Raw to Cooked Meat Weight Calculator
Calculate how much cooked meat you will get from raw weight.
Results
Meat loses 15-45% of its weight during cooking due to moisture and fat loss. Knowing the yield factor helps you buy the right amount of raw meat for your recipe. Chicken breast retains about 75% of its raw weight, while a whole turkey retains only about 55%. Plan your portions based on cooked weight, not raw.
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Frequently asked questions
1 pound (454g) of raw chicken breast yields approximately 340g (12 oz) of cooked meat, a loss of about 25%.
Plan for 170-225g (6-8 oz) of raw beef per person. After cooking, ground beef yields about 75% and roasts yield about 65% of raw weight.
Cooking causes proteins to contract and squeeze out water and melted fat. Higher cooking temperatures and longer times increase moisture loss.
A whole turkey retains about 55% of its raw weight. A 20-pound raw turkey yields about 11 pounds of cooked meat.
For a main course, buy 1.7-2.25 kg (3.7-5 lb) of raw meat for 10 people, accounting for 25-35% cooking loss.