ChefScale

What it does

ChefScale takes any recipe and scales it to any batch size in seconds. Type in the original yield ("makes 10 portions"), enter the target ("need to make 47 portions"), the app outputs the new ingredient quantities — already converted to the most useful unit for the kitchen.

Most line cooks scale recipes mentally and get it close-enough most days. On a Saturday-night batch run, close-enough is how a sauce comes out under-seasoned by 1.4× and a protein marinade comes out double-strength. ChefScale takes the math off the cook so the cook can stay on the line.

The app also flags items where straight scaling produces a wrong answer. Bake math, sourdough hydration, sauce reductions, salt — these don't scale linearly. The app flags them so the chef does the judgment call instead of trusting the math.

Key features

Scale to any batch size in secondsOriginal yield: 10 portions. Target: 47 portions. Output: every ingredient quantity scaled and unit-converted.
Smart unit conversionTablespoons to cups, ounces to pounds, grams to kilograms — the app picks the most useful unit for the new batch size.
Imperial-to-metric and backRecipe written in cups; line cook prefers grams. The app handles the conversion without losing precision.
Non-linear scaling flagsBake recipes (yeast, baking soda, salt), sauce reductions, and seasoning ratios don't scale linearly. The app flags items where chef judgment is needed.
Saves scaled recipesTonight's 47-portion gumbo run gets saved alongside the original 10-portion master recipe. Reusable for next week.
Works with MyCookbook (companion app)On the paid tier, recipes saved in MyCookbook flow into ChefScale automatically. Scale any library recipe to any batch.

How operators use it

Saturday-night batch runFriday afternoon prep — the sous chef needs to scale Sunday brunch's bread pudding from the 12-portion master recipe to a 60-portion batch. 30 seconds in ChefScale instead of 10 minutes of mental math (and a 15% chance of getting it wrong).

Catering quote sizingCatering inquiry comes in for 75 covers. Plug each menu item into ChefScale at 75 portions, get the ingredient quantity list, send to the prep team as a build sheet.

Yield-factor adjustment for plate costRecipe scales output the as-purchased ingredient quantities. Operator applies the yield factor to get the true plate cost — the app surfaces both numbers so the math is transparent.

Related glossary terms

FAQ

Does it handle recipes I haven't entered yet?

Yes — type in any recipe ad-hoc and scale it. Saving to a library is optional.

What about bake math (yeast, hydration, leavening)?

Bake recipes get a flag at scale-up. The app shows the linearly-scaled values but warns the cook that yeast, salt, and leavening typically need chef adjustment beyond linear math.

Imperial or metric?

Both, freely interchangeable. Type a recipe in cups; output in grams. Type in grams; output in ounces. The conversion is exact.

Does it work without MyCookbook?

Yes — ChefScale is fully standalone. The MyCookbook integration is convenience for operators using both.

Free tier limits?

10 recipe scales per month free, indefinitely. Paid tier unlocks unlimited scaling and the MyCookbook recipe sync.

Built by an operator

ChefScale is published by ALSTIG INC, founded by Ben Mouton — a 14-year independent restaurant operator. Every app on the ALSTIG stack came from a problem hit during the run, and every feature was tested at Mouton's Bistro & Bar in Cedar Park, TX before release. Free to start. No platform contracts. Read the operator-direct articles or browse the operations glossary.

What it does

Key features

How operators use it

Related articles

Related glossary terms

FAQ

Built by an operator