Recipe Converter: How to Halve and Third a Recipe

Often when downsizing a recipe, it's super easy to make a mistake and accidentally include an extra teaspoon of this or tablespoon of that. Keep this recipe converter handy for whenever you need to cut down a recipe. It's as simple as looking up the original amount then checking the correlated half or one-third amount.

To make things even easier, we've compiled a few of our most-asked-for recipe conversions. These seem to be the measurements that everyone needs when they are trying to cut a recipe in half or in thirds. It just goes to show that you're never the only one with a cooking question! Your fellow home chefs have wondered these things too, and we're happy to help everyone out (and help everyone make their best recipes ever).

What is 2 cups divided by 3? It's 2/3 of a cup.

What is half of one third cup? It's 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons.

What is 5 cups divided by 3? It's 1 and 2/3 cups.

What is 2 tablespoons divided by 2? It's 2 teaspoons.

To also aid in adjusting the amount of ingredients in recipes, these are the measurement amounts of how many teaspoons and tablespoons are in larger measuring cup amounts. This is also helpful for multiplying a recipe. For example, if you're doubling 2 tablespoons of an ingredient, it's easier to measure out 1/4 cup instead of 4 tablespoons. Turn to these measurement amounts no matter what kind of conversions you're doing.

Converting a recipe is all well and good, until you come across an ingredient that's especially difficult to divide or multiply. Eggs are a classic example. Luckily, there is a solution for halving an egg that will keep you right on track in your recipe adjustments.

To halve an egg, simply crack the egg into a measuring cup and whisk it until the yolk and white are combined. Then divide the volume of the egg in 2 and use only half in your recipe. This will probably work out to about 2 Tablespoons, if you are using a large egg.

Now that you know what the measurements in your adapted recipe should be, we thought you might enjoy this simple video showing how to measure ingredients. You can actually ruin a recipe by measuring your ingredients in a way that's very different from the way the recipe author intended. Here we'll show you the standard way to measure your baking ingredients, so you can ensure your measurements are as accurate as possible!

After all, there's no point in learning how to halve a recipe if you don't measure your ingredients properly.

Recipe conversions are sometimes very difficult to figure out, but this chart makes it very easy! I really enjoy cooking for my family of six, and my parents and siblings always love it when I offer to cook dinner (I make them clean up, though!).

 However, when I got my first apartment I learned that many of my favorite recipes to make were family-sized. All of my mom's original and adapted recipes were large enough to feed the family--and have leftovers. I get bored of eating the same thing for several days, so I was stuck. Do I never eat my childhood favorites again, or just eat it for a week at a time?

There to save the day were recipe conversions! Now, I'm terrible at math, so they were so much easier with a chart like this one. I could simply rewrite each of those recipes and still enjoy my favorite dishes, without having enough to feed a small army. Win-win!

If you're looking for some delicious family-sized meals that are easy to cut in half, check out a few of my favorites below!

1. RecipeLion Test Kitchen's Amish Ham Balls Recipe

2. Mom’s Signature Drunken Chicken

3. Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms

Plus, try one of our other favorite tips for modifying recipes: How to Make Half and Half.