Cooking & Kitchen
Cooking Yield Calculator
Meat, vegetables and grains all lose or gain weight when cooked. Weigh the food before and after to see the yield percentage.
Formula
Yield % = (cooked weight / raw weight) x 100.
How it works
A yield below 100% means water and fat cooked out, which is normal for roasted meat. Above 100% usually means the food absorbed water, like rice or pasta.
Knowing yield helps with planning: if a roast yields 75%, you need about a third more raw weight than the cooked weight you want to serve.
FAQs
What is a typical yield for roast beef?
Around 70–75% is common, since moisture and fat are lost during roasting.
Why would yield be over 100%?
Foods that absorb water, such as dried beans, rice and pasta, can weigh more after cooking than before.
Should I weigh food hot or cold?
Weigh it the same way each time for comparable results. Hot food keeps losing steam, so a cooled weight is more stable.