Learning the art of How to Scale Recipes is an essential kitchen skill that will help you avoid waste, save money, and ensure every meal turns out delicious. Unfortunately, beloved recipes aren’t always written with the precise number of servings we have in mind—sometimes we’re only feeding ourselves, while other times we’re feeding the whole extended family. 

Today we’re covering all the basics of halving, quartering, doubling, or tripling all your favorite meals so you can make exactly what you need when you need it. Ready to kick boring leftovers to the curb? Come meet us in the kitchen so we can get to work!

How To Double Recipes

When company comes knocking or you’re prepping meals for the week, knowing how to scale up recipes can make life so much easier. The math may seem straightforward, but there are a few key factors to keep in mind:

• Multiply Wisely: Doubling or tripling ingredients seems straightforward, but spices and seasoning often require careful adjustment. The issue at play here is volume vs. weight—most seasoning is given in teaspoons and tablespoons, but dry ingredients are notoriously finicky to measure. Instead of doubling the salt or spices automatically, start by adding a little less than double, taste, and adjust accordingly.
• Cookware Counts: Larger recipes mean you’ll need larger pots, pans, or casserole dishes. Using too-small cookware can cause uneven cooking and messy spills. Always select appropriately sized vessels when increasing recipe quantities. When in doubt, just use 2 of the original dishes called for.
• Cooking Time Considerations: More ingredients may mean a longer cooking time—especially if your roast or casserole is thicker than the original. Be prepared to add extra time and check frequently for doneness* to avoid over or under-cooking. An instant-read thermometer is going to be your best friend!
  *Note that oven-baked dishes shouldn’t be checked with the same frequency, as opening the oven door can reduce the internal temperature by 30ºF or more. Consider investing in a probe thermometer that will give you an accurate read from outside the oven so you can keep the inside nice and toasty.

How To Halve Recipes

Cooking for one or two is delightful and intimate, but standard recipes often make servings suited to larger groups. Scaling down recipes involves its own unique strategies:

• Divide Precisely: When scaling down, precision matters. Use accurate measurements—it’s easier to measure half an egg by weight or using a measuring cup rather than eyeballing it.
• Smaller Cookware: When you halve a recipe, choosing the right-sized cookware is crucial. Cooking small portions in large pots or pans can lead to quicker evaporation or uneven cooking.
• Adjust Cooking Times: Smaller portions typically cook faster—just think of cooking a skinny 4-ounce Burger patty vs a thick 8-ounce Burger. Keep an eye on your food and test for doneness earlier than the original recipe recommends. Again, an instant read thermometer will be extremely useful.

Expert Tips for Scaling Recipes

Before you dive into adjusting your favorite dishes, here are a few expert tips to keep in your culinary toolkit:

1. Use Weight Instead of Volume: Measuring by weight ensures greater accuracy than measuring by volume. Why? Many ingredients can vary widely in terms of their volume measurement based on the size of the ingredient (e.g. a small carrot vs a large one), size of cut (e.g. small dice vs mince) or how heavily packed the ingredient is (e.g. brown sugar or flour). Whenever possible, try to work with a kitchen scale. As a bonus, there will be fewer dishes to wash if you do!
2. Adjust Seasonings Incrementally: Seasonings like salt, pepper, and spices don’t always scale linearly. Add conservatively, taste frequently, and adjust as needed. Some spices may take some time to “bloom,” so allow whatever dish to simmer for a bit before tasting. Also, note that cold foods taste less salty than hot foods, so make sure you’re tasting at the serving temperature.
3. Mind the Cooking Environment: Scaling recipes can alter moisture levels, cooking times, and even browning. Be attentive and flexible in your cooking process.
4. Note Adjustments: When you’re scaling a recipe, it’s easy to forget if you don’t have the numbers right in front of you. Rather than doing the math in your head as you go, jot down the increased or decreased measurements in the margins so you can keep track. We also like to keep a cooking journal to note any adjustments we made and how the dish turned out, allowing for easy reference next time!
5. Common Measurements: Know the basics of imperial measurements to help you scale easily. For example, 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 1 liquid ounce and ¼ cup = 4 tablespoons = 2 liquid ounces.
6. Online Recipe Cards: Some food bloggers and other online recipe resources have a toggle switch to allow you to double or triple the recipe directly. If this isn’t available on your recipe card, try running it through ChatGPT or another AI to do the calculations for you.

Recipe Ideas for Small-Batch Cooking

Need inspiration for meals for one or two? Here are some delicious ideas:

Mini Lasagna (Bread Loaf Tin)

Enjoy all the flavors of classic lasagna without excessive leftovers. Quarter the ingredients for a normal 9×13 lasagna, layering the noodles, ricotta, marinara, and mozzarella cheese in a bread loaf tin. Bake for a slightly reduced time, checking for bubbly cheese and golden edges.

Hamburger for One Casserole

Imagine a comforting casserole just for you. Brown ¼ pound of ground beef with your favorite spices, then layer it into a small casserole dish with diced potatoes, onions, and fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Top with cheese and bake until golden and bubbly.

Mini Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Who says meatloaf can’t be single-serve? Mix ground beef with crispy bacon bits, shredded cheddar, breadcrumbs soaked in milk, and your favorite burger seasonings. Bake for a reduced time in muffin tins for perfectly portioned meatloaf muffins. Feel free to spoon or pipe on mashed potatoes as your “frosting” for an all-in-one meal that’s tasty, fun, and efficient!

Chili for One

There’s nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of chili—but we usually don’t want to eat it all week long. Brown a single serving of ground beef, then simmer with beans, tomatoes, and spices in a small pot. Adjust the heat and flavors precisely to your liking and enjoy a personal pot of perfection. Alternatively, make a full half-batch of your favorite chili recipe, then freeze any extra portions in freezer bags or silicone muffin trays for easy heat-and-eat meals in the future. Or Souper Cubes are great for easy leftover storing!

Final Thoughts

Scaling recipes up or down needn’t be intimidating. With some simple calculations, mindful adjustments, and the right tools, you can master the art of recipe resizing and make every meal just right for your needs. 

Hungry for more culinary inspiration? Visit the Schweid & Sons store page and ground beef recipe catalogue today for more delicious ideas to keep you and your family happy, healthy, and well-fed.

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