Appearance
Conversions
A conversion in DigiChef bridges the gap between how you purchase an ingredient and how you use it in recipes. When those two units are in different measurement classes — like buying by weight but cooking by volume — DigiChef needs to know the conversion ratio to calculate costs accurately.
Navigate to your conversions at app.digichef.co/conversions.
When do you need a conversion?
You need a conversion when you want to use an ingredient in a recipe using a different class of unit than it was purchased in.
DigiChef recognises three measurement classes:
| Class | Example units |
|---|---|
| Weight | kg, g, lb, oz |
| Volume | L, mL, cup, tbsp, tsp, fl oz |
| Each | Each, Case, Dozen |
You don't need a conversion when you're staying within the same class. If you buy flour by the kilogram and use it in grams, DigiChef converts those automatically.
You do need a conversion when crossing classes. For example:
- Buying black pepper by weight (oz) but using it by volume (tsp)
- Buying olive oil by volume (L) but using it by weight (g)
- Buying fresh herbs by weight (g) but using them by volume (tbsp)
Creating a conversion
- Navigate to Conversions.
- Click Create.
- Search for and select the Product or Prep Recipe the conversion applies to.
- Select the Unit to convert to (the unit you want to use in your recipes).
- Enter the ratio — how many of the target unit equal one unit of the purchased unit.
- Click Save.
Example: Black pepper (oz → tsp)
If you buy black pepper by the ounce and want to use teaspoons in recipes:
1 oz of black pepper = ~6 teaspoons
Set:
- Product:
Black Pepper - Convert to:
Teaspoon - Ratio:
6
Once saved, DigiChef will correctly calculate the cost of black pepper whenever it appears in a recipe measured in teaspoons, tablespoons, or any other volume unit.
How conversions work in recipes
Once a conversion exists for a product, DigiChef uses it automatically. When you add that product to a recipe and select a unit in the converted class, DigiChef calculates the cost per unit for you — no manual calculation needed.
TIP
You only need to create a conversion once per product. After that, DigiChef handles the maths in every recipe that uses it.
INFO
Conversions work across all units within the same class. If you create a conversion from oz to teaspoons for black pepper, you can also use that product in tablespoons, cups, or millilitres in any recipe — DigiChef knows how to chain the conversions together.
Tips for accurate conversions
- Measure your own products. Conversion ratios vary between brands. A cup of finely ground flour weighs more than a cup of coarse semolina — weigh your actual product for accuracy.
- Use a reference site when you can't measure directly. Aqua-Calc is a handy resource for looking up weight-to-volume conversion ratios for common food ingredients.
- Account for yield. If you're converting a whole product to a usable yield (e.g., whole fish to fillet portions), consider using a prep recipe to model the yield rather than a conversion.
- Review conversions when you switch suppliers. If you change brands, the density or pack size may differ, requiring an updated ratio.