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Recipe Scale Calculator

Type original servings, new servings, and one ingredient per line with the amount first. The scale factor is new / original. Only a leading number multiplies. Cups to grams is the cooking converter, not this list scaler.

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How to scale a recipe list

  1. Enter original servings greater than 0. The default is 4.
  2. Enter new servings greater than 0. The default 6 makes a factor of 1.5.
  3. Paste ingredients, one per line, with the number at the start of the line.
  4. Read the scale factor and the scaled list. Lines without a leading number copy unchanged.

Recipe scale factor

Linear multiplier on leading amounts

FactorNew servings / original servings
Default example6 / 4 = 1.5, so 2 cups becomes 3 cups
Parsed amountLeading integer or decimal only
Unparsed linesCopied as-is when no leading number
Not parsedFractions like 1/2, mixed 1 1/2, or ranges
UnitsPassed through. Convert cups on the cooking converter.

What recipe scaling does here

The engine multiplies a leading number on each line by new servings over original servings. "2 cups flour" at 4 to 6 becomes "3 cups flour". Salt at 1 tsp becomes 1.5 tsp. A line that starts with words stays untouched, so a note such as pinch of nutmeg does not invent a number. Baker percentages and hydration are out of scope.

How the factor is applied

factor = toServ / fromServ. Both servings must be greater than 0. A line matches a leading digits or digits.digits, then the rest of the line is kept. There is no Unicode fraction parser. Convert milliliters to cups on the cooking converter after you scale, or before, but not as part of this list pass.

Servings, units, and yeast

Yeast, baking powder, and salt often do not scale linearly at large jumps. Eggs are discrete. This page still multiplies the number you typed. Spices in "to taste" lines do not scale unless you put a number first. Weight is more repeatable than volume. Use mass units when you have them.

Use cases

Doubling a pantry list, shrinking a 4-serve soup to 2, or homework on a 1.5 factor. Not a nutrition label and not a food-safety hold time.

Limits

No 1/2 cup parser. No mixed numbers. Empty ingredient list fails. Servings must be greater than 0. CZNull does not receive the recipe.

Recipe scale questions

What factor does 4 to 6 servings use?
1.5. Two cups of flour become 3 cups.
Does 1/2 cup scale?
Not as a fraction. Write 0.5 cups so the leading decimal multiplies.
Where do I convert cups to grams?
Use the cooking unit converter. This page only multiplies leading numbers.
What happens to a line without a number?
It copies unchanged.
Can original servings be 0?
No. Both serving counts must be greater than 0.
Is the recipe uploaded?
No. Scaling runs in this tab.