Substituting ingredients isn’t always as simple as swapping equal amounts. Fresh herbs taste more vibrant than dried, some sweeteners are twice as strong as sugar, and chili powders vary dramatically in heat. This calculator lets you scale substitute ingredients appropriately by comparing their relative strengths. The core formula is:
where is the amount of substitute to use, is the original amount, is the original potency, and is the potency of the substitute.
Potency is relative. If a substitute is twice as strong, its potency factor is 2. If it’s milder, use a value less than 1. For example, honey tastes about 1.3 times sweeter than sugar. To replace 100 grams of sugar with honey you might use: 100 × (1 / 1.3) ≈ 77 grams.
| Original | Potency | Substitute | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Garlic (1 clove) | 1 | Garlic Powder | 0.25 |
| Fresh Herbs | 1 | Dried Herbs | 3 |
These approximations show how potency affects volume. The calculator allows you to experiment with your own ingredients so recipes stay balanced.
Adjust recipe cooking times when you're at high elevation. Enter altitude and base cook time to see the recommended adjustment.
Compare the weekly cost and carbon footprint of dairy milk with plant-based alternatives.
Estimate roof snow load to determine whether your structure can safely handle heavy snowfall.