Around the holidays, we all like to pull old family recipes from our recipe boxes. If the original recipe yields more than you need for your gathering, check out how to cut the recipe in half or in thirds.
How to cut a recipe in half
| When the recipe calls for … |
Reduce measurement to … |
| ¼ cup |
2 tablespoons |
| ⅓ cup |
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons |
| ½ cup |
¼ cup |
| ⅔ cup |
⅓ cup |
| ¾ cup |
6 tablespoons |
| 1 cup |
½ cup |
| 1 tablespoon |
1 ½ teaspoons |
| 1 teaspoon |
½ teaspoon |
| ½ teaspoon |
¼ teaspoon |
| ¼ teaspoon |
⅛ teaspoon |
| ⅛ teaspoon |
Dash |
How to cut a recipe in thirds
| When the recipe calls for … |
Reduce measurement to … |
| ¼ cup |
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon |
| ⅓ cup |
1 tablespoon + 2 ⅓ teaspoons |
| ½ cup |
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons |
| ⅔ cup |
3 tablespoons + 1 ½ teaspoons |
| ¾ cup |
¼ cup |
| 1 cup |
⅓ cup |
| 1 tablespoon |
1 teaspoon |
| 1 teaspoon |
Generous ¼ teaspoon |
| ½ teaspoon |
Scant ¼ teaspoon |
| ¼ teaspoon |
Scant ⅛ teaspoon |
| ⅛ teaspoon |
Dash |
How to convert ingredient measurements
| Dry or Liquid Measurement |
Conversion |
| 1 bushel (dry) |
8 gallons |
| 1 peck (dry) |
2 gallons |
| 1 liter |
1 quart + ¼ cup |
| 2 pints |
1 quart or 32 fl. oz. |
| 1 pint |
2 cups or 16 fl. oz. |
| 1 cup |
16 tablespoons or 8 fl. oz. |
| ⅓ cup |
5 ⅓ tbsp. |
| ¼ cup |
4 tbsp. |
| 1 tablespoon |
3 teaspoons |
| 1 fl. oz. |
2 tablespoons |
| 1 dash |
¼ teaspoon or less |
| 1 pinch |
⅛ teaspoon or less |
Sources: Clemson University Extension, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Related: Here’s the scoop on ingredient substitutions
