Before Following a Cooking Video, Find Missing Amounts and Wait Times

Before cooking for one

Start with an ingredient you already have, then check the recipe's full ingredient list, quantities and equipment before choosing your meal. For a solo meal, use its one-serving quantities.

Before you start just because you saw tomatoes being sautéed, look for the amount of water, when to pour in the egg, and how to tell when it is done. In an edited video, the moment when the egg is poured in and left to sit may pass quickly. Don’t guess amounts from the size of a bowl on screen to fill in what you can’t confirm. Even when comparing with a written recipe, don’t arbitrarily combine numbers from different dishes.

Don’t buy ingredients based only on the video title

A short title or thumbnail may not show every seasoning or piece of equipment. Check whether the description lists ingredients and amounts, and compare them with what is actually used in the video. Write down small-looking ingredients such as water, oil, and salt separately, too. If there’s no list or the amounts are unclear, look first for guidance you can confirm in the original rather than filling in the gaps with guesses.

Don’t judge the number of servings from the size of the plate on screen, either. The amount can look different depending on the bowl or camera distance, even in the same shot. Choosing a recipe that specifies its serving count makes it easier to compare when you’re following it for the first time.

First, check whether you can use the equipment you have

Ovens, microwaves, and rice cookers work differently. Don’t assume you can transfer the same cooking time to a different appliance. Check whether the original or a vetted recipe gives separate instructions for using another appliance. For a rice-cooker recipe, also check whether your model supports that cooking method.

Check the size of the pan or pot, too. You don’t need to buy every piece of equipment shown in the video, but you do need a way to judge whether the ingredients will overflow or be too crowded. If the method is unfamiliar, choosing another recipe written for the equipment you already have is also a good option.

Video length and cooking time are different

Even a short, edited video may include waiting time for soaking, cooling, or cooking. Watch to the end to check whether any time has been cut out in the edit. If you’re new to chopping, allow extra time for prep as well. It’s better not to rush into cooking based only on the thought, “The video is short, so this should be quick to make.”

Use the original video to check the actions, and your organized notes to check measurements and what comes next. Write down only confirmed amounts, and leave anything you don’t know blank so you can look it up again.

After cooking, note only what turned out differently

Briefly note the equipment you used, any ingredients you actually changed, and the steps where the result differed. Keep the original video link, too, so you can check the actions again next time. Rather than reposting the video or the creator’s explanation as new content, distinguish your own results and changes in your personal cooking notes. At Kkinion, too, we check both source attribution and step-by-step instructions for recipes with a source before starting to cook.

Save the original link and the parts you changed

What you need for the next time you cook is the original link and notes you made while cooking—not a copy of the entire video. Record which appliances and tools you used, and distinguish any ingredients you changed from the original. Don’t use another creator’s text, photos, or video as material for a new post.

Continue with an actual recipe

You can follow the ingredient amounts and cooking steps in Tomato and Egg Soup: Pour in the Egg and Wait a Little.

Cook it yourself with a Kkinion recipe

Below are all the ingredients and cooking steps for “Tomato and Egg Soup.” First choose the amounts for the number of servings you’re making, then follow the prep and cooking instructions at each step.

Recipe ingredients

Tomato and Egg Soup · Estimated time: 15 minutes · Equipment: pot, small cup, knife

Choose one of the two amounts below to match how many people you’re cooking for.

• Tomatoes: 1 serving: 1 medium tomato / 2 servings: 2 medium tomatoes
• Eggs: 1 serving: 1 egg / 2 servings: 2 eggs
• Cooking oil: 1 serving: 0.5 household eating spoon / 2 servings: 1 household eating spoon
• Water: 1 serving: 1.5 paper cups (180 mL each) / 2 servings: 3 paper cups (180 mL each)
• Soy sauce: 1 serving: 0.5 household eating spoon / 2 servings: 1 household eating spoon
• Green onion: 1 serving: 0.125 of a stalk / 2 servings: 0.25 of a stalk

Complete cooking instructions

1st step. Wash the tomatoes, remove the stems, and cut them into 2 cm pieces. Crack the egg into a small cup and beat until the white and yolk are evenly combined. Wash and thinly slice the green onion.

Check: Beat the egg again just before adding it to the soup. Leave the tomato skin on.

2nd step. Add the cooking oil and tomatoes to a pot and sauté, stirring, over medium-low heat for 3 minutes. Once the tomatoes have softened, add the water and soy sauce and bring to a boil.

Check: Measure with the same household eating spoon. Fill liquids without letting them spill over, and don’t heap dry ingredients. Amounts vary depending on spoon size. Measure the water using a 180 mL paper cup. For 3–4 servings, use a pot of at least 3 L. Check whether the ingredients are cooked before focusing on the time.

3rd step. When the soup boils, reduce the heat to low. Slowly pour in the beaten egg in a thin stream and wait 20 seconds. Stir once with a large sweeping motion, then add the green onion and simmer for another 1 minute.

Check: Don’t keep stirring as soon as you pour in the egg. If any egg white is still clear or any liquid egg remains, continue cooking until fully cooked.

4th step. Once the egg is cooked through, turn off the heat and ladle the soup into bowls. The tomatoes will be hot, so let the soup cool before eating.

Check: This is soup for 1 serving, served separately from rice. Rice is not included in the ingredient or nutrition calculations.

Check the ingredients and cooking steps for tomato and egg soup

The images in the article are newly generated AI images based on the Kkinion recipe linked to this post. The featured image is also an AI-generated example. These are not photos of actual cooking or tasting, and the amounts and finished appearance may differ.

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