Forum Discussion
Ingredients calculator
You can also use Excel's features so that you do not have to enter the number of pizzas for each ingredient for a type of pizza.
See the attached workbook. Use the dropdown list in cell A2 to select a food item. The formulas in cells C4 through E4 select (filter) data from the Ingredient Lists worksheet, using Excel's FILTER function. The formula that calculates all the quantities for a food item is the most complicated; it is in cell D4:
=IF( $A$2="", "", FILTER( 'Ingredient Lists'!E$2:E$1000, 'Ingredient Lists'!$C$2:$C$1000 = $A$2, "recipe not found" ) * $B$2 )
(Most of the spaces in those formulas are not needed, but make the formulas somewhat easier to read.)
The ingredient quantities that I included are made up, and of course, do not include the dough, oil, etc. But you can change those quantities and include rows for other ingredients and for other food items. Blank rows are not required between the food items, but they make it easier to review.
With a few changes to the workbook, you could also include recipes or other notes for each food item.
That example should get you started. Feel free to ask follow-up questions.
Hi Lewis, I appreciate the spreadsheet! I have a question is there a way to enter multiple recipes to get the total amount of each ingredients to know much ingredients total for those recipes to order/purchase. Example: Cookies- 2 cups of chocolate chips, 1 cup of butter, Truffles-3 cups of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of butter. For this order I need to purchase 5 cups of chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups of butter. I would really appreciate the help instead of manually added up the total amount of ingredients to purchase each time I get a different orders.
- SnowMan55Mar 28, 2025Bronze Contributor
(This is Snowman55, not Lewis.)
If you are using Excel 365 or Excel for the web, the workbook attached to this reply has one solution, and additional information for you on the _Info worksheet.
- BellaTMar 31, 2025Copper Contributor
SnowMan55,
I saw the error in the formula, but now I'm getting a error for "Too many ingredients! Update this worksheet." Do you have any suggestion where I can add all my ingredients? I have a lot more recipes to enter.
- SnowMan55Apr 02, 2025Bronze Contributor
See my response via private message.
- BellaTMar 30, 2025Copper Contributor
SnowMan55,
What did I do? All I did was updating my ingredients.
- BellaTMar 30, 2025Copper Contributor
Thanks SnowMan55, I really appreciate it!! Once again my apologies for addressing you wrong.