Recipes "parts"

LifeisGood · 09-03-2014, 08:15

When a recipe refers to ratios of ingredients, which are a mixture of liquids and solids, does this mean by weight or volume?

I'm trying to make something to spray on furniture to deter my puppy from chewing it, and cayenne pepper solution seems to be the thing to use.

The recipe is one part pepper to ten parts water. This is obviously not an issue for the water, but the amount of pepper would be different if measured by weight as opposed to volume. It's important to get it right, because it can be too severe if too strong, but it won't work (and may desensitise my puppy to the taste) if it's not strong enough.

I've also seen this with cocktails where mixing liquids with solids, so am curious to know the answer.

Welsh-lad · 09-03-2014, 12:13

Just make sure you apply the same measurement system.

If you're measuring the water by volume then measure the pepper the same.
If you're weighing the pepper on scales, then weigh the water too.

LifeisGood · 09-03-2014, 18:31

As 1g of water = 1ml of water, the water content would be the same whether measured by weight or volume, but the pepper content would differ by a hell of a lot. I just wondered whether there was a standard meaning of "part" where the recipe doesn't say either way.

If there is no standard, the recipe isn't very helpful really!

Gaditano · 09-03-2014, 18:43

It's about proportion - parts means multiples.

LifeisGood · 10-03-2014, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaditano

It's about proportion - parts means multiples.

I know what parts means in the basic sense, but as I'm sure you can appreciate, measuring pepper in volume or weight, will produce a very different solution.

The amount of water would be the same whether measured by volume or weight, i.e., 100ml is the same as 100g.

10g of pepper, however, is very different to 10ml of pepper.

If I used 10g of pepper, with 100mg of water, the solution would be a lot stronger, than 10ml of pepper in the same quantity of water.

Can anyone see what I mean?

Suze · 10-03-2014, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeisGood

I know what parts means in the basic sense, but as I'm sure you can appreciate, measuring pepper in volume or weight, will produce a very different solution.

The amount of water would be the same whether measured by volume or weight, i.e., 100ml is the same as 100g.

10g of pepper, however, is very different to 10ml of pepper.

If I used 10g of pepper, with 100mg of water, the solution would be a lot stronger, than 10ml of pepper in the same quantity of water.

Can anyone see what I mean?

I do see what your confusion is! My experience is that recipes that use parts are referring to volume not weight. So one tbsp pepper to 10 tbsp water.

LifeisGood · 11-03-2014, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suze

I do see what your confusion is! My experience is that recipes that use parts are referring to volume not weight. So one tbsp pepper to 10 tbsp water.

Thanks Suze!

I tried this last night, and it turns out my puppy likes cayenne pepper, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board.

It was supposed to make him sneeze, or at the very least make him pull a grimacy face, but no... he started licking it and looked up for more

whoever,hey · 15-03-2014, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeisGood

Thanks Suze!

I tried this last night, and it turns out my puppy likes cayenne pepper, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board.

It was supposed to make him sneeze, or at the very least make him pull a grimacy face, but no... he started licking it and looked up for more

Sounds like it should be on the pet forum.

09-03-2014, 08:15	#1
LifeisGood Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 766	Recipes "parts" When a recipe refers to ratios of ingredients, which are a mixture of liquids and solids, does this mean by weight or volume? I'm trying to make something to spray on furniture to deter my puppy from chewing it, and cayenne pepper solution seems to be the thing to use. The recipe is one part pepper to ten parts water. This is obviously not an issue for the water, but the amount of pepper would be different if measured by weight as opposed to volume. It's important to get it right, because it can be too severe if too strong, but it won't work (and may desensitise my puppy to the taste) if it's not strong enough. I've also seen this with cocktails where mixing liquids with solids, so am curious to know the answer.

09-03-2014, 12:13	#2
Welsh-lad Inactive Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mid Wales / Canolbarth Cymru Posts: 37,555	Just make sure you apply the same measurement system. If you're measuring the water by volume then measure the pepper the same. If you're weighing the pepper on scales, then weigh the water too.

09-03-2014, 18:31	#3
LifeisGood Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 766	As 1g of water = 1ml of water, the water content would be the same whether measured by weight or volume, but the pepper content would differ by a hell of a lot. I just wondered whether there was a standard meaning of "part" where the recipe doesn't say either way. If there is no standard, the recipe isn't very helpful really!

09-03-2014, 18:43	#4
Gaditano Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sussex by the sea Posts: 2,068	It's about proportion - parts means multiples.

10-03-2014, 13:44	#5
LifeisGood Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 766	Quote: Originally Posted by Gaditano It's about proportion - parts means multiples. I know what parts means in the basic sense, but as I'm sure you can appreciate, measuring pepper in volume or weight, will produce a very different solution. The amount of water would be the same whether measured by volume or weight, i.e., 100ml is the same as 100g. 10g of pepper, however, is very different to 10ml of pepper. If I used 10g of pepper, with 100mg of water, the solution would be a lot stronger, than 10ml of pepper in the same quantity of water. Can anyone see what I mean?

10-03-2014, 16:12	#6
Suze Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 834	Quote: Originally Posted by LifeisGood I know what parts means in the basic sense, but as I'm sure you can appreciate, measuring pepper in volume or weight, will produce a very different solution. The amount of water would be the same whether measured by volume or weight, i.e., 100ml is the same as 100g. 10g of pepper, however, is very different to 10ml of pepper. If I used 10g of pepper, with 100mg of water, the solution would be a lot stronger, than 10ml of pepper in the same quantity of water. Can anyone see what I mean? I do see what your confusion is! My experience is that recipes that use parts are referring to volume not weight. So one tbsp pepper to 10 tbsp water.

11-03-2014, 13:35	#7
LifeisGood Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 766	Quote: Originally Posted by Suze I do see what your confusion is! My experience is that recipes that use parts are referring to volume not weight. So one tbsp pepper to 10 tbsp water. Thanks Suze! I tried this last night, and it turns out my puppy likes cayenne pepper, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board. It was supposed to make him sneeze, or at the very least make him pull a grimacy face, but no... he started licking it and looked up for more

15-03-2014, 17:00	#8
whoever,hey Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 30,072	Quote: Originally Posted by LifeisGood Thanks Suze! I tried this last night, and it turns out my puppy likes cayenne pepper, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board. It was supposed to make him sneeze, or at the very least make him pull a grimacy face, but no... he started licking it and looked up for more Sounds like it should be on the pet forum.

DS Forums

Recipes "parts"