How we score recipes
Every Recipe of the Week gets a Weeknight Score out of 20 for how easily it fits a busy weeknight: time, effort, cleanup, shopping and leftovers. It isn't a rating of taste, nutrition or dietary suitability.
The basics
- Five criteria, each worth 0 to 4 points, for a total out of 20.
- Each band is explicit. When two bands both apply, the lower score wins.
- An editor reviews every score before it's published and can correct any criterion that was measured wrong, for example a miscounted pan. The reason shown on each criterion is the one we stand behind.
- The editor can also add or take away one point overall, and that reason is published with the post (for example, "Minus 1: the chorizo needs its own pan").
- The final score is kept between 0 and 20.
- Diet labels never affect the score, and we never state that a dish is safe for any diet or allergy.
Time
Total time as stated by the original recipe.
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 4 | 30 minutes or less |
| 3 | 31–45 minutes |
| 2 | 46–60 minutes |
| 1 | 61–120 minutes |
| 0 | Over 120 minutes, or needs overnight marinating, rising or chilling |
Effort
Technique and attention required.
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 4 | Dump and go. No knife technique, one cooking method, mostly unattended |
| 3 | Basic chopping, one method, largely unattended once started |
| 2 | Several steps in sequence, needs periodic attention (sauté then simmer and stir) |
| 1 | Real technique needed: searing in batches, timing two components to finish together, dough, sauces that can break |
| 0 | Advanced or constant attention: deep frying, risotto, candy temperatures, three-plus components plated together |
Cleanup
We count every pot, pan, baking dish, mixing bowl and appliance. Cutting boards, knives and measuring spoons don't count. A blender counts as one item: you lift the jar off the base and wash the jar and lid.
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 4 | 1 vessel |
| 3 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 0 | 5 or more, or any appliance that has to be taken apart to wash (food processor, deep fryer; a blender doesn't count) |
Shopping
Distinct ingredients to buy, meaning those not on the pantry staples list below.
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 4 | 5 or fewer, no specialty items |
| 3 | 6–8, no specialty items |
| 2 | 9–12, or 8 or fewer with 1 specialty item |
| 1 | 13–15, or any count with 2 specialty items |
| 0 | 16 or more, or 3+ specialty items |
Payoff
Two parts worth 0 to 2 each, so "feeds six but costs a lot" and "feeds two cheaply" don't end up with the same number.
Servings and leftovers
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 2 | Serves 6+, or serves 4+ and freezes or reheats well |
| 1 | Serves 4–5 and reheats acceptably |
| 0 | Serves 3 or fewer, or must be eaten immediately (fried foods, crisp textures, dressed salads) |
Cost per serving
US dollars per serving, based on US national average prices. We use it to set this part of the score only; posts don't show a price.
| Points | Band |
|---|---|
| 2 | $3.00 or less |
| 1 | $3.01–$5.50 |
| 0 | Over $5.50 |
| 1 | No reliable estimate available (neutral default, noted on the post) |
Cost bands last reviewed: September 2026
Specialty items
An ingredient is a specialty item if it meets any one of these tests. Specialty items count as an item to buy and lower the Shopping score.
- It needs a specific store type: an Asian, Latin or Middle Eastern market, a health food store, or a butcher.
- It usually has to be ordered online.
- It's seasonal, so it's unavailable much of the year (ramps, or fresh cranberries in June).
- It's only sold in a quantity far beyond what the recipe needs, like a $14 jar used for one teaspoon.
Anything a typical US supermarket stocks year-round (fresh produce, standard cuts of meat, dairy, canned goods, common cheeses) is a common item: it counts as an item to buy, with no extra penalty.
Pantry staples
We assume you already have these, so they don't count as items to buy. It's the same list as our family shopping list, plus a few universals.
- Pasta (multiple shapes)
- White and brown rice
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar and brown sugar
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Chicken or beef broth
- Olive oil and vegetable oil
- Peanut butter
- Rolled oats
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Soy sauce
- Ketchup and mustard
- Hot sauce
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Butter
- Eggs
- Milk
- Garlic
- Onions
- All-purpose spices (e.g. cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, cinnamon)
Pantry list v1.0
Letter grades
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 18–20 | A+ |
| 16–17 | A |
| 14–15 | A− |
| 12–13 | B+ |
| 10–11 | B |
| 8–9 | B− |
| 6–7 | C |
| Below 6 | C− |
Version history
Every post says which rubric version it was scored with. The current version is v1.1.
- v1.0 (September 2026): first published version.
- v1.1 (September 2026): a blender no longer counts as an appliance that has to be taken apart to wash. It counts as one item under Cleanup. Editors can now correct any criterion, not just add or take away one point.
See our disclaimer for more on ingredients, allergies and how we make money.