Recipe Scaler

Scale recipe ingredients for any number of servings

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Easily scale recipe ingredients for any number of servings. Perfect for holiday cooking, meal prep, or adjusting recipes for different group sizes.

Enter your recipe name and the original number of servings. Add each ingredient with its amount, unit, and name. You can use whole numbers (2), decimals (1.5), fractions (1/2), or mixed numbers (1 1/2). Then enter your target number of servings and click 'Scale Recipe' to automatically calculate the adjusted ingredient amounts.

The calculator accepts multiple formats: whole numbers (2), decimals (1.5), simple fractions (1/2), and mixed numbers (1 1/2). Common fractions like 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 are preserved in the output when possible for easier measuring.

When cooking for holiday gatherings, remember that some recipes scale linearly while others (especially baked goods) may need adjustments
Baking times often don't scale proportionally - a doubled recipe may need only 50% more time
Always check for doneness using temperature or visual cues rather than relying solely on time

✓ Consistent Results: Prevent overly salty or dry dishes by precisely scaling every ingredient instead of estimating.
✓ Waste Reduction: Make just enough food for your group size and reduce leftovers or shortages.
✓ Prep Efficiency: Generate adjusted shopping lists before heading to the store or placing delivery orders.
✓ Recipe Sharing: Send correctly scaled versions to friends with different household sizes.
✓ Budget Friendly: Align ingredient quantities with your budget and pantry inventory.

Q: Do cook times change when scaling?
Often yes. Double batches may need wider pans or slightly longer cooking but rarely double the time. Always check doneness by temperature and texture rather than clock time alone.
Q: How do I handle spices?
For strong spices or salt, scale slightly less than linear for huge batches, then adjust to taste at the end.
Q: What about baking?
Baked goods are sensitive. Scale carefully, keep ratios intact, and bake in multiple pans rather than one massive pan when possible.
Q: Can I switch units?
Record ingredients in the units you measure with. If you need conversions, pair this with a unit converter or standard kitchen conversion chart.
Q: How do fractions display?
The tool preserves common kitchen fractions for readability, so you'll see friendly measurements like 1/4 cup instead of 0.25 cup when possible.

💡 Scale Sauces Separately: Some sauces and glazes need slight thickening adjustments—add liquids gradually after scaling.
💡 Batch in Rounds: For very large groups, cook in multiple batches to maintain texture and food safety.
💡 Use Weight for Precision: Convert key ingredients (flour, sugar, protein) to grams for the most reliable results.
💡 Label Changes: When sharing, note the original and target servings so others know the context of quantities.
💡 Test First: For special events, test a scaled version in advance to confirm flavor and timing.

Meal Prep: Doubling recipes for weekly lunches while keeping nutrition consistent across portions.
Holidays & Parties: Expanding family recipes to feed larger gatherings without losing balance.
Small Households: Scaling down large recipes to avoid food waste and fridge overload.
Budget Planning: Matching ingredient amounts to weekly grocery budgets by adjusting servings.
Recipe Testing: Standardizing portions when adapting recipes for blogs, cookbooks, or catering menus.

Need cooking unit conversions? Pair with the Volume Converter for fluid measures.
Planning a holiday meal? Check the Holiday Countdown to time prep milestones.
Sharing instructions? Export scaled results and attach them to a Cheatsheet Builder template.
Shipping ingredients or gifts? Estimate delivery costs with the Shipping Cost Calculator.