Here’s the quick, no-nonsense answer: 1 3/4 cups doubled is 3 1/2 cups. That’s 3.5 cups for the math nerds among us. Let me show you the dumb-easy math.
Think of 1 3/4 as 1 cup plus 3/4 cup. Double that, and you get 2 cups plus 1 1/2 cups. Ka-ching: 3 1/2 cups.
But wait—does that feel like a lot? It is a lot. But that’s what happens when you’re feeding an army of hungry unicorns. Or just your in-laws.
But Why Do Recipes Torture Us With Fractions?
I feel you. Fractions are like the mean substitute teacher who gives pop quizzes on a Friday. But here’s the trick: never do mental math when you’re hangry. Use your hands.
Grab a 1-cup measuring cup and a 1/4-cup measuring cup. Fill the 1-cup twice. Then fill the 1/4-cup six times (since 3/4 doubled is 1 1/2, and 1 1/2 is six 1/4-cups). Done. No calculator required.
Or, just use a 3-cup liquid measure and fill it to the 3.5 line. I’m not judging your tactics. I’m just here to keep you from buying a scale out of frustration.
