--- title: Alternative Units description: The Alternative Units feature allows users to assign additional units of measure to products beyond their default setup. This is particularly useful when building recipes, as it offers greater flexibi --- [Skip to content](https://support.kitchencut.com/alternative-units#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [More support](https://support.kitchencut.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) ![KC-H-18.jpg\]](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KC-H-18.jpg?height=40&name=KC-H-18.jpg) - [Contact Us](https://www.kitchencut.com/contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact Us](https://www.kitchencut.com/contact-us) - English Show submenu for translations - [More support](https://support.kitchencut.com/kb-tickets/new) - Jump to kitchencut.com Jump to kitchencut.com Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [F+B Engine | Support Center](https://support.kitchencut.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [WHAT'S NEW?](https://support.kitchencut.com/whats-new?hsLang=en) # Alternative Units The **Alternative Units** feature allows users to assign additional units of measure to products beyond their default setup. This is particularly useful when building recipes, as it offers greater flexibility for how ingredients are measured and entered. For example: - Assign **volume or weight values** to a product sold by the **each** (e.g. a 1kg bag of lentils or a carton of cream). - Assign **custom units** such as "blue spoon" or "ladle" to reflect how items are commonly portioned or used in service. This ensures recipe inputs remain intuitive for chefs while maintaining accurate cost and nutritional tracking in the background. --- ### ✅ When to Use Alternative Units Use Alternative Units when: - You need to **input recipe quantities differently** from how a product is purchased (e.g. spoons of mustard instead of weight). - You want to **standardise measurement units** that kitchen teams use across multiple recipes. - You want to **maintain flexibility** without compromising the integrity of your costings or nutrition data. --- ### How to Create an Alternative Unit 1. **Go to** `Settings > Menu Costing > Unit Builder` 2. Select '**Create Unit**'. ![](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-23-11-6356-AM.png?width=670&height=105&name=undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-23-11-6356-AM.png) 3. Enter the name of your Alternative Unit and slide the slider to **YES**. ![](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-23-26-5472-AM.png?width=573&height=203&name=undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-23-26-5472-AM.png) 4. Click **Create.** --- ### How to Assign an Alternative Unit at Product Level 1. **Go to** `Suppliers > Products` 2. Use the search bar to locate and open the product you want to edit. ![](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-24-35-2506-AM.png?width=670&height=115&name=undefined-Jun-10-2025-10-24-35-2506-AM.png) 3. In the product profile, scroll down to the **Alternative Units** section. Then: - Select Alternative Unit (e.g. `blue spoon`) - Enter the **Equivalent Quantity** in relation to the product's base unit (e.g. *100 blue spoon = 5,000g, 200 Green Spoon = 5,000g*) ![Screenshot 2025-06-10 at 11.34.42](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-06-10%20at%2011.34.42.png?width=670&height=209&name=Screenshot%202025-06-10%20at%2011.34.42.png) Repeat this process to assign **multiple alternative units** to the same product as needed. Click **Save** to apply each entry. --- ### How to Assign an Alternative Unit in Recipes When building or editing a **Recipe** or **Sub-Recipe**, you can apply Alternative Units to ingredients directly from the product entry line: 1. In the **Products** section of your recipe or sub-recipe, select the ingredient.![Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 11.39.55](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.39.55.png?width=670&height=279&name=Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.39.55.png) 2. In the **Alternative Unit** pop-up, choose the relevant alternative unit.![Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 11.41.57](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.41.57.png?width=670&height=344&name=Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.41.57.png) 3. Enter the quantity required for that recipe.![Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 11.42.48](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.42.48.png?width=670&height=355&name=Screenshot%202025-11-05%20at%2011.42.48.png) This makes it easier to work with measurable units such as **litres** or **kilograms**, rather than only by count (e.g. “1 recipe”). > Example: You can add *LIME PREMIUM* as an ingredient and use the “ml” alternative unit for more accurate batch recipe costing. Using Alternative Units in recipes and sub-recipes helps standardise measurement across different use cases — especially useful when scaling recipes, batching, or comparing ingredient costs by volume or weight.   --- ### Example A mustard product is purchased by weight, but kitchen staff use a **blue spoon** during service. If a blue spoon was equal to 2.5g, this would be set up as 400 Blue spoon = 1kg: - `Blue spoon = 0.025 kg` - In the recipe builder, enter **1 blue spoon** as the quantity - The system will automatically convert it to the correct weight for costing, nutrition, and inventory linkage You could also add other units (e.g. `red spoon`, `teaspoon`) for additional flexibility across recipes. --- ### 💡 Best Practices - Use **clear, consistent naming conventions** (e.g. “blue spoon”, “full ladle”) to avoid confusion across recipes. - Assign **as many alternative units as needed**, especially if a product is used in different ways in different contexts. - Regularly review and update alternative units when **product pack sizes or formats change**. --- ### ❓FAQs **Can I assign more than one alternative unit to a product?** Yes — you can assign **multiple** alternative units to any product. **Will alternative units affect my purchasing or inventory?** No — all purchasing and stock control continues to use the product’s original base unit. Alternative units only impact recipe inputs and reporting calculations. **Can I delete or edit an alternative unit later?** Yes — you can return to the product profile at any time to update or remove alternative units. --- ### 🆘 Need Help? 📧 **Email Support**: support@kitchencut.com 📝 **Submit a Ticket**: Submit a ticket   - [WHAT'S NEW?](https://support.kitchencut.com/whats-new?hsLang=en) - [PRODUCTS](https://support.kitchencut.com/products?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Creation & Deletion](https://support.kitchencut.com/products?hsLang=en#creation-deletion) - [Product Management](https://support.kitchencut.com/products?hsLang=en#product-management) - [Product Information](https://support.kitchencut.com/products?hsLang=en#product-information) - [SUPPLIERS](https://support.kitchencut.com/suppliers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Connections](https://support.kitchencut.com/suppliers?hsLang=en#connections) - [Pricelists](https://support.kitchencut.com/suppliers?hsLang=en#pricelists) - [ORDERING](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Suppliers](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#suppliers) - [Placing Orders](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#placing-orders) - [Deliveries](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#deliveries) - [Lists](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#lists) - [PAR Levels](https://support.kitchencut.com/ordering?hsLang=en#par-levels) - [INVENTORY](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Stock Take Video Series](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#stock-take-video-series) - [Stock Taking](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#stock-taking) - [Transfers](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#transfers) - [Waste](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#waste) - [Reporting](https://support.kitchencut.com/inventory?hsLang=en#reporting) - [MENU COSTING](https://support.kitchencut.com/menu-costing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Recipes](https://support.kitchencut.com/menu-costing?hsLang=en#recipes) - [Menus](https://support.kitchencut.com/menu-costing?hsLang=en#menus) - [POS](https://support.kitchencut.com/pos?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Menu Items](https://support.kitchencut.com/pos?hsLang=en#menu-items) - [EPOS](https://support.kitchencut.com/pos?hsLang=en#epos) - [ECOMMERCE](https://support.kitchencut.com/ecommerce?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Digital Menus](https://support.kitchencut.com/ecommerce?hsLang=en#digital-menus) - [REVENUE](https://support.kitchencut.com/revenue?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Reports](https://support.kitchencut.com/revenue?hsLang=en#reports) - [ACCOUNTING](https://support.kitchencut.com/accounting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Accountancy package integrations](https://support.kitchencut.com/accounting?hsLang=en#accountancy-package-integrations) - [TEAM](https://support.kitchencut.com/team?hsLang=en) - [SETTINGS](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Team](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#team) - [Business](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#business) - [Sales](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#sales) - [Menu Costing](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#menu-costing) - [Revenue Outlets](https://support.kitchencut.com/settings?hsLang=en#revenue-outlets) - [EDUCATION USERS](https://support.kitchencut.com/education-users?hsLang=en) - [CENTRAL PRODUCTION UNIT (CPU)](https://support.kitchencut.com/central-production-unit-cpu?hsLang=en#main-content) - [CPU Products](https://support.kitchencut.com/central-production-unit-cpu?hsLang=en#cpu-products) - [CPU Production lists](https://support.kitchencut.com/central-production-unit-cpu?hsLang=en#cpu-production-lists) - [CPU as a supplier](https://support.kitchencut.com/central-production-unit-cpu?hsLang=en#cpu-as-a-supplier) - [KC Lite](https://support.kitchencut.com/kc-lite?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting Started](https://support.kitchencut.com/kc-lite?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Products](https://support.kitchencut.com/kc-lite?hsLang=en#products) - [Menu Costing](https://support.kitchencut.com/kc-lite?hsLang=en#menu-costing) - [SUPPLIER GATEWAY](https://support.kitchencut.com/supplier-gateway?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting Started with the Supplier Gateway](https://support.kitchencut.com/supplier-gateway?hsLang=en#getting-started-with-the-supplier-gateway) - [Creating and Submitting Price Files to Customers](https://support.kitchencut.com/supplier-gateway?hsLang=en#creating-and-submitting-price-files-to-customers) - [Supplier Invoicing](https://support.kitchencut.com/supplier-gateway?hsLang=en#supplier-invoicing) - [Contact Us](https://www.kitchencut.com/contact-us) [![kitchencut.png](https://support.kitchencut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/KC_logoTransparent.jpg?width=722&height=156&name=KC_logoTransparent.jpg "kitchencut.png")](http://kitchencut.com) Kitchen CUT | F+B Engine Copyright © 2026, Kitchen CUT