= = sara jane strecker, facs educator kitchen math

©2002 Learning Zone Express1

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=Sara Jane Strecker, FACS Educator


Introduction

Most cooks use recipes. A recipe is a list of ingredients that gives you directions for preparing a specific food. If you know how to follow recipes, then you will be successful in the kitchen. Who knows! You may become a famous chef!


Introduction

Successful cooks know:

• How to read a recipe

• Abbreviations

• Measuring Techniques

• Equivalents

• How to Change a Recipe


What’s in a recipe?

A formula!Read the recipe before you cook.

The parts of the recipe tell you:• Name • Ingredients• Equipment• Directions• Yield (number of servings)• Sometimes - Nutritional Analysis


Quesadillas(Serves 4 - 2 per person)

8 flour tortillas1 cup grated cheese

1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat.2. Place a tortilla in the pan.3. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on the tortilla.4. Cover the cheese with another tortilla.5. Cook about 1 minute, until brown and crisp.

Then turn the quesadilla over. Cook until the cheese melts.

6. Place on a serving plate. Cut into pie shaped wedges.

7. Repeat process with remaining ingredients.

Parts of a Recipe A recipe usually includes:

NameWhat the

recipe is called.

IngredientsFood products

you need to make the recipe.

YieldNumber of

servings the recipe makes.

DirectionsSteps you follow

to make the recipe.

Equipment


Your turn

Think up a name for a recipe. What is the yield? How many people will it

serve?Name each ingredient.Write the steps in the order that you would

prepare them. Number each step. How many steps are there?What special equipment is needed?


What’s an Abbreviation?

Understanding the language of recipes takes the guesswork out of cooking.

Abbreviation - The shortened form of a word.

Abbreviations in measuring units:

• Save space on the cookbook page.

• Make recipes easier to read.


Name the Abbreviations

The U.S. uses the English system:• Teaspoon tsp. or t.• Tablespoon Tbsp. or T.• Cup c.• Pint pt.• Quart qt.• Gallon gal.• Ounce/fluid ounce oz./ fl. oz.• Pound lb.



Most other countries use the Metric system: • Milliliter ml• Liter L• Grams g• Kilogram kg



More abbreviations:• Few grains, dash, pinch f.g.• Dozen doz.• Pound lb.• Inch in.• Second sec.• Minute min.• Hour hr.• Degree • Fahrenheit/Celsius F. / C


Abbreviations Pop Quiz

What do these stand for?• lb.• L• tsp. or t.• F.• qt.• fl. oz.


Name That Utensil

Serving spoons & cups vary in size. Only use these standard measuring utensils…

Can you name them?


The Right Measuring Utensil

What are two ingredients that you’d measure with when using:• measuring spoons?• dry/solid measuring cups?• a liquid measuring cup?

Which measuring utensil would you use to measure each of these ingredients?• 1 1/3 cups flour• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder• 1/2 cup milk• 2 tablespoons cooking oil


Measuring Liquid Ingredients

Liquid ingredients can include: • Milk, water, oil, juice, vanilla extract, etc.

To measure 1/4 cup or more of a liquid ingredient, use a clear, liquid measuring cup. • Place the cup on level surface and read measurements at eye level.

For smaller amounts use measuring spoons.• Fill the spoon until a slight dome is visible.


Measuring Dry Ingredients

A standard set of dry/solid measuring cups is made of four cup sizes.

What amount does each cup measure?



Dry ingredients can include: • Flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder.

To measure less than a 1/4 cup use a measuring spoon.• Measuring spoons generally come in

1/4, 1/2, & 1 teaspoon & 1 tablespoon sizes.• To measure 1/8 tsp. measure 1/4 tsp.

& then remove half.

To measure 1/4 cup or more of a dry ingredient use a measuring cup. • Measuring cups generally come

in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, and 1 cup sizes.



Measuring flour:• Do not pack the flour into the

measuring cup or spoon because you will end up with more flour. Instead, scoop flour into the cup and level with a spatula or knife.

Measuring brown sugar:• Pack the brown sugar tightly into the measuring cup or spoon.

Once it is packed down, level it with a straight edge or knife.

Measuring granulated sugar:• Fill the cup with sugar. Level with the back of a spatula or knife

so that sugar is even with top of measuring cup or spoon.


Pass the Cup

Dry/solid measure check-up: • Which of these amounts is greater? Write the amount.

1/2 cup or 3/4 cup

1/4 cup or 1/3 cup

1/4 cup or 2 Tbsp.

1/2 cup or 1/4 cup

1/4 cup or 3 tsp.

1 1/3 cup or 1 1/4 cup


Measuring Solid Ingredients

Sticks of butter and margarine have measurements marked on the wrapper. • One stick = 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons

Measure solid fats, such as shortening or peanut butter, in a dry measuring cup. • Pack it into the cup and level it with a spatula. Then use a

plastic scraper to remove it from the cup.


Measuring Techniques Checklist

3/4 cup sugar 1 cup flour 1 Tbsp. water 1 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. flour 1 1/3 cups water 1/4 cup brown sugar Ingredients & tools

properly cleaned and stored.

Demonstrate proper measuring techniques by completing the

checklist. Name:___________________Checked by:______________

Can you do these things?


Measuring Just With Spoons

This chart shows some amounts that you’ll often see in recipes. And it shows how to measure those amounts with measuring spoons.

1 Tbsp. 1 tsp. + 1 tsp. + 1 tsp.

3/4 tsp. 1/4 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. + 1/4 tsp. or 1/2 tsp. + 1/4 tsp.

1/8 tsp. half of 1/4 tsp.

1/8 cup 1 Tbsp. + 1 Tbsp.


Basic Equivalents

Equivalents are amounts that are equal to each other. • They are useful when you must alter or change a recipe

to serve more or less people than the recipe yields.

Dry/Liquid equivalents:• Pinch or Dash = less than 1/8 teaspoon• 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons• 1/4 cup = 4 Tablespoons• 1/3 cup = 5 Tablespoons & 1 teaspoon• 1/2 cup = 8 Tablespoons• 3/4 cup = 12 Tablespoons• 1 cup = 16 Tablespoons


Basic Equivalents To help you remember:1 Tablespoon = 3 t e a spoons

There are 3 letters in the word tea and 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon.

1/4 c. = 4 Tbsp.


1 pint = 2 cups1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups

Basic Equivalents

1 fluid ounce = 2 Tablespoons 8 ounces = 1 cup 16 ounces = 1 pound


Basic Equivalents To help you

remember:

A formula2 c. = 1 pt.

2 pt. = 1 qt.

4 qt. = 1 gal.


Equivalents at the Store

At the store, many foods are sold by the pint or by the quart. Many recipes will ask you to measure those foods by the cup.

Here is a helpful guide:• 1 cup = 1/2 pint

• 2 cups = 1 pint

• 4 cups = 2 pints

• 4 cups = 1 quart

• 4 quarts = 1 gallon



Answer the following questions with one of these amounts:

1/2 pint 1 pint 1 quart

1. A recipe for salad calls for 2 cups of cottage cheese.?

2. A recipe for a fruit dessert calls for 1 cup of whipping cream?

3. You need 4 cups of milk for a pudding?

4. You need 2 cups of sour cream to make a dip?

5. A recipe for fruit salad says to mix 8 ounces of yogurt with fruit?

What size container will you buy if. . .



Now that you know how many cups make up 1/2 pint, 1 pint, and 1 quart, try to figure out how many ounces are in these amounts:

• 1 cup = ___ oz.

• 1/2 pint = ___ oz.

• 1 pint = ___ oz.

• 1 quart = ___ oz.

• 1 gallon = ___ oz.


Basic Equivalents Pop Quiz

1. 1 pint = ____ cups

2. 1 gallon = ____ quarts

3. 1 quart = ____ cups

4. 1 cup = ____ tablespoons

5. 1 tablespoon = ____ teaspoons


Putting Cups Together

Useful amounts to know:• 2/3 cup = 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup• 3/4 cup = 1/2 cup + 1/4 cup• 1/8 cup = half of 1/4 cup• 1 cup = 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup• 1 cup = 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup• 1 cup = 1/4 cup + 1/4 cup + 1/4 cup + 1/4 cup

How would you measure these amounts?

• 1 1/4 cups

• 2/3 cup

• 3/4 cup


How Do You Measure Up? This recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies yields 3 dozen.

You need to make 6 dozen. Write down the measurements you would use to double this recipe. Use correct abbreviations.

Yields 3 dozen.2 1/4 cup flour 3/4 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon salt 2 eggs1 cup margarine 2 cup chocolate chips3/4 cup sugar

Chocolate Chip Cookies


How Do You Measure Up? Your Grandma’s recipe for Chocolate Cake makes a

large cake so you want to make only half of a cake. Write down the new measurements you would need to make half this recipe. Use correct abbreviations.

2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda1/2 cup butter 2 chocolate squares2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup buttermilk 2/3 cup warm water2 1/2 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Cake


How Do You Measure Up?

What is half of 2/3 cup?

If a recipe calls for one egg and you want to cut the recipe in half, how might you half an egg?

Answer: 1 large egg = 1/4 cup. Crack egg into bowl and mix with fork. Pour out approximately 1/2 or 2 tablespoons of egg.

BONUS


You’re the Expert Jenny is throwing a surprise birthday party for her best

friend Katie. She has decided to make Katie’s favorite dish, meat loaf. There will be a total of 40 people at the party. Answer the following questions:

• The recipe says it serves 8 people. By what number should Jenny multiply each ingredient to make enough meat loaf for everyone?

• The recipe calls for 1 1/2 lbs. of ground beef. How much ground beef will Jenny need to make enough meat loaf for everyone?

• Jenny will be serving milk with the meal. She plans on using 8 oz. glasses. How many gallons of milk does she need to make sure everyone gets one glass of milk?


Kitchen Math Quiz

1. 1 tablespoon is equivalent to __ teaspoons and 1 fluid ounce is equivalent to __ tablespoons.a. 3, 4b. 4, 1c. 3, 2d. 2, 3

2. How would you measure the following amounts?a. 2/3 cupb. 1/8 cupc. 1 2/3 cupd. 2 3/4 cups

Write down the answers to the following questions.


Kitchen Math Quiz

3. The number of servings a recipe makes is called its ________.a. serving sizeb. yieldc. equivalentd. supply

4. Match the term on the left with the appropriate abbreviation on the right.1. pounds a.c.2. cups b.Tbsp.3. tablespoons c.lb.4. teaspoons d.tsp.5. ounces e.oz.


Kitchen Math Quiz

5. True of False?a. Liquids should always be measured at eye level.b. When measuring flour you should scoop it into a dry

measuring cup, pack it, and level it with a straight edge.c. One stick of butter is equal to 1 cup.

6. Look at each of the following measurements and determine which amount is larger:a. 1/3 cup or 1/4 cupb. 1 pound or 18 ouncesc. 1 tablespoon or 4 teaspoonsd. 1 pint or 3 cups


Applying What You Know

Create a worksheet of math word problems based on kitchen measurements. Be sure to create an answer sheet. Trade worksheets with a classmate and grade each other’s work.

Create new recipe cards that double and cut in half a favorite recipe. For extra credit make the recipe and evaluate the results.

Create an easy-to-read poster of common abbreviations and basic equivalents. Be sure to include visuals and display accurate information.

Choose one of the following assignments to complete outside of class.


Exploring the Web

Here are some suggested sites you and your class may want to investigate for more information on measuring:• http://www.applejournal.com/ref01.htm

– Basic kitchen measurements and abbreviations.• http://www.nursehealer.com/Recipes6.htm

– Measurements and substitutions.

Teachers: Please note that web sites are constantly changing and being updated. You may need to revise this list.

= = sara jane strecker, facs educator kitchen math

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