We’ve been playing with the Ratio app for a bit, and we must say, we’re impressed. If you are into cooking, or if you want to get into cooking, this is one of those apps that comes out and sets you free from recipes and having to follow them perfectly. The app is $5, and here’s what you can expect from it:

• The 32 critical ratios that form the backbone of the culinary arts, with instructions: doughs, batters, meat preparations, custards, sauces (pasta dough and pizza dough, sponge cake and pancakes, fritters and crepes, stocks and sauces, crème caramel and chocolate sauce.
• A calculator that figures out how much of each ingredient you need, no matter how many or how few people you want to serve.
• An ounces-to-grams converter (ratios work no matter what unit you choose to use!).
• Delicious variations for recipes on all the ratios, ideas for the creation of new dishes according to your tastes.
• An easy way to store your own recipes and notes that you’ve created from the basic ratios.
• Quick fun ways to share what your cooking with your fellow cooks, on Facebook and on Twitter.
• Ratios is also a great way to understand and tweak your own recipes, to help you make your pancakes even fluffier, your pizza dough crisper, your crème brulee richer.

Definitely nice to have in the palm of your hand, and the app is already optimized for iOS 4.