Instructions for Changing Recipe Yields

While proportions can be very helpful for adjusting a recipe, there is a shortcut that makes the process go faster, and that is using a conversion factor. A conversion factor is a ratio that is converted to a decimal number and then used to change the amount of each ingredient in proportion. Here is how you find the conversion factor:

If you have a recipe that yields four dozen, or 48, cookies, and you want to make five dozen, or 60, cookies, you would find the conversion factor like this:            Your conversion factor is 1.25, so you would simply take every ingredient amount and multiply it by 1.25  for your new recipe.

If you have fractions in your recipe, you can convert the decimal number to a fraction so you can use a calculator to adjust the recipe. Here is a link that will convert a decimal to a fraction: Decimal to Fraction You may use it for assignments and quizzes in this course. In the above case, the conversion factor of 1.25 converts to   .

It’s also helpful to memorize how some common fractions are expressed as decimals:

*Not exact. Rounded to nearest hundredth.

Let’s try this with a recipe for salad dressing:

3 tablespoons olive oil

teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

teaspoon salt

  teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon dried basil

This recipe yields cup. But let’s say you want to make more for a much bigger salad. Instead of cup, you would like to make cups. To find the conversion factor, you would divide the new yield by the old yield:         

Your conversion factor is 4.5, although if you want to use a fraction calculator to make the adjustments, you will find it easier to use .

Now we will multiply each ingredient amount by 4.5, or :

3 tablespoons olive oil      tablespoons olive oil

teaspoon garlic powder      teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar      tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard      teaspoons Dijon mustard

teaspoon salt      teaspoons salt

teaspoon black pepper      teaspoons black pepper

1 teaspoon honey      teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon dried basil      teaspoons dried basil

Assignment

Purpose

Outcomes

Instructions

Tips for Success

Changing Recipe Yields Assignment

This recipe for cookies yields 24. Adjust the recipe so that that it will yield 12.

1 cup butter, softened

  cup white sugar

1  cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1   teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 cups quick cooking oats

This recipe for chicken wing sauce yields enough for 50 chicken wings. Adjust the recipe so it will yield enough for 125 chicken wings.

  cup honey

4 tablespoons soy sauce

4 large garlic cloves crushed

1 tablespoon fresh ginger finely diced

  teaspoon chili powder

  teaspoon cinnamon

  teaspoon cloves

  cup water

1 teaspoon corn starch

This recipe for sauted green beans yields 5 cups. Adjust the recipe so it will yield   cups.

2 tablespoons olive oil

 teaspoon red pepper flakes

teaspoon dried cilantro

1  pounds green beans, trimmed

2 cloves garlic, minced

teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons water