In recipe method, spell out whole numbers less than 10, unless they are followed by a unit of measurement or time (teaspoons, cups, minutes, weeks, degrees, servings, etc.). For recipes written in paragraph style (which includes subrecipes), use a number for any ingredient that would be written with a number in a traditional ingredients list.

Add 1 egg.
Combine two of the eggs.
Divide greens among eight salad plates.
Sprinkle with 1 cup of the flour.
Chill for 5 minutes.
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Cut peels from 3 tangerines.
Add the 2 cloves garlic.
Use half of a 6-ounce can.

Spell out numbers in the following cases:

When a number precedes another number in instructions copy, captions, and other text:
sixteen 2-cup measures

Numbers used in portions and descriptions:
half
five-spice powder

A number that’s part of a partial ingredient:
spoon one-third of the mixture
add half of the sauce

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