A hundred grams of dry rice and a hundred grams of cooked rice are different portions. Water absorbed or lost during cooking changes nutrients per gram, so mixing weight conventions can distort an otherwise careful plan.
Read the description
Check whether an ingredient is cooked, drained, raw, or dry before weighing it. The planner includes preparation state in the food name where it matters. Its assembly recipes often start with cooked components. Do not weigh a dry ingredient against a cooked reference just because both have the same everyday name. Preparation time for assembly also assumes those components are already available.
Use one consistent method
For a batch you prepare yourself, weigh ingredients using matching records and weigh the complete cooked batch after preparation. A portion containing one quarter of the batch then receives one quarter of the estimated nutrients. This avoids assuming every saucepan absorbs the same amount of water. Added oil, sauces, and toppings belong in the calculation too, even when they are not the main ingredient.
Compare estimates fairly
Differences between apps can come from different food records, brands, and rounding rules. First compare the ingredient description and gram amount, then compare totals. USDA reference data is useful for consistency, but a prepared dish remains an estimate. Keep a note of how you weighed repeat meals so next week follows the same convention. A consistent estimate is more useful than switching records to obtain a preferred number.
Check that one frequently used ingredient matches the weighing state in the planner.
Plan my weekFurther reading
Our guides offer general planning advice. Nutrition is estimated from ingredient weights and selected USDA reference foods, not laboratory analysis of a finished recipe. Cooking, brands, and serving sizes change values. You choose your targets; example targets are not individualized dietary advice. Ingredient filters are planning aids, not an allergy safety certification. Check packaging and cross-contact. We do not claim hands-on tests of products mentioned in buying guides.