THE QUESTION:
I have a dry rub that calls for 1 cup (8oz) of an ingredient and I only have 2 oz. It calls fo 3 tbls of another 2 tbls of another and 3 tbls of another What are the trailing ingredients measure to the 2 oz’s???
Recipe expansion and reduction is often difficult to get your head around. With the below scenario….I can see that you have 1/4th of the main ingredient in the rub. It calls for 8 oz and you only have 2 oz. So what needs to happen now is you need to use 1/4th of all the other ingredient measurements, in order to get the ratios correct.
Standard measurements will tell you that there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. So if you need 3 tablespoons of an ingredient that translates to 9 teaspoons. 2 tablespoons translates to 6 teaspoons and so on. Now take the “new” converted teaspoon measurements and divide them by four (you need 1/4th of the original amount). If my math is correct that comes to the following: 1/4th of 8 oz. is 2 oz. 1/4th of 3 tablespoons now converted to 9 teaspoons is 2 and 1/4 teaspoons 1/4th of 2 tablespoons now converted to 6 teaspoons is 1 and 1/2 teaspoons 1/4th of 3 tablespoons now converted to 9 teaspoons is 2 and 1/4 teaspoons.
The trick is to get the measurements converted either down or up to a standard that can be divided or multiplied equally. The Lucky Wife purchased a magnet that had common measurement conversions on it and we keep it on the fridge. Amazon has something similar:
Hope this helps…..Happy Thanksgiving!
-The Chef
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About The Lucky Wife
Wife to Chef John (The Chef) and Mommy to a 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, Foodie, Coffee-Lover, Jesus-Follower. Loves purple. Favorite comfort food is chocolate-peanut butter but has found other indulgences due to needing to avoid too much peanut butter (food sensitivities).
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