What this calculation means
Substitution recosting removes an original ingredient line from the recipe total and adds its replacement. It assumes the rest of the recipe is unchanged.
The original line cannot exceed the current recipe total. Do not start from a total that already includes the replacement.
How to use this calculator
Enter the current recipe total including the original line. Enter that original line and its replacement cost once each.
Formula and variables
New recipe cost = Current recipe cost − Original line cost + Replacement line cost
- Current recipe costUSD
- Current total recipe cost.
- Original line costUSD
- Cost of the ingredient being replaced.
- Replacement line costUSD
- Cost of the replacement at the used quantity.
Dollar amounts display to cents, with exact half-cent values rounded away from zero; intermediate calculations keep full precision.
Understand your result
The result is the revised recipe total after removing the original line once and adding the replacement once. Details show unchanged recipe cost, both line costs, and the signed total change. No serving count or changed batch yield is assumed.
Worked example
Base recipe is $12; replace a $2 line with $2.75.
Current recipe cost: 12 USD
Original line cost: 2 USD
Replacement line cost: 2.75 USD
- Remove the original line from the recipe: $12 − $2 = $10.
- Add the replacement: $10 + $2.75 = $12.75.
Example result: $12.75
Frequently asked questions
Can I simply add the replacement to the old recipe total?
That would retain the old ingredient and double-count the substitution. The original line must be removed before the replacement is added.
What if several lines change?
Keep a clear ledger of the removed and added lines. This form represents one replacement at a time on an otherwise unchanged total.