What is a “part” in cooking?

corvettecraz92: What is a “part” in cooking?
Recently posted on Lifehacker’s “Michael Ruhlman on Freeing Yourself from Recipes”, there’s a quickbread ration on there with 2 “parts” flour and liquid, 1 “part” egg an butter. If I wanted to make this, how much flour, liquid, egg, and butter would I use?

Answers and Views:

Answer by PJ
If 1 part equals 1 cup, then you use 2 cups of flour, 2 cups liquid, enough eggs to make 1 cup, etc.

So, what every you want your “part” to equal – just use the same base measure for all parts.

Answer by Heather
im pretty sure that it means…

if you put 1 cup flour, put 1 cup liquid (equal “parts”)

1 part egg and butter…. would be.. 1/2 cup each.. i think… lol

Answer by Arquestian
Usually it is equal amounts, so if you used two cups of flower, you would use a cup of butter. That sounds like a lot though, they could be comparing the egg and butter.

Like in mixing drinks, “part” means equals, so one ounce of vodka and two ounces of Sprite would be one part vodka, two parts Sprite

Answer by Odwin Oddball
A part just means any equal measurement.

In this case a cup would be the most logical selection, but you could just as easily use gallons if you needed to make a large batch.

As long as you keep the units consistent, the actual size is unimportant. Its the ratio that matters.

Answer by RevRusty
A “part” can be any measure you want it to be, as long as they’re all the same in your recipe.

For instance, you could make a recipe with 2 cups flour and liquid, 1 cup egg and butter. In this case the “part” would be 1 cup.

You could make a smaller batch with 1 cup flour and liquid (2 half-cups) and 1 half-cup egg and butter. In this case the “part” would be a half-cup.

Answer by Squigs
It is a a ratio of the rest of the parts. e.g. if you have two parts water one part flour than say you use to cups of water than you would use 1 cup flour.

Answer by Sugar Pie
A “part” simply refers to a ratio. You can use as much or as little as you like. For example a gallon (1 gallon egg/butter, 2 gallons flour/liquid) or as little as a Tablespoon (1 Tbsp egg/butter and 2 Tbsp flour/liquid).

I would suggest you use 1 cup or 2 cups as your “part{ measure. If you use 2 cups, then it’s 2 cups flour/liquid and 4 cups eggs/butter. Get it?

Answer by smellyfoot ™
A “part” is the measurement of your choice. 1 part and 2 part describes the rations of each. Lets say you choose to use 2 cups of flour, then you will use 1 cup of egg and butter.

Answer by Jedi Master <
this is a ratio which professionals use, a ‘part’ is anything from a teaspoon to a ton so long as you use the same unit for all measurements…

Answer by Ellen
2 “parts” flour and liquid, 1 “part” egg an butter. If I wanted to make this, how much flour, liquid, egg, and butter would I use?

Just means you need twice as much ‘flour and liquid’ as you do ‘egg and butter’

A ‘part’ is like a ratio. So 2 parts of thing A to 1 part thing B is twice as much A as B =]

Answer by Teth J
That means for every egg and butter you double the amount of flour and liquid. This is used in recipes for people who make a few one time and make more the next time. This type of recipe is easily adjusted.

For example: 2 eggs and 2 tbls butter = 4 cups four and 4 cups milk