Recent questions in Measuring & Scaling

by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

Summarize the key considerations one must keep in mind when scaling recipes up or down – including ingredient adjustments (especially for spices and leaveners), equipment choices, changes in cooking time, and the importance of testing or tasting – to ensure the final result is just as good as the original yield.

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 7 views

Imagine you have a recipe for a sauce that yields 1 cup and you need a gallon of it for an event. What approach would you take to scale this 16-fold accurately (in terms of calculating ingredients), and what kitchen equipment or technique would help you prepare such a large quantity while maintaining the sauce’s quality (e.g. using multiple pots or a large kettle)?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

How can you use technology, such as digital recipe managers or scaling functions on cooking websites, to automatically scale ingredients, and what should you still double-check manually after using such tools (consider unit conversions and odd scaling results)?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

When scaling recipes, how important is it to adjust the time ingredients spend in certain stages (like marinating, resting dough, chilling, etc.) – do these times scale with the quantity or remain the same? Explain with examples such as marinating meat or proofing bread dough.

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

It’s often said that cooking is more flexible for scaling than baking. What scientific or chemical factors in baking make scaling more precarious?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

If you are scaling a recipe but want to maintain the same presentation (for instance, individual servings or nicely plated portions), how might you prepare and portion the food differently than if you were making one large communal dish?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

How can over-scaling a recipe (making it much larger than intended) impact the quality of certain ingredients or steps? For example, keeping a huge batch of sauce warm for long might cause it to over-reduce or scorch, or a batter might start to lose leavening if it sits too long before baking. What strategies can keep quality consistent?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

What is the benefit of using ratios or parts (like in cocktails: 2 parts spirit, 1 part sour, 1 part sweet) for scaling recipes as opposed to fixed units, and how does this approach simplify adjusting the yield up or down?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

In scaling down, if a recipe calls for a whole packet or unit of something (say a packet of gelatin or a can of broth) and you only need a fraction of it, what should you do with the remainder? How do you store or measure it for future use, and are there any concerns with partial packets?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 4 views

How would you adapt a recipe that uses a fixed-size ingredient (like a whole chicken or a whole fish) if you need to scale servings – are there alternatives to scaling that item (such as cooking two chickens, or using cuts of meat instead of one large roast) to achieve more servings?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

Why is maintaining the cooking technique (like browning meat in small batches even if the recipe is larger) important when scaling up, and what could happen if you try to skip such steps or do them all at once in a big batch?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

What math skills are useful for scaling recipes, and how can someone who is not comfortable with fractions or ratios ensure they do the scaling correctly (for example, using simple ratio methods, double-checking with a calculator, or using a recipe app)?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

If a scaled-up dish turns out too strong or too weak in a certain flavor (perhaps the spice didn’t scale linearly with volume), what is the best way to adjust it on the fly? For instance, can you dilute an over-spiced soup, or add seasoning to a bland large batch after cooking, and how can you incorporate that feedback next time you scale the recipe?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

Can all components of a complex recipe be scaled equally? Consider something like a pie: if you double the filling, do you also double the crust recipe and baking time? Or a layered cake: if you double the batter, do you double the frosting? Discuss how some parts (like frosting or sauce) might not need to exactly double depending on assembly.

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

How might the cost or shopping for ingredients change when you scale a recipe significantly? For example, if you triple a recipe, you might be buying in bulk or larger package sizes – what should you plan for in terms of ingredient quantities and potential leftovers or waste?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

When scaling up, how do you adjust garnishes or finishing touches (like fresh herbs sprinkled on top or a drizzle of sauce) – do those also double, or are they more about visual appeal and should be added in proportion to serving dishes rather than the recipe volume?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 7 views

What are some “rules of thumb” one can use for scaling certain categories of ingredients? For example, some cooks say “when doubling, start with 1.5× the salt and adjust” or “you usually can double vanilla extract with no issues.” How do you learn and apply these informal guidelines?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 5 views

If a recipe uses a fractional amount of an ingredient (like 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla) and you scale the recipe by 1.5, you might end up with an unusual measure (like 2 1/4 teaspoons). How can you accurately measure that, or is it acceptable to round, and why?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 7 views

When scaling a recipe, how do you ensure that the balance of flavors remains the same? Consider that simply multiplying everything doesn’t guarantee the flavor intensity will feel the same – how can tasting and adjusting help when dealing with a much larger or smaller batch?

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by cookwithfem (602k points) in scaling recipes asked Jun 11 6 views

If you have a recipe for 24 cupcakes and you want to make only 12, how do you adjust ingredient quantities (especially things like eggs or teaspoons of baking powder that don’t split evenly), and what do you do with the oven time and temperature?

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