How to Use Yield Percentage
Summary: The Yield Percentage is set on ingredients and is used on ingredients that need to be prepared before they can be used on a recipe.
100% Yield Percentage means that all of the ingredient could be used on a recipe. Some ingredients need to have parts of it removed and it should be reflected in the cost of the ingredient on the recipe.
The example of potatoes illustrates this well. The purchase of the potatoes is usually in weight (ie. 5 lbs). Yet, part of that original weight (ie. 5 lbs) will go to waste because they need to be peeled or have parts removed. So the useable amount will be less. As per the USDA, Potatoes have a 25% waste, or in other words, a 75% Yield Percentage.
How to change: To change the Yield Percentage of an ingredient, find the ingredient in the list, open it and go to the Details section. You will find the 'Yield %' slider in the top right corner.
Details
To adjust the percentage, either use the slider or select the number field and type in the correct amount. To help with some of the calculations, you can also use the Yield Percentage Calculator. Click the little calculator symbol in the top right corner to open the calculator.
Using the Yield Percentage Calculator: In our example we have used Potatoes. We can use the calculator to estimate the yield percentage by weighing the before and after peeling/trimming weight.
For example, 5 potatoes weigh 1.2 pounds. Then we peel the potatoes and the resulting weight is now 0.95 pounds.
Take these measurements and enter them into the calculator below. You will notice that the resulting Yield Percentage is '79%'. Click the button that shows the result quantity and it will update the Yield Percentage on the ingredient.
Please note that all measurement units MUST be the same in this calculator. If you are using pounds in the first field, all other fields need to be in pounds as well.