  We present an experimental procedure to determine the usefulness of a
measurement scheme for quantum error correction (QEC). A QEC scheme typically
requires the ability to prepare entangled states, to carry out multi-qubit
measurements, and to perform certain recovery operations conditioned on
measurement outcomes. As a consequence, the experimental benchmark of a QEC
scheme is a tall order because it requires the conjuncture of many elementary
components. Our scheme opens the path to experimental benchmarks of individual
components of QEC. Our numerical simulations show that certain parity
measurements realized in circuit quantum electrodynamics are on the verge of
being useful for QEC.
