infographic - how to half a recipe

infographic of how to half a recipe with measurement chart

This post will teach you how to cut recipes in half: simple measurements and tips for halving almost any ingredient! With a FREE printable and easy chart, these tips and tricks will help you in the kitchen.

infographic - how to half a recipe
  1. How to Divide Measurements
  2. Common Measurements Cut in Half
  3. What about ⅛ teaspoon?
  4. Cutting an Egg in Half
  5. Use a Scale for Measuring
  6. Other Tips for Halving Recipes

How to Divide Measurements

It's all about fractions! But really, it is. Unless you know the secrets to measurement equivalency:

If you're not great at fractions, you can work in tablespoons.

1 cup = 16 tablespoons

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

That makes things much easier to cut in half. For example:

½ cup = 8 tablespoons, so half of that would be 4 tablespoons!

Common Measurements Cut in Half

I did all the hard math for you! If you're simply cutting a recipe in half, just refer to this chart for simple measurements.

  • What is half of ½ teaspoon? ¼ teaspoon
  • What is half of 1 teaspoon? ½ teaspoon
  • What is half of 1 ½ teaspoons? ¾ teaspoon
  • What is half of 2 teaspoons? 1 teaspoon
  • What is half of 1 tablespoon? 1 ½ teaspoons
  • What is half of ¼ cup? ⅛ cup (or 2 tablespoons)
  • What is half of ⅓ cup? 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
  • What is half of ½ cup? ¼ cup
  • What is half of 2/3 cup? ⅓ cup
  • What is half of ¾ cup? ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons
  • What is half of 1 cup? ½ cup

You can refer to the chart below – or get the FREE printable download!

infographic chart how to half a recipe

What about ⅛ teaspoon?

Half of ⅛ teaspoon is what we call a dash.

Cutting an Egg in Half

The biggest issue when cutting a recipe in half is the egg. I typically only cut recipes in half when they have 2 eggs, so it's easy to divide in half. However, if you're cutting a recipe in half that only calls for 1 egg (or an odd number) you have a few choices:

  1. Crack the egg into a measuring cup, whisk it, and see how much it is (usually about 3 tablespoons) and you can then eyeball it to cut in half.
  2. Use egg substitute. 1 large egg = 4 tablespoons egg substitute. That makes it easier to cut in half.
  3. To cut an egg in half for cookies: use just the yolk. This won't work for every recipe, but often using just the yolk and discarding the white will work.

Use a Scale for Measuring

The easiest way to cut any recipe in half is by using a scale. If a recipe calls for 124 grams of flour, it's easy to cut that in half and measure only 62 grams. A scale is not only more precise but it's much easier to cut in half.

Other Tips for Halving Recipes

  • Spices: you can half spices but chances are you'll want a little more than half. Be prepared to taste and add more.
  • Liquids: halving liquid measures are so much easier if you're using a measuring cup that has ounces and mL on it.
  • Bake/Cook Time: just because you're cutting a recipe in half doesn't mean the cook time will be half. Cookies, for example, will take the same time to bake, you'll just have less of them.
  • Pan Sizes: be sure to refer to my pan size equivalent chart to see comparable size pans (by volume) if you're cutting a recipe in half.

Now that you know how to half a recipe you can easily cut down anything you're cooking or baking!

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All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.

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Published on: March 9, 2021