Welcome to Jambalaya Calculator! This guide will help you master the app and cook perfect jambalaya every time, whether you’re feeding 10 or 100 people.
=======================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
=======================================================
1. Getting Started
2. Understanding the Three Cooking Modes
3. Using By Pot Size Mode
4. Using By Servings Mode
5. Using By Rice & Meat Mode (Recipe Scaling)
6. Custom Ratios & Advanced Features
7. Log Book – Tracking Your Cooks
8. Saved Configurations
9. Settings & Customization
10. Troubleshooting & Common Issues
================================================================================
1. GETTING STARTED
================================================================================
WHAT THIS APP DOES:
Jambalaya Calculator takes the guesswork out of cooking large batches of
jambalaya. Based on authentic Stadium Rat ratios (tested over years of
cooking for crowds), it calculates exact ingredient amounts for any batch size.
FIRST LAUNCH:
– The app opens in “By Pot Size” mode with LSU Purple & Gold theme
– All calculations use proven ratios for authentic jambalaya
– No account or internet connection required – it’s 100% offline
QUICK START:
1. Choose your cooking mode (By Pot Size, By Servings, or By Rice & Meat)
2. Enter your input (pot size, number of people, or available ingredients)
3. View your complete ingredient list
4. Export to shopping list or cook directly from the app
================================================================================
2. UNDERSTANDING THE THREE COOKING MODES
================================================================================
The app offers three different ways to approach your jambalaya cook:
BY POT SIZE – “I have this pot, what can I make?”
Best for: You know your pot size and want to fill it
Example: “I have a 24-quart stockpot for the tailgate”
BY SERVINGS – “I need to feed X people”
Best for: You know how many people you’re serving
Example: “I’m cooking for 30 people at the church potluck”
BY RICE & MEAT – “I have these ingredients, what can I make?”
Best for: Working with ingredients you already have, or analyzing recipes
Example: “I have 5 pounds of rice and 10 pounds of chicken”
Switch modes anytime using the picker at the top of the Calculator tab.
================================================================================
3. USING BY POT SIZE MODE
================================================================================
WHEN TO USE:
– You have a specific pot you want to use
– Cooking for a crowd and want to maximize your pot
– Planning around available cookware
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Select your pot size from the common sizes:
– 6 Quart (1.5 gallons)
– 8 Quart (2.0 gallons)
– 12 Quart (3.0 gallons)
– 16 Quart (4.0 gallons)
– 20 Quart (5.0 gallons)
– 24 Quart (6.0 gallons)
– Or add a custom pot size
2. The app calculates:
– Safe fill level (default 85% – adjustable in settings)
– Maximum rice that fits
– All ingredient amounts
– Estimated servings (2-cup portions)
3. Review your ingredient list grouped by category:
– Meat (chicken, sausage, etc.)
– Rice & Liquid (rice, water, chicken base)
– Vegetables (trinity + aromatics)
– Spices (salt, peppers, garlic powder, cayenne)
RECOMMENDED POT SIZE:
The app shows a “Recommended Pot” indicator based on your fill percentage
setting. This helps prevent overflows!
ADDING CUSTOM POTS:
1. Tap the “+” button next to pot size
2. Enter gallon or quart capacity
3. Give it a descriptive name
4. Your custom pot is saved for future use
PRO TIP: If you’re not sure about your pot size, measure with a gallon jug.
Fill your pot with water, count gallons, then multiply by 4 for quarts.
================================================================================
4. USING BY SERVINGS MODE
================================================================================
WHEN TO USE:
– You know exactly how many people you’re feeding
– Planning an event with a headcount
– Want to ensure you have enough (or not too much)
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Enter number of people
2. Choose serving size:
– Taste (1 cup) – Appetizer portions or side dish
– Small (1.5 cups) – Light meal
– Medium (2 cups) – Standard meal portion
– Large (3 cups) – Hungry crowd or main course
3. Select or add a pot size for cooking
4. The app calculates:
– Total jambalaya needed
– Required pot capacity
– All ingredient amounts
– Whether your selected pot is large enough
SELECTING THE RIGHT SERVING SIZE:
– TASTE: Jambalaya is one of many dishes (buffet style)
– SMALL: Light eaters, or jambalaya with lots of sides
– MEDIUM: Standard serving, jambalaya is the main dish
– LARGE: Very hungry people, or seconds expected
EXAMPLE SCENARIO:
Cooking for 40 people at a tailgate:
– 40 people × Medium (2 cups) = 80 cups = 5 gallons
– App recommends 24-quart (6 gallon) pot
– Safe fill with 85% = 5.1 gallons of finished jambalaya
– Perfect fit!
PRO TIP: Always go one serving size larger if you expect people to want
seconds, or if jambalaya is the only main dish.
================================================================================
5. USING BY RICE & MEAT MODE (RECIPE SCALING)
================================================================================
WHEN TO USE:
– Shopping sales (bought bulk chicken, need to use it)
– Have leftover ingredients from another recipe
– Want to analyze/scale a published recipe
– Making jambalaya with what’s in your pantry
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Enter available rice weight (in pounds)
2. Enter available meat weight (in pounds)
3. Select a pot size for cooking
4. The app calculates:
– All other ingredients based on proper ratios
– Whether your pot is large enough
– Expected yield and servings
SCALING PUBLISHED RECIPES:
This is where By Rice & Meat mode shines! Here’s how to analyze any jambalaya
recipe you find online or in a cookbook:
STEP 1 – Extract Rice & Meat:
Example Recipe: “Mom’s Jambalaya (serves 8)”
– 2 cups raw rice
– 1 pound chicken
– 1 pound sausage
STEP 2 – Convert Rice to Pounds:
1 cup raw rice ≈ 0.4 pounds
2 cups = 0.8 pounds rice
(Or just weigh it on a kitchen scale)
STEP 3 – Calculate Total Meat:
1 lb chicken + 1 lb sausage = 2 pounds total meat
STEP 4 – Enter in App:
Rice: 0.8 pounds
Meat: 2 pounds
Pot: 8 Quart (or whatever the recipe suggests)
STEP 5 – Compare Results:
The app shows you what Stadium Rat ratios would use for that amount of rice
and meat. Compare to the published recipe:
– Is their liquid ratio correct? (Should be 2:1 water to rice)
– Are spices balanced? (Check per-cup rice ratios)
– Will it actually fit in the suggested pot?
STEP 6 – Scale Up or Down:
Want to make that recipe for 40 people instead of 8?
– Multiply rice by 5: 0.8 × 5 = 4 pounds rice
– Multiply meat by 5: 2 × 5 = 10 pounds meat
– Enter in app, get all other ingredients scaled properly
– App tells you the correct pot size needed
REAL WORLD EXAMPLE:
Found a recipe online that seems off:
“Serves 20: Use 5 cups rice, 6 pounds meat, 10 cups water in 16qt pot”
Enter in app:
– Rice: 2 pounds (5 cups × 0.4)
– Meat: 6 pounds
– Pot: 16 Quart
App shows:
– Should use 8 cups water (not 10) for 2:1 ratio
– 16qt pot is fine (4 gallon capacity)
– Will actually serve 20-25 people with 2-cup servings
Now you know to reduce the water by 2 cups to avoid soupy jambalaya!
PRO TIP: When scaling recipes, maintain the meat-to-rice ratio. Stadium Rat
uses 2.5:1 (2.5 lbs meat per 1 lb rice) for optimal texture and flavor.
================================================================================
6. CUSTOM RATIOS & ADVANCED FEATURES
================================================================================
ACCESSING CUSTOM RATIOS:
Scroll to the bottom of any calculator tab to find “Custom Ratios” section.
WHAT YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE:
– Rice to liquid ratio (default 2.0 – more water = softer rice)
– Meat to rice ratio (default 2.5 – more meat = heartier jambalaya)
– Chicken base per cup water
– All spice amounts per cup of rice
– Vegetable amounts per gallon
– Safe fill percentage (how full to fill your pot)
– Target meat percentage in final product
ENABLING CUSTOM RATIOS:
1. Toggle “Use Custom Ratios” ON
2. Adjust any ratio using the +/- buttons or sliders
3. Calculator immediately updates with new amounts
4. Reset button returns to Stadium Rat defaults
LOCKING RECIPES:
The padlock icon at the top right locks all inputs:
– Prevents accidental changes while cooking
– Lock each tab independently
– Perfect for following a tested recipe
ADVANCED INPUT MODE:
Dial/keyboard toggle icon switches between:
– Wheel pickers (default) – Easy scrolling
– Text fields – Precise number entry
PRO TIPS:
– Start with defaults, adjust only after you’ve cooked a batch
– Write down successful custom ratios for next time
– Higher fill % = more food but higher overflow risk
– Lower meat ratio saves money but changes texture
COMMON ADJUSTMENTS:
– Mild version: Reduce cayenne by 50%
– Soupier texture: Increase liquid ratio to 2.2
– Firmer rice: Decrease liquid ratio to 1.9
– More vegetables: Increase veggie ratios by 25%
================================================================================
7. LOG BOOK – TRACKING YOUR COOKS
================================================================================
ACCESSING LOG BOOK:
Tap the “Log Book” tab at the bottom to view all your saved cooks.
WHY USE THE LOG BOOK:
– Remember what worked (and what didn’t)
– Track recipe refinements over time
– Show off your cooks with photos
– Build your personal jambalaya database
CREATING A LOG ENTRY:
Method 1 – From Calculator:
1. Set up your recipe in any calculator mode
2. Tap “Add to Log Book” button
3. Entry automatically captures all recipe details
Method 2 – From Log Book Tab:
1. Tap “+” button
2. Manually enter all cook details
WHAT GETS SAVED:
– Recipe name
– Date cooked
– Calculation mode used
– All ingredient amounts
– Pot size and capacity
– Estimated servings
– Custom ratios (if used)
– Up to 5 photos
– Star rating (1-10)
– Personal notes
ADDING PHOTOS:
1. Open a log entry
2. Tap camera icon
3. Choose “Take Photo” or “Choose from Library”
4. Add up to 5 photos per entry
5. Photos show your progression: raw ingredients, cooking, final dish
RATING YOUR COOKS:
– Tap stars to rate 1-10 (or leave unrated)
– Helps you remember which recipes to repeat
– Filter by rating to find your best batches
EDITING ENTRIES:
1. Tap any entry to view details
2. Tap “Edit” button
3. Update name, notes, rating, or photos
4. Changes save automatically
DELETING ENTRIES:
– Tap trash icon on any entry
– Confirm deletion (cannot be undone)
EXPORTING TO SAVED CONFIG:
From any log entry detail view:
1. Tap “Export to Saved Config”
2. Entry name auto-fills
3. Now you can quickly reload that exact recipe
LOG BOOK LIST VIEW:
Each entry shows:
– Thumbnail photo
– Entry name and delete button
– Star rating (if rated)
– Pot size in gallons
– Date cooked (MM/DD/YY format)
PRO TIPS:
– Take photos during your cook to document the process
– Note what you’d change next time in the notes field
– Export successful cooks to Saved Configs for easy reuse
– Use ratings to build your “greatest hits” collection
================================================================================
8. SAVED CONFIGURATIONS
================================================================================
WHAT ARE SAVED CONFIGURATIONS:
Pre-saved calculator setups that you can reload instantly. Think of them as
bookmarks for your favorite recipes.
ACCESSING SAVED CONFIGS:
Tap “Saved Configs” tab at the bottom.
SAVING A CONFIGURATION:
Method 1 – From Calculator:
1. Set up your recipe in any mode
2. Tap “Save Config” button (bookmark icon)
3. Enter a descriptive name
4. Tap “Save”
Method 2 – From Log Book:
1. Find a successful cook in Log Book
2. Tap “Export to Saved Config”
3. Configuration is ready to reload
WHAT GETS SAVED:
– Calculation mode
– All input values
– Custom ratios (if enabled)
– Pot size selections
– Everything needed to recreate the exact recipe
LOADING A CONFIGURATION:
1. Open Saved Configs tab
2. Tap “Load” button on any config
3. Calculator tab updates with those settings
4. Start cooking or make adjustments
SAVED CONFIG LIST VIEW:
Each config shows:
– Configuration name
– Cooking mode badge (colored tag)
– Pot size in gallons
– Date saved (MM/DD/YY)
– Load button
– Delete button (trash icon)
MANAGING CONFIGURATIONS:
– Edit: Tap config → Edit → Update and save
– Duplicate: Share to yourself, import with new name
– Delete: Tap trash icon → Confirm
– Organize: Configs sorted by date (newest first)
USE CASES:
– “Church Potluck Special” – Your go-to for 50 people
– “Game Day Recipe” – Perfect 24-quart batch
– “Mild Version” – For kids and spice-sensitive folks
– “Competition Recipe” – Your award-winner with secret ratios
PRO TIPS:
– Save configs AFTER you’ve cooked and refined them
– Use descriptive names: “Mild 6qt” is better than “Recipe 1”
– Share your best configs with cooking buddies
– Import configs from experienced cooks to learn from them
=======================================================
9. SETTINGS & CUSTOMIZATION
=======================================================
ACCESSING SETTINGS:
Tap the gear icon in the top right of any tab.
COLOR THEMES:
Choose from 14+ SEC team color schemes:
– LSU Purple & Gold (default)
– Alabama Crimson & White
– Auburn Navy & Orange
– Florida Royal Blue & Orange
– Georgia Red & Black
– Kentucky Blue & White
– Mississippi State Maroon & White
– Missouri Gold & Black
– Ole Miss Red & Blue
– South Carolina Garnet & Black
– Tennessee Orange & White
– Texas Burnt Orange & White
– Oklahoma Crimson & Cream
– And more!
Changes apply immediately across the entire app.
FONT SIZE SCALING:
Adjust text size for better readability:
– Smallest – Maximum content on screen
– Smaller – Slightly reduced
– Standard – Default comfortable size
– Larger – Better for outdoor/bright light
– Largest – Maximum accessibility
Independent of iOS system font size – works everywhere in the app.
FILL RATE SETTING:
Controls how full to fill your pot (default 85%):
– Lower % = More safety margin, less overflow risk
– Higher % = More food, but watch carefully while cooking
– Range: 70% – 95%
– Affects all calculation modes
CUSTOM POT SIZES:
View and manage your saved custom pots:
– See all custom pots you’ve added
– Edit names or capacities
– Delete unused pots
– Sorted by size for easy reference
THEME SYSTEM:
Themes affect:
– Primary color (buttons, accents, badges)
– Secondary color (Load buttons, highlights)
– Adaptive colors for dark mode
– Star ratings and interactive elements
=======================================================
10. TROUBLESHOOTING
=======================================================
ISSUE: “Pot too small” warning appears
SOLUTION:
– Switch to a larger pot in the current mode
– Reduce number of servings (By Servings mode)
– Reduce rice/meat amounts (By Rice & Meat mode)
– Check fill rate setting (may be set too low)
ISSUE: Overflow warning (red text)
SOLUTION:
– The app warns when ingredients exceed safe pot capacity
– Use a larger pot OR reduce batch size
– Alternatively, adjust fill rate in Settings (use caution)
– For safety, never exceed 95% fill level. 75-85% is far safer.
ISSUE: Shopping list export not working
SOLUTION:
– Check iOS permissions for Reminders app
– Make sure Reminders app is installed
– Restart app if export dialog doesn’t appear
ISSUE: Photos not showing in Log Book
SOLUTION:
– Grant photo library access in iOS Settings
– Photos stored locally – not in iCloud
– Check iPhone storage (may be full)
– Re-add photos to log entry if missing
ISSUE: Can’t delete Log Book entries
SOLUTION:
– Tap trash icon on the entry row
– Confirm deletion in alert dialog
– If icon not visible, pull down to refresh list
– Restart app if issue persists
ISSUE: Wrong pot size showing
SOLUTION:
– Each mode has its own pot selection
– By Pot Size: Pot you’re using
– By Servings: Pot for cooking the servings
– By Rice & Meat: Pot for cooking ingredients
– Not shared between modes
ISSUE: App crashes when deleting items
SOLUTION:
– This was fixed in recent update
– Make sure you have latest version
– Deletion now uses confirmation alerts (safer)
– Contact support if crashes continue
ISSUE: Recipe lock not working
SOLUTION:
– Padlock icon must be tapped to toggle
– Lock is per-tab (Calculator, not Settings)
– Locked icon = inputs disabled, unlocked = editable
– If stuck, force-close and reopen app
GETTING HELP:
– Read this guide thoroughly
– Email developer with screenshots of issue
– Include iOS version, app version, and steps to reproduce
BEST PRACTICES FOR AVOIDING ISSUES:
– Keep iOS updated for latest bug fixes
– Don’t force-quit app during calculations
– Grant necessary permissions when prompted
=======================================================
BEFORE YOU START:
□ Read entire recipe and have all ingredients ready
□ Use heavy-bottom pot (even heat distribution), cast iron or enameled cast iron is ideal. thin aluminum is not your friend for this
□ Have long spoon for stirring to bottom of your pot
COMMON MISTAKES:
✗ Lifting lid during cooking (releases steam)
✗ Stirring too much (makes rice mushy)
✗ Not browning meat properly (no flavor development)
✗ Wrong rice type (for best results use a long grained rice that is not instant or converted / parboiled rice)
✗ Adding too much liquid (soupy jambalaya)
✗ Overfilling pot (boils over, makes mess)
SUCCESS INDICATORS:
✓ Rice is tender but not mushy
✓ All liquid absorbed (not soupy or dry)
✓ Meat is cooked through and flavorful
✓ Golden-brown crust on bottom (gratin – that’s the best part!)
✓ Spices balanced, not too spicy or bland
ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS:
– Above 3,000 ft: Increase liquid by 10%
– Above 5,000 ft: Increase liquid by 15%
– May need longer cooking time at altitude
– Adjust fill rate lower (liquid evaporates faster)
SCALING TIPS:
– Large batches (20+ qt): Use propane burner outdoors
– Multiple pots easier than one giant pot
– Keep meat-to-rice ratio consistent when scaling
– Taste and adjust seasoning at the end
STORAGE & REHEATING:
– Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking
– Store in airtight container, lasts 3-4 days
– Freeze in portions, good for 2-3 months
– Reheat with splash of water/stock to restore moisture
– Microwave or stovetop both work well
=======================================================
FINAL WORDS
=======================================================
Jambalaya is forgiving, fun, and feeds a crowd. This app takes the math out
of it so you can focus on the cooking and the company.
Start with the defaults, cook a batch, taste it, adjust to your preference,
and save your winning recipe. Before you know it, you’ll be the jambalaya
expert everyone calls when there’s a big event.
Laissez les bons temps rouler! 🎉
Version 1.0 – 2025
Based on authentic Stadium Rat ratios
=======================================================