More Volume, Same Great Taste

With a little math and some practice you can make most recipes as large as you wish. To double - or triple/quadruple - a recipe, simply multiply each ingredient by two, three or four. You can do this with most recipes (except for baking items such as bread, cakes, etc. - see our tip below), but keep in mind that this process can sometimes modify the texture, taste or appearance of the original recipe. Follow these tips to help you get the best results:

Baking recipes

Increasing the output of a baking recipe can be a little trickier, since the original quantities given are meant to obtain a specific reaction from the leavening agents and other ingredients. It's also safer to double a recipe than to triple it or more. Here are a few tips to increase your chances of success:

• Combine ingredients well to distribute the leavening agents evenly.
• Adjust the size of the baking pan, the baking temperature and duration as necessary.
• When doubling a recipe, either use twice as many pans, or use a pan double the size of the one indicated. If you're using twice the number of pans, you don't need to adjust the baking time and temperature.

Seasoning

A little seasoning often goes a long way. Instead of doubling the amount of seasoning, simply multiply the original quantity by half. For example, if you want to double a recipe, start with 1 1/2 of the seasonings. It's much easier to add seasonings than try to correct an overly salty or spicy dish later on.

Oil & butter

As with seasonings, there's no need to double the amount of fats used for sautéing. Just make sure there's enough to cover the bottom of the pan.

Cooking time (stove-top or oven)

It's not always necessary to double the cooking time. Some dishes will require it, some will require less and some more, depending on the size of the dish. If the dish has meat in it, use a thermometer to make sure it is thoroughly cooked. In other cases, your best bet is to keep a close eye on the cooking.

Comments

Be the first to add a comment.