How Are Units of Measure Displayed?
Each class of unit is combined and displayed in subtly different ways in order to maximize readability and compatibility across all ingredients. Below we've outlined the three different classes and how we approach them:
Volume
This class of unit is best used to measure dry (non-liquid) ingredients such as flour, nuts, spices, etc.
US / US • Metric
- tsp → any value greater than or equal to 3 tsp is converted to its tbsp equivalent (e.g. 1 tbsp)
- tbsp → any value greater than or equal to 4 tbsp is converted to its cup equivalent (e.g. 1/4 cup)
- cup → any value less than 1/4 cup is converted to its tbsp equivalent
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as a simple fraction (or mixed number) when required. When a simple fraction is required we round to the nearest from the following dataset: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4.
Metric
- milliliter → any value greater than 1000 milliliter is converted to its liter equivalent (e.g. 1.2 liters)
- liter → any value less than 0.1 liter is converted to its milliliter equivalent (e.g. 90 milliliters)
- milligram → any value greater than 1000 milligram is converted to its gram equivalent (e.g. 2 grams)
- gram → any value greater than 1000 grams is converted to its kilogram equivalent (e.g. 1.2 kilograms)
- kilogram → any value less than 0.1 kilogram is converted to its gram equivalent (e.g. 90 grams)
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as whole numbers (e.g. 41 milliliters or 410 grams) with the exception of liter and kilogram; we display liter and kilogram values as a decimal with one level of precision when required (e.g. 1.5 liters or 2.3 kilograms).
Liquid Volume
This class of unit is best used to measure liquid ingredients.
US
- fl oz → any value greater than 16 fl oz is converted to its pint equivalent (e.g. 1 1/2 pints)
- pint → any value greater than 2 pint is converted to its quart equivalent (e.g. 2 quarts)
- quart → any value greater than 4 quart is converted to its gallon equivalent (e.g. 1 1/4 gallons)
- gallon → any value less than 1 gallon is converted to its quart equivalent (e.g. 3 1/4 quart)
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as a simple fraction (or mixed number) when required. When a simple fraction is required we round to the nearest from the following dataset: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4.
US • Metric / Metric
- milliliter → any value greater than 1000 milliliter is converted to its liter equivalent (e.g. 1.2 liters)
- liter → any value less than 0.1 liter is converted to its milliliter equivalent (e.g. 90 milliliters)
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as whole numbers (e.g. 41 milliliters) with the exception of liter; we display liter values as a decimal with one level of precision when required (e.g. 1.5 liters).
Mass
This class of unit is best used to measure solid ingredients.
US
- oz → any value greater than 16 oz is converted to its lb equivalent (e.g. 1 1/2 lbs)
- lb → any value less than 1 lb is converted to its oz equivalent (e.g. 8 ozs)
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as a simple fraction (or mixed number) when required. When a simple fraction is required we round to the nearest from the following dataset: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4.
Additionally, any values entered in milligram remain Metric under the US system of measurement. We've made this decision to enable the addition of items such as supplements and to keep the precision of the amounts intact rather than converting them to their oz equivalents which would be increasingly inaccurate in comparison.
US • Metric / Metric
- milligram → any value greater than 1000 milligram is converted to its gram equivalent (e.g. 2 grams)
- gram → any value greater than 1000 grams is converted to its kilogram equivalent (e.g. 1.2 kilograms)
- kilogram → any value less than 0.1 kilogram is converted to its gram equivalent (e.g. 90 grams)
Note: All values are rounded up and displayed as whole numbers (e.g. 410 grams) with the exception of kilogram; we display kilogram values as a decimal with one level of precision when required (e.g. 2.3 kilograms).