# Paste a recipe. Review each match.

AI matches every line to a USDA food and estimates a weight only when it must. You review each one and change any, then the compliance engine does the math.

[Start free](https://studio.bettermenu.live/signup) [See it in ChatGPT and Claude](https://bettermenu.live/platform/ai-and-agents/)

[Search USDA free](https://bettermenu.live/tools/ingredient-search/us/foods/)

We send recipe lines only to AI providers that do not train on them and keep none of them after answering.

Paste and Go in Studio: a pasted recipe, then each line beside its suggested USDA match, for you to review

## How do cups and spoons become grams?

Cups and spoons use USDA portion weights. Grams stay as they are, and ounces and pounds use fixed tables. Only when no portion fits does AI estimate, marked for you to change.

Each recipe line in grams, from its amount times a portion weight

| Recipe line | Amount × portion weight | Grams |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 4 tbsp honey | 4 times 21 grams, the USDA portion for 1 tbsp | 84 grams |
| 1/2 tsp salt | half times 6 grams, the USDA portion for 1 tsp | 3 grams |
| 1 cup sliced almonds | 1 times 92 grams, the USDA portion for 1 cup | 92 grams |
| 3 cups rolled oats | 3 times 81 grams, the USDA portion for 1 cup | 243 grams |
| 1 handful raisins | 1 times about 40 grams, an estimate you can edit | about 40 grams, estimate |
| Recipe weightIncludes one estimate | 84 plus 3 plus 92 plus 243 plus 40 | 462 grams |

[How grams become the label](https://bettermenu.live/platform/how-we-calculate/)

Each recipe line in grams, from its amount times a portion weight

Free to start. No card needed.

[Start free](https://studio.bettermenu.live/signup)

[See pricing](https://bettermenu.live/pricing/)

## Can I search USDA data by hand?

Yes, and searching is always free. Look up any USDA food, branded products included, and add it. Prefer to type each ingredient yourself? Use Manual Search.

Figure: Fixing an AI match: 1/2 cup cacao nibs matched to cocoa, dry powder, swapped for Cacao Nibs by USDA search, 80 g A recipe line, 1/2 cup cacao nibs. The AI picked Cocoa, dry powder, the wrong food, so it is struck out. You search USDA for "cacao nibs", pick Cacao Nibs and set its weight, 80 g, then confirm the line.

Studio, real UI: a USDA food found by name, then its nutrients for any portion

- [Try the free food search](https://bettermenu.live/tools/ingredient-search/us/foods/)

## How do I set the serving size?

Pick your food’s category to see its reference amount (RACC), then set the serving in a household measure.

Figure: A serving of 2 pieces, 28 g, set against the 30 g reference amount for cookies Category: Bakery products, cookies, with a reference amount (RACC) of 30 g. One piece weighs 14 g. On a scale from 0 to 45 g, two pieces reach 28 g, the closest whole count to 30 g. A third piece, drawn dashed, would reach 42 g. The serving size is 2 pieces (28g).

The serving step: the food category with its RACC, then the unit weight

- [Check a serving against its RACC](https://bettermenu.live/formulate/check/#serving-racc)

Questions

## More questions

### What does Paste and Go do with my recipe?

AI matches each line to a USDA food, and estimates a weight only when no USDA portion fits. You review every one, change it or confirm it. The compliance engine does the math. We send recipe lines only to AI providers that do not train on them and keep none of them after answering.

### Can I add ingredients without pasting a recipe?

Yes. Choose Manual Search and add each ingredient one at a time from the USDA database or your own custom ingredients. It uses no AI and never counts toward your ingredient allowance, so it still works when that allowance is used up.

### What if an ingredient is not in USDA?

Add it once as a custom ingredient from your supplier’s numbers, then use it anywhere.

## Read next

- [Ingredient data USDA FoodData Central plus your own ingredients.](https://bettermenu.live/platform/ingredient-data/)
- [Compliance engine Fixed FDA rules do every calculation and rounding. No AI in it.](https://bettermenu.live/platform/regulation-engine/)

## Make your first label today.

No card needed. [See pricing](https://bettermenu.live/pricing/).

[Start free](https://studio.bettermenu.live/signup) [See it in ChatGPT and Claude](https://bettermenu.live/platform/ai-and-agents/)

Source: https://bettermenu.live/formulate/build/