How much should I actually buy?
Recipes ask for 350 g of rice. Shops sell 500 g bags. This calculator does the maths, so your shopping list says what to put in the trolley.
Free pack size calculator
Buy 1 × 500 g bagYou need 350 g. You’ll have 150 g left over.
How to use it
- Pick an ingredient, or type your own.
- Enter how much each recipe needs, and how many times you’re making it.
- Check the pack size. We’ve filled in common sizes; change it to match your shop.
- Get your answer: how many packs to buy, and how much you’ll have left over.
Examples
| You need | Common pack size | Buy | Left over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350 g rice | 500 g bag | 1 bag | 150 g |
| 800 g pasta | 500 g packet | 2 packets | 200 g |
| 1.2 kg mince | 500 g tray | 3 trays | 300 g |
| 3 tbsp tomato paste | 140 g tub [verify] | 1 tub | Most of it |
350 g rice
Common pack size: 500 g bagBuy: 1 bagLeft over: 150 g
800 g pasta
Common pack size: 500 g packetBuy: 2 packetsLeft over: 200 g
1.2 kg mince
Common pack size: 500 g trayBuy: 3 traysLeft over: 300 g
3 tbsp tomato paste
Common pack size: 140 g tub [verify]Buy: 1 tubLeft over: Most of it
Pack sizes vary by brand and shop. Check the shelf, and adjust.
Questions
Why not just buy the exact amount?
Most shops don’t sell it. Buying in packs means leftovers, and the trick is planning them into another meal.
How much should I cook per person?
See our cheat sheet: How much pasta, rice and mince per person?
Can it do a whole week at once?
This calculator does one ingredient at a time. My Tomte does the whole week, subtracts what’s already in your pantry, and remembers the leftovers for next time. Try My Tomte free