Recipes let us know about how much they will make in the Yield. The yield is usually included near the beginning of the recipe. The yield will sometimes tell you how many it will make, for example 24 cookies, and sometimes it will tell you how much it will make, for example 1 litre of soup. But what happens if you need more or less of a recipe? Chefs convert recipes all the time so that they can make the amount that is needed.
If you need more of a recipe, we multiply the amount of each ingredient to get a new amount. For example, if a banana bread recipe that makes 1 loaf calls for 3 bananas and you want to make 2 loaves of banana bread, you would multiply: 3 x 2 = 6. 6 bananas will be needed.
If you need less than a recipe’s yield, you divide the amount of each ingredient to get a new amount. For example, if a cookie recipe yield is 50 cookies and you only need half of that, or 25, you would convert the recipe by dividing the ingredient by 2. If 4 eggs were needed in the original recipe, you would divide: 4 ÷2 = 2. 2 eggs will be needed.
Sometimes you need somewhere in the middle. In that case you round up to the closest amount you will need. This makes sure everyone gets some of the food. For example, if our sushi maki recipe serves 6 and you need to serve 10, you will need to double the recipe and make enough for 12. This won’t be a problem though, as we’ve rarely seen any sushi left over, no matter how much we make!
Activity Instructions
Show your work in your Food Journal.
#1 Have a look at our Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe
The yield of this recipe is 24 cookies. Imagine you are making cookies to take to a party and you need 48 cookies. Draw a t-chart in your Food Journal. Make a list of the ingredients in the left hand column. Now convert the recipe and write the new amount of each ingredient you will need in the right hand column.
#2 Have a look at our tasty Calzone recipe
A calzone is like an inside out pizza. The yield is 4 calzone. What if you have 7 people in your family and need 7 calzone. What will you do? Remember, round up to the amount you will need. (The toughest part of making this recipe would be deciding who gets the extra calzone.) Draw a t-chart in your Food Journal. Make a list of the ingredients in the left hand column. Now convert the recipe and write the new amount of each ingredient you will need in the right hand column.
#3 Have a look at our Critterless Caesar Salad recipe
The yield of this recipe is 4 servings. What if there are only two people eating? Convert this recipe to 2 servings. Draw a t-chart in your Food Journal. Make a list of the ingredients in the left hand column. Now convert the recipe and write the new amount of each ingredient you will need in the right hand column.
#4 A recipe conversion for the little chefs
Have a look at our Apple Bites recipe. It makes 1 serving of this snack. You want to make this for two people. How much of each ingredient will you need? Draw a t-chart in your Food Journal. Make a list of the ingredients in the left hand column. Now convert the recipe and write the new amount of each ingredient you will need in the right hand column.