Scaling a recipe with flour on your hands: a hands-free calculator for the kitchen

Recipes are written for four people. You’re cooking for six, your hands are covered in dough, and the phone is propped against the flour jar.

Literal lifesaver while cooking 😩

Used it to scale a recipe with messy hands and didn't have to touch my phone once. Sounds like a small thing but it's genuinely so handy. Already found like five other random uses for it too.

★★★★★ App Store review, United States, 3 May 2026, Noah Phillip · App Store

The one number you need

To scale a recipe, work out the factor once: new servings ÷ original servings.

• 4 to 6 servings: 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5
• 4 to 2: 0.5
• 6 to 8: 1.333

Then multiply each quantity by that factor.

Doing it by voice

Say “200 times 1.5 equals”, hear “300”, weigh the flour. Next line: “350 times 1.5 equals”, hear “525”, pour the milk. The tape keeps every line, so you can glance back if you lose your place.

Things that don’t scale neatly

• Eggs. 1.5 eggs is awkward. Beat two eggs and use three quarters, or round.
• Salt and spices. Go a bit under, then taste.
• Baking times. A bigger cake in a bigger tin needs a different time and maybe temperature. Don’t multiply the time.

Converting units

Voice Calculator doesn’t convert cups to grams. If a US recipe gives 2 cups of flour, look up the weight for your flour once, then do the arithmetic by voice.

More on our product site: hands-free calculator for cooking.