Baker’s Percentages
I am sure you have a shortcrust recipe that you absolutely cherished, if it wasn’t handed down by your great grandmother, you inherited from a distance relative who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his/her endeavours during WW1 or was it for his/her contribution to humanity over a lifetime protecting the oppressed. Either way, it’s a damn good recipe & its mine. I just wish is it large enough t fill the pie tins without me having to roll it to a thickness that will not hold the filling when baked!
Some people like making delicate, thin pie crust; I prefer a more substantial crust, a bit of substance thank you; one that’s is easier to work with, & one that doesn’t simply become inconsequential under its load of bubbling berries.
Why do I have to compromise standards now all because it was simply above my scholastic development at that stage in my life when our 6th grade teacher Mrs. Connell spend near on a full term trying to educated the principles & formulas required to scale up or down.
I don’t need a new recipe; the recipe I have is an heirloom or so I tell everybody. I love the crust. I just want more of it – not “double” more, just a little bit more.
The challenge: increase the size of the crust without changing the balance among its ingredients. I like the mix of butter & shortening, the “just enough” ice water that yields delicacy rather than cardboard consistency.
Introducing “Baker’s Math’s or Baker’s Percentages.
Percentages? Math? What does this have to do with flour & butter & a wonderfully flaky pie crust? Absolutely everything, as you’ll soon come to appreciate.
Trust me, I have move on from the challenges I faced in grade 6; this is relatively simple, Once you get the hang of it, you will be making 17 muffins instead of 12, five biscuits instead of 15 – using just a couple of basic calculations. Let’s take a look at a typical pie crust recipe & see how this works.
This is the beginning of a classic single “Pie Crust” recipe & importantly, , I am not interested in volume but gms only; baker’s percentage is all based on weight, not volume, so you’ll need a scale to try this at home.
1. Start with the weight of the recipe’s flour.
Flour is pegged at 100%, & everything else is viewed as a percentage of flour. In our pie crust recipe, flour weighs 177gms.
2. Compare the weights of the other ingredients to flour.
To determine the percentage of the other ingredients, divide each one by the weight of the flour (177g), then multiply the result (which is in decimal form) by 100 to convert it to a percent:
The shortening (46gms) is 26% of the flour, by weight: (46 ÷ 177) x 100 = 26%
The butter (71gms) is 40% of the flour, by weight: (71÷ 177) x 100 = 40%
The water (using the lesser amount, 43gms) is 24% of the flour, by weight: (43 ÷ 177) x 100 = 24%
3. Scale the recipe up (or down).
The original recipe calls for 1 ½ cups of our unbleached all-purpose flour. Let’s say I want to increase that amount to 1 ⅔ cups flour; I think that little bit extra flour is just the cushion I need to make the size crust I want.
The weight of 1 ⅔ cups of flour is 201g (as calculated from the ingredient weight chart below, a great resource when you’re measuring by weight). Let’s see what the increased weights of the rest of our ingredients will be:
Shortening (26% of flour weight) = 52gms.
Butter (40% of flour weight) = 80gms.
Water (24% of flour weight) = 48gms.
Now, that’s not so hard, is it?
But what about the salt, you say? Since it’s such a small percentage of the flour weight, I tend to salt to taste; I’d increase the salt by maybe ⅛ teaspoon, or a big pinch.
And what happens when a recipe you’re making includes eggs – which aren’t measured by volume at all, but by units? Well, a large egg weighs about 50g out of its shell – so take it from there.
Once you stop thinking in units or volume, & start thinking (& measuring) in gms, scaling recipes up & down becomes quite simple.
| Item Description | Cup | Oz | Gms | ||
| 00’ Pizza Flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 116 gms |
| Agave syrup: | ¼ cup | = | 3 oz | = | 84 gms |
| All-Purpose Flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼ oz | = | 120 gms |
| Almond Flour: | 1 cup | = | 3 ⅜ oz | = | 96 gms |
| Almond meal: | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 84 gms |
| Almond paste (packed): | 1 cup | = | 9 ⅛ oz | = | 259 gms |
| Almonds (sliced): | ½ cup | = | 1 ½ oz | = | 43 gms |
| Almonds (slivered): | ½ cup | = | 2 oz | = | 57 gms |
| Almonds, whole (unblanched): | 1 cup | = | 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Amaranth flour: | 1 cup | = | 3 ⅝ oz | = | 3 ⅝ oz |
| Apple juice concentrate: | ¼ cup | = | 2 ½ oz | = | 70 gms |
| Apples (dried, diced): | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Apples (peeled, sliced): | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 113 gms |
| Applesauce: | 1 cup | = | 9 oz | = | 255 gms |
| Apricots (dried, diced): | ½ cup | 2 ¼ oz | 2 ¼ oz | ||
| Artisan Bread Flour: | 1 cup | 4 ¼ oz | 120 gms | ||
| Artisan Bread Topping | ¼ cup | = | 1 ½ oz | = | 43 gms |
| Baker’s Cinnamon Filling: | 1 cup | = | 5 ⅜ oz | = | 152 gms |
| Baker’s Fruit Blend: | 1 cup | = | 4 ½ oz | = | 128 gms |
| Baker’s Sugar, (castor sugar): | 1 cup | = | 6 ¾ oz | = | 190 gms |
| Baking powder: | 1 tsp | = | = | 4 gms | |
| Baking soda: | ½ tsp | = | = | 3 gms | |
| Baking Sugar Alternative: | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Bananas (mashed): | 1 cup | = | 8 oz | = | 227 gms |
| Barley (cooked): | 1 cup | 7 ⅝ oz | 215 gms | ||
| Barley (pearled): | 1 cup | 7 ½ oz | 213 gms | ||
| Barley flakes: | ½ cup | = | 1 ⅝ oz | = | 46 gms |
| Barley flour: | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Barley malt syrup: | 2 tbsp | = | 1 ½ oz | = | 42 gms |
| Basil pesto: | 2 tbsp | = | 1 oz | = | 28 gms |
| Bell peppers (fresh): | 1 cup | = | = 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Berries (frozen): | 1 cup | = | 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Better Cheddar Cheese Powder: | ½ cup | = | 2 oz | = | 57 gms |
| Blueberries (dried): | 1 cup | = | 5 ½ oz | = | 156 gms |
| Blueberries (fresh or frozen): | 1 cup | = | 5-6 oz | = | 140-170 gms |
| Blueberry juice: | 1 cup | = | 8 ½ oz | = | 241 gms |
| Boiled cider: | ¼ cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Bran cereal: | 1 cup | = | 2 ⅛ oz | = | 60 gms |
| Bread crumbs (dried): | ¼ cup | = | 1 oz | = | 28 gms |
| Bread crumbs (fresh): | ¼ cup | = | ¾ oz | = | 21 gms |
| Bread crumbs (Japanese Panko): | 1 cup | = | 1 ¾ oz | = | 50 gms |
| Bread Flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼ oz | = | 120 gms |
| Brown rice (cooked): | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Brown rice flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 ½ oz | = | 128 gms |
| Brown sugar (dark or light, packed): | 1 cup | = | 7 ½ oz | = | 213 gms |
| Buckwheat (whole): | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Buckwheat Flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼ oz | = | 120 gms |
| Bulgur: | 1 cup | = | 5 ⅜ oz | = | 152 gms |
| Butter: 8 tbsp | (½ cup | = | 4 oz | = | 113 gms |
| Buttermilk: | 1 cup | = | 8 oz | = | 227 gms |
| Buttermilk powder: | 2 tbsp | = | ⅔ oz | = | 18 gms |
| Cacao nibs: | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼ oz | = | 120 gms |
| Cake Enhancer: 2 tbsp | 2 tbsp | = | ½ oz | = | 14 gms |
| Candied peel: | ½ cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Caramel (14-16 individual pieces: | ½ cup | = | 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Caramel bits (chopped toffee): | 1 cup | = | 5 ½ oz | = | 156 gms |
| Caraway seeds: | 2 tbsp | = | ⅝ oz | = | 18 gms |
| Carrots (cooked & puréed): | ½ cup | = | 4 ½ oz | = | 128 gms |
| Carrots (diced): = = | 1 cup | = | 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Carrots (grated): | 1 cup | = | 3 ½ oz | = | 99 gms |
| Cashews (chopped): | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | = 113 gms |
| Cashews (whole): | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 113 gms |
| Celery (diced): | 1 cup | = | 5 oz | = | 142 gms |
| Cheese (Feta): | ½ cup | = | 2 oz | = | 57 gms |
| Cheese (grated mozzarella, Swiss): | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 113 gms |
| Cheese (grated Parmesan): | ½ cup | = | 1 ¾ oz | = | 50 gms |
| Cheese (Ricotta): | 1 cup | = | 8 oz | = | 227 gms |
| Cherries (candied): | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¾ oz | = | 50 gms |
| Cherries (dried): | ½ cup | = | 2 ½ oz | = | 71 gms |
| Cherries (fresh, pitted, chopped): | ½ cup | = | 2 ⅞ oz | = | 80 gms |
| Cherries (frozen): | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 113 gms |
| Cherry Concentrate: | 2 tbsp | = | 1 ½ oz | = | 42 gms |
| Chickpea flour: | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Chives (fresh): | ½ cup | = | ¾ oz | = | 21 gms |
| Chocolate (chopped): | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Chocolate Chips: | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Chocolate Chunks: | 1 cup | = | 6 oz | = | 170 gms |
| Cinnamon Sweet Bits: | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¼ oz | = | 35 gms |
| Cinnamon-Sugar: ¼ cup | = | 1 ¾ oz | = | 50 gms | |
| Climate Blend Flour: | 1 cup | = | 4 oz | = | 115 gms |
| Cocoa (unsweetened): | ½ cup | = | 1 ½ oz | = | 42 gms |
| Coconut (sweetened, shredded): | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Coconut (toasted): | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Coconut (unsweetened, desiccated): | 1 cup | = | 3 oz | = | 85 gms |
| Coconut (unsweetened, large flakes): | 1 cup | = | 2 ½ oz | = | 71 gms |
| Coconut cream (unsweetened) | 1 cup | = | 10oz | = | 284gms |
| Coconut Flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ½oz | = | 128gms |
| Coconut milk; canned, well shaken | 1 cup | = | 8 ½oz | = | 241gms |
| Coconut milk (evaporated) | 1 cup | = | 8 ½oz | = | 242gms |
| Coconut Milk Powder | ½ cup | = | 2oz | = | 57gms |
| Coconut oil | ½ cup | = | 4oz | = | 113gms |
| Coconut sugar | ½ cup | = | 2 ¾oz | = | 77gms |
| Confectioners’ sugar (unsifted) | 2 cups | = | 8oz | = | 227gms |
| Cookie crumbs | 1 cup | = | 3oz | = | 85gms |
| Corn (fresh or frozen) | ¼ cup | = | 1 ⅓oz | = | 38gms |
| Corn (popped) | 4 cups | = | ¾oz | = | 21gms |
| Corn syrup | 1 cup | = | 11oz | = | 312gms |
| Cornmeal (whole) | 1 cup | = | 4 ⅞oz | = | 138gms |
| Cornmeal (yellow, Quaker) | 1 cup | = | 5 ½oz | = | 156gms |
| Cornstarch | ¼ cup | = | 1oz | = | 28gms |
| Cracked wheat | 1 cup | = | 5 ¼oz | = | 149gms |
| Cranberries (dried) | ½ cup | = | 2oz | = | 57gms |
| Cranberries (fresh or frozen) | 1 cup | = | 3 ½oz | = | 99gms |
| Cream (full cream) | 1 cup | 8oz | 227gms | ||
| Cream cheese | 1 cup | = | 8oz | = | 227gms |
| Cream of coconut | ½ cup | = | 5oz | = | 142gms |
| Crème fraiche | ½ cup | = | 4 ⅓oz | = | 124gms |
| Crystallized ginger | ½ cup | = | 3 ¼oz | = | 92gms |
| Currants | 1 cup | 5oz | 142gms | ||
| Dates (chopped) | 1 cup | = | 5 ¼oz | = | 149gms |
| Demerara sugar | 1 cup | = | 7 ¾oz | = | 220gms |
| Dried Blueberry Powder | ¼ cup | = | 1oz | = | 28gms |
| Dried milk (Baker’s Special Dry Milk) | ¼ cup | = | 1oz | = | 28gms |
| Dried nonfat milk (powdered) | ¼ cup | 1oz | 28gms | ||
| Dried potato flakes (instant mashed) | ½ cup | = | 1 ½oz | = | 43gms |
| Dried whole milk (powdered) | ½ cup | = | 1 ¾oz | = | 50gms |
| Durum Flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ⅜oz | = | 124gms |
| Easy Roll Dough Improver | 2 tbsp | = | ⅝oz | = | 18gms |
| Egg (fresh) | 1 large | = | 1 ¾oz | = | 50gms |
| Egg white (fresh) | 1 large | = | 1 ¼oz | = | 35gms |
| Egg whites (dried) | 2 tbsp | = | ⅜oz | = | 11gms |
| Egg yolk (fresh) | 1 large | = | ½oz | = | 14gms |
| Espresso Powder | 1 tbsp | = | ¼oz | = | 7gms |
| Figs (dried, chopped) | 1 cup | = | 5 ¼oz | = | 149gms |
| Flax meal | ½ cup | = | 1 ¾oz | = | 50gms |
| Flaxseed | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¼oz | = | 35gms |
| Formaggio Italiano Cheese and Herb Blend | ¼ cup | = | 1oz | = | 30gms |
| French-Style Flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Fruitcake Fruit Blend | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Garlic (cloves, in skin for roasting) | 1 head | = | 4oz | = | 113gms |
| Garlic (minced) | 2 tbsp | = | 1oz | = | 28gms |
| Garlic (peeled and sliced) | 1 cup | = | 5 ¼oz | = | 149gms |
| Ghee | ¼ cup | = | 1 ½oz | = | 44gms |
| Ginger (fresh, sliced) | ¼ cup | = | 2oz | = | 57gms |
| Gluten-Free ’00’ Pizza Flour | 1 cup | = | 3 ½oz | = | 100gms |
| Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour | 1 cup | = | 5 ½oz | = | 156gms |
| Gluten-Free Bread Flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Gluten-Free sourdough starter | 1 cup | = | 8-8 ½oz | = | 227-241gms |
| Glutinous rice flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Graham cracker crumbs | 1 cup | = | 3 ½oz | = | 100gms |
| Granola | 1 cup | = | 4oz | = | 113gms |
| Hazelnut flour | 1 cup | = | 3 ⅛oz | = | 89gms |
| Hazelnut Praline Paste | ½ cup | = | 5 ½oz | = | 156gms |
| Hazelnut spread | ½ cup | = | 5 ⅝oz | = | 160gms |
| Hazelnuts (whole) | 1 cup | = | 5oz | = | 142gms |
| High-Gluten Flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Honey | 1 tbsp | = | ¾oz | = | 21gms |
| Instant ClearJel | 1 tbsp | ⅜oz | 11gms | ||
| Jam or preserves | ¼ cup | 3oz | 85gms | ||
| Lard | ½ cup | 4oz | 113gms | ||
| Leeks (diced) | 1 cup | 3 ¼oz | 92gms | ||
| Lemon juice | 1 tbsp | oz | 14gms | ||
| Macadamia nuts (whole) | 1 cup | 5 ¼oz | 149gms | ||
| Malt syrup | 2 tbsp | 1 ½oz | 43gms | ||
| Maple syrup | ½ cup | 5 ½oz | 156gms | ||
| Marshmallows (mini) | 1 cup | 1 ½oz | 43gms | ||
| Marzipan | 1 cup | 10 ⅛oz | 290gms | ||
| Mascarpone cheese | 1 cup | 8oz | 227gms | ||
| Mashed potatoes | 1 cup | 7 ½oz | 213gms | ||
| Mashed sweet potatoes | 1 cup | 8 ½oz | 240gms | ||
| Mayonnaise | ½ cup | 4oz | 113gms | ||
| Medium Rye Flour | 1 cup | 3 ¾oz | 106gms | ||
| Meringue powder | ¼ cup | 1 ½oz | 43gms | ||
| Milk (evaporated) | ½ cup | 4oz | 113gms | ||
| Milk (fresh) | 1 cup | 8oz | 227gms | ||
| Millet (whole) | ½ cup | 3 ⅝oz | 103gms | ||
| Mini chocolate chips | 1 cup | 6 ¼oz | 177gms | ||
| Molasses | ¼ cup | 3oz | 85gms | ||
| Mushrooms (sliced) | 1 cup | 2 ¾oz | 78gms | ||
| Non-Diastatic Malt Powder | 2 tbsp | ⅝oz | 18gms | ||
| Oat bran | ½ cup | 1 ⅞oz | 53gms | ||
| Oats | 1 cup | 3 ⅛oz | 89gms | ||
| Oats (prepared) | 1 cup | 5 ⅛oz | 147gms | ||
| Olive oil | ¼ cup | 1 ¾oz | 50gms | ||
| Olives (sliced) | 1 cup | 5oz | 142gms | ||
| Onions (fresh, diced) | 1 cup | 5oz | 142gms | ||
| Passion fruit purée | ⅓ cup | 2 ⅛oz | 60gms | ||
| Peaches (peeled and diced) | 1 cup | 6oz | 170gms | ||
| Peanut butter | ½ cup | 4 ¾oz | 135gms | ||
| Peanuts (whole, shelled) | 1 cup | 5oz | 142gms | ||
| Pears (peeled and diced) | 1 cup | 5 ¾oz | 163gms | ||
| Pecans (diced) | ½ cup | 2oz | 57gms | ||
| Pine nuts | ½ cup | 2 ½oz | 71gms | ||
| Pineapple (crushed, drained) | 1 cup | 9oz | 256gms | ||
| Pineapple (dried) | ½ cup | 2 ½oz | 71gms | ||
| Pineapple (fresh or canned, diced) | 1 cup | = | 6oz | = | 170gms |
| Pistachio nuts (shelled) | ½ cup | = | 2 ⅛oz | = | 60gms |
| Pistachio Paste | ¼ cup | = | 2 ¾oz | = | 78gms |
| Pizza sauce | ¼ cup | = | 2oz | = | 57gms |
| Polenta (coarse ground cornmeal) | 1 cup | = | 5 ¾oz | = | 163gms |
| Poppy seeds | 2 tbsp | = | ⅝oz | = | 18gms |
| Potato Flour | ¼ cup | = | 1 ⅝oz | = | 46gms |
| Potato starch | 1 cup | 5 ⅜oz | 152gms | ||
| Pumpernickel Flour | 1 cup | = | 3 ¾oz | = | 106gms |
| Pumpkin purée | 1 cup | = | 8oz | = | 227gms |
| Quinoa (cooked) | 1 cup | = | 6 ½oz | = | 184gms |
| Quinoa (whole) | 1 cup | = | 6 ¼oz | = | 177gms |
| Quinoa flour | 1 cup | 3 ⅞oz | 110gms | ||
| Raisins (loose) | 1 cup | = | 5 ¼oz | = | 149gms |
| Raisins (packed) | ½ cup | = | 3oz | = | 85gms |
| Raspberries (fresh) | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Rhubarb (sliced, ½” slices) | 1 cup | = | 4 ¼oz | = | 120gms |
| Rice (long grain, dry) | ½ cup | = | 3 ½oz | = | 99gms |
| Rice flour (white) | 1 cup | = | 5oz | = | 142gms |
| Rice Krispies | 1 cup | = | 1oz | = | 28gms |
| Rye Bread Improver | 2 tbsp | = | oz | = | 14gms |
| Salt (Kosher, Diamond Crystal) | 1 tbsp | = | oz | = | 8gms |
| Salt (table) | 1 tbsp | = | oz | = | 18gms |
| Scallions (sliced) | 1 cup | = | 2 ¼oz | = | 64gms |
| Self-Rising Flour | 1 cup | = | 4oz | = | 113gms |
| Semolina Flour | 1 cup | = | 5 ¾oz | = | 163gms |
| Sesame seeds | ½ cup | = | 2 ½oz | = | 71gms |
| Shallots (peeled and sliced) | 1 cup | = | 5 ½oz | = | 156gms |
| Sorghum flour | 1 cup | = | 4 ⅞oz | = | 138gms |
| Sour cream | 1 cup | = | 8oz | = | 227gms |
| Sourdough starter | 1 cup | = | 8-8 ½oz | = | 227-241gms |
| Soy flour | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¼oz | = | 35gms |
| Spelt Flour | 1 cup | = | 3 ½oz | = | 99gms |
| Strawberries (fresh sliced) | 1 cup | = | 5 ⅞oz | = | 167gms |
| Sugar (granulated white) | 1 cup | = | 7oz | = | 198gms |
| Sundried tomatoes (dry pack) | 1 cup | = | 6oz | = | 170gms |
| Sunflower seeds | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¼oz | = | 35gms |
| Swedish Pearl Sugar | ¼ cup | = | 1 ¾oz | = | 49gms |
| Sweetened condensed coconut milk | 1 cup | = | 10 ⅛oz | = | 288gms |
| Sweetened condensed milk | ¼ cup | = | 2 ¾oz | = | 78gms |
| Tahini paste | ½ cup | = | 4 ½oz | = | 128gms |
| Tapioca starch | 1 cup | = | 4oz | = | 113gms |
| Tapioca (quick cooking) | 2 tbsp | = | ¾oz | = | 21gms |
| Toasted Almond Flour | 1 cup | 3 ⅜oz | = | 96gms | |
| Tomato paste | 2 tbsp | 1oz | = | 29gms | |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 tbsp | oz | = | 14gms | |
| Vegetable oil | 1 cup | 7oz | = | 198gms | |
| Vegetable shortening | ¼ cup | 1 ⅝oz | = | 46gms | |
| Walnuts (chopped) | 1 cup | 4oz | = | 113gms | |
| Walnuts (whole) | ½ cup | 2 ¼oz | = | 64gms | |
| Water | 1 cup | 8oz | = | 227gms | |
| Wheat bran | ½ cup | 1 ⅛oz | = | 32gms | |
| Wheat germ | ¼ cup | 1oz | = | 28gms | |
| White Chocolate Chips | 1 cup | 6oz | = | 170gms | |
| White Whole Wheat Flour | 1 cup | 4oz | = | 113gms | |
| Whole Wheat Flour (Premium 100%) | 1 cup | 4oz | = | 113gms | |
| Yeast (instant) | 2 tsp | oz | = | 6gms | |
| Yeast (instant) | 2 ¼ | ¼oz | = | 7gms | |
| Yoghurt | 1 cup | 8oz | = | 227gms | |
| Zucchini (shredded) | 1 cup | 4 ¼-5 ¼oz | = | 121-150gms |