Have you ever found a fantastic recipe but then realized that it used a different measuring system to the one you’re used to working with? Or perhaps you’d like to cut a recipe that caters for 6 people down to 2 people.
Converting Measurements
Nowadays there are a number of options available for converting measurements. There are some great cell phone apps available. Alternatively you could search on Google there are many free online converters that can help you out with just about any measurement conversion you need.
• A great android app:
Unit Converter offers over 50 different measurement categories. It’s extremely easy to use and its design is relatively pleasurable.
• A great Apple app:
Convert any unit free – Units and currency converter and calculator. It’s simple design and ease-of-use makes it one of the top picks for an Apple converter.
• A great Online measurement calculator:
• Type your measurements you want converted into the Google search box, or,
• Search for [unit converter].
Scaling a recipe
Right, so you’re ready to purchase your ingredients or you’re just about to put on your apron and get cooking when you see that your recipe serves 6. But you only need to make for 2 people. Or perhaps you’re inviting your whole family to dinner and you need to cook in bulk. You have two options here.
- Make more than you need and freeze the rest. If you’re making bulk, you could multiply the recipe, making as many batches as you need.
- Scale your recipe to suit your needs perfectly.
The second one in most cases will be much easier, so go ahead and dig out your calculator, a pen, and paper and write down the units.
Step 1
You’ll be working out your conversion factor. To do this, you divide the preferred number of servings by the number of servings found in the recipe.
Let’s work on the premise that your recipe serves 6 people. But you are cooking for 2. Your calculations would look like this: (2/6 = 0.33) (The answer is the conversion factor you’ll be working with for the recipe)
Step 2
Multiply each ingredient on the list by your conversion factor.
So that would look like this: If you need 2 teaspoons baking powder (and we know there are 0.16 oz in a teaspoon because we already converted using our online measurement converters.) for your recipe, you would multiply it by the conversion factor you previously worked out. For our case study that is 0.33 (0.16oz x 0.33=0.052oz) That’s 0.31 of a teaspoon, just under a third of a teaspoon.
Do this for each ingredient. If you have a recipe that is not written in your preferred set of measuring units, go through the recipe and convert each item into the unit you are most comfortable to work with. This will also save you time down the road and make it easier for you to scale your recipe quickly and effectively. Be sure to convert every unit, as you well know, having even one ingredient unbalanced could be disastrous (but possibly very interesting).