Prep & Assembly
Portion
Divide food into equal servings for even cooking and fair plates
Portioning divides food into equal servings — dough balls, burger patties, plated mains — so everything cooks evenly and everyone gets the same. Consistency is the goal. A scale or a portion scoop makes equal portions fast and removes the guesswork.
Portioning divides food into equal servings — dough balls, patties, plated mains — so everything cooks evenly and everyone gets the same. Consistency is the goal. A scale or a portion scoop makes equal pieces fast and removes the guesswork.
- Difficulty
- Easy
How to do it
- 1
Decide the per-portion weight or count.
- 2
Weigh each piece, or use a measured scoop.
- 3
Trim or add to even out the outliers.
- 4
Shape, plate, or store the portions.
Common uses
Tips & pitfalls
- Weigh dough portions — eyeballing rolls leads to uneven bakes.
- A spring-loaded scoop makes uniform cookies and muffins.
- Portion and freeze in batches for easy weeknight cooking.
Good to know
- Tool
- Scale, portion scoop, or bench scraper
- Best for
- Dough, batter, patties, plated servings
- Cue
- Even weights, even sizes
Also called
divide · portion out
Dishes that rely on it
Related
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Sift
Pass dry ingredients through mesh to aerate and remove lumps
Strain
Pour through mesh to separate solids from liquid for a smooth result
Filter
Pass liquid through fine material to clarify out the smallest particles
Rice
Press cooked potatoes through small holes for fluffy, lump-free texture
Mash
Crush soft cooked food into a rustic, creamy purée
Grind
Crush food into a coarse to fine texture, from spices to meat
Grate
Shred food into fine bits against a sharp-toothed surface