Everyday practical guides

Scale recipe quantities while keeping their units

To adapt a recipe to another number of servings, calculate desired servings divided by original servings and apply that ratio to quantities. Keep every unit visible and separately note ingredients without precise measurements.

The method

  1. Record the stated serving count and original quantities. Distinguish mass, volume and piece count; an amount “to taste” remains a judgement rather than a precise measure.
  2. Calculate the factor: desired servings divided by original servings. Multiply measured quantities by that factor without converting volume to mass unless you have ingredient-specific information.
  3. Review units and rounding in the new list. For part of a piece, choose a suitable measuring method; do not automatically change cooking temperature, time or technique.

Fictional worked example

A fictional recipe for 4 servings lists 200 g of an ingredient and 100 mL of liquid. For 6 servings, the factor is 1.5: record 300 g and 150 mL. One piece becomes 1.5 pieces, requiring a measurement decision rather than hidden rounding.

The record to keep

Keep the original recipe, factor and adjusted list with units. Clearly mark rounding and unquantified instructions.

What this method can establish

Proportion changes quantities; it validates neither a substitution, storage method, diet nor new cooking procedure. The culinary result may need specific adjustment.

Supporting documentation

Documentation consulted on

An editorial method, a fictional example and references for further reading.

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