Unit conversion
How AreaCacao converts between grams, kilos, milliliters, liters, ounces, pounds, units, and tablespoons.
What it is
AreaCacao works internally in grams. When you enter a quantity in another unit, the app converts it automatically and also stores the gram equivalent.
Supported units
The unit selector on each row offers eleven options:
- Mass: grams (g), kilograms (kg), milligrams (mg), ounces (oz), pounds (lb).
- Volume: milliliters (ml), liters (L), centiliters (cl).
- Discrete: unit, tablespoon (15g), teaspoon (5g).
How mass and volume are converted
Mass (g, kg, mg, oz, lb) converts directly. To go from volume (ml, L, cl) to mass, AreaCacao needs the ingredient's density (g/ml), which lives on its sheet. When an ingredient has no declared density and you pick a volume unit, it defaults to 1 g/ml (accurate for water, approximate for other things — add the real density if you'll work a lot with that unit). In that case, Estimated weight appears under the row's weight; hover over it to read the notice.
How discrete units are converted
To go from units to mass, AreaCacao needs the ingredient's weight per unit. If the sheet declares that weight, the tablespoon and teaspoon use it; if not, 15 g and 5 g are used (a tablespoon and a teaspoon of water) and the row shows Estimated weight. The unit option requires the ingredient to have a declared weight per unit; if it doesn't, the row stays at 0 g with the No weight notice: enter the quantity in grams.
Units the app doesn't recognize
An imported recipe can come with units the selector doesn't have (cup, pinch, stick…). The app doesn't guess their weight, because it depends on the ingredient (a cup of flour and a cup of sugar don't weigh the same): the line stays at 0 g and Review unit appears in the Weight column. Change it to grams or another unit from the selector so it counts toward the score, the nutrition facts and the cost.
Why it matters
Without consistent conversions:
- The recipe totals don't add up.
- The aggregated macros are calculated incorrectly.
- Scaling to other weights gives wrong results.
Having correct densities and weights per unit on the ingredients you use most is the best time investment you can make when setting up your account.