Scaling a recipe up or down comes down to one multiplier applied to every ingredient.
Where
| Desired servings | How many you want to make |
| Original servings | What the recipe yields |
Worked example
A recipe for 4 that you want to make for 6 has a factor of 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5. Multiply every ingredient by 1.5.
FAQ
Does scaling a recipe up or down affect cooking or baking time? Often yes, especially for baked goods, since a much larger or smaller batch can change how quickly heat penetrates the center, so time and sometimes temperature may need adjusting even though ingredient ratios stay the same.
Can I scale spices and seasonings using the same ratio as everything else? Not always. Strong spices, salt, and heat like chili often don’t scale linearly to taste, so it’s common to scale them at a slightly lower ratio initially and adjust to taste.
Scale instantly with the Recipe Scaler in the cooking calculators, and read How to Scale a Recipe.