How to Scale Recipes
Recipe scaling is the process of adjusting ingredient quantities to make more or fewer servings than the original recipe. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or scaling down for a smaller household, this calculator helps you get the measurements right.
How Recipe Scaling Works
The scale factor is calculated by dividing your target servings by the original servings. Each ingredient amount is then multiplied by this factor. For example, if a recipe serves 4 and you need 6 servings, the scale factor is 1.5x.
When to Be Careful
- Baking recipes: Leavening agents (baking powder, baking soda, yeast) don't always scale linearly for large batches
- Spices and seasonings: Scale by 1.5x instead of 2x when doubling recipes
- Eggs: May need to round to whole numbers; adjust liquid if needed
- Cooking times: Larger batches may need longer cooking times
Tips for Successful Scaling
- Use weight measurements (grams, ounces) for more accuracy
- Write down scaled amounts before starting to cook
- Check pan sizes - you may need larger or multiple pans
- Taste and adjust seasonings at the end
- For very large batches, consider making multiple smaller batches
Common Measurement Conversions
- 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
- 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup
- 16 tablespoons = 1 cup
- 2 cups = 1 pint
- 4 cups = 1 quart
- 1 stick butter = ½ cup = 8 tablespoons