks would buy something each week for us from the supermarket with their food shopping (bless them) so by the time we left we had near enough everything we needed. I'm sure I probably don't need to tell you how robust Pyrex is - it's still going strong with no cracks or chips and only minor insignificant scratches, almost 6 years later.

This jug is made from thick, tough glass with a moulded pouring spout and a sturdy handle; the spout is just perfect for pouring and I rarely get any spillages or stuff running down the sides. Similarly, the handle is very comfortable to hold with a little indent at the top where the tip of your thumb sits. It's quite heavy (but not prohibitively so) which I think is reassuring. It's built to last! I have actually dropped this, more than once, and luckily it has survived intact. Of course I wouldn't recommend you go throwing it about, but it has landed on both carpeting and wooden floors with nothing more than a dull thunk.

The measuring scales are detailed in red on each side and these are given in milliletres up to half a litre (metric) and fluid ounces up to one pint (imperial). On the metric scale you get numbered markings every 100ml and a blank marking every 50ml in between (so the first number in the scale is 100, then a blank at 150, then 200 is numbered and so on); the quarter and half litre points are labeled also. The imperial scale goes up in twos, with blank markings in between as well (so the first number on it is 2, then a blank for 3, then 4 is numbered and so on); on this scale, the quarter, half, three quarters and full pint levels are labeled.

These detailed, but not fussy or complicated, scales make measuring accurately such a doddle. I hate measuring jugs where you have to count the lines to make sure your eyes are not playing tricks and you have actually got your eye on the correct level! I also think it's a big bonus having both metric and imperial scales, as some people will naturally prefer one over the other and I have noticed a lot of food packets use imperial in the directions for making them up, despite metric being the more modern.

It is dishwasher safe, but our dishwasher stopped working a while back so I just wash everything by hand. It cleans easily, even stuff that has dried on I find doesn't take a lot of scrubbing to get off. The glass is really smooth so I think it has an element of incidental non stick.

The list of possible uses for a measuring jug is just endless, I won't bore you! I use it for literally everything that needs measuring; making dessert whip (and eating it straight out the jug!) is one of my favourites. Actually, eating out the jug is great, so long as you don't have company, as you can hold the handle with one hand and dig in with the other! The overall shape and wide opening of this jug makes using it to mix stuff really simple; you have plenty of space to get a whisk or something in there and get thorough mixing done, therefore cutting down on the washing up too. The super smoothness of it also means that with anything powdered (like whip or instant custard) you don't get powder gathering in nooks and crannies and not being mixed in.

If you need a new measuring jug, I would strongly recommend splashing out on a Pyrex. You can of course get cheaper jugs but these are quality that is made to last. I don't know how much was paid for this back when it was bought, but I'd guess it was in the region of £5, based on the current prices of Pyrex in the supermarkets. I think that's very reasonable for Pyrex and would happily pay that myself, knowing how long it will last. So my little kitchen friend, the Pyrex jug, gets full marks from me as I can't think of a single thing that would make this a better measuring jug. Unless of course it made my whip for me, but I fear that may be asking too much!