If you're planning to open a restaurant or simply want to manage your household budget better, understanding the cost of your dishes is essential. With numerous ingredients in a recipe, determining the actual cost per serving can be challenging. In this article, we share a simple and clear method for calculating recipe costs in ten easy steps.
Table
Step 1. Gather all your receipts for ingredients and the recipe.
Step 2. Draw your columns.
Draw columns. List all the ingredients in your recipe in one column on a sheet of paper or in a table.
- If you have multiple recipes, create a table that can serve as a template for future calculations.
Step 3. Add three new columns.
Add three new columns to the right of the "Ingredients" column. Label them "Quantity," "Cost per Ingredient," and "Cost of Recipe."
Step 4. Determine the quantity of each ingredient.
Use your recipe to find out how much of each ingredient you need. For example, if you plan to use 4 eggs, write 4 in the "Quantity" column.
Step 5. Calculate the cost of each ingredient per unit.
Determine the cost of each ingredient per unit (ounces, milliliters, or grams) based on the purchase price. The quantity you bought may not always align with what you need, so it’s important to perform this calculation.
- In restaurants, the term "Purchased (Pr)" is used to denote the total purchase cost, such as for a box of eggs or milk.
- The term "Served (Sv)" is also used, which denotes the cost per serving.
- For example, if you bought 12 eggs for $3, then Pr is $3. Dividing $3 by 12 gives you a Sv for eggs of 25 cents. If you need 4 eggs, the cost of this ingredient for your recipe will be $1.
Step 6. Record the ingredient cost.
Enter the cost under the "Cost per Ingredient" column. In our example, this would be 25 cents.
Step 7. Multiply quantity by the cost of the ingredient.
Step 8. Fill in the recipe cost for each ingredient.
Step 9. Sum up all recipe costs.
Add up all the values in the "Cost of Recipe" column to get the total. Write the final number at the bottom of the column.
Step 10. Calculate the cost per serving.
To find out the cost per serving, divide the total by the number of servings. This calculation is often referred to as "Cost per Serving." Done!
Online Calculators
Step 1. Sign up on a site or app that can assist with your calculations.
Create an account on a site or app that can simplify the process for you. For example, try Cookkeepbook at http://www.cookkeepbook.com (a free resource) or https://recipecostcalculator.net/ Recipe Cost Calculator. If neither of these options suits you, look for other resources.
Step 2. Enter the ingredients in the designated field.
Step 3. Set up necessary conversions.
Make sure you indicate the weight correctly, e.g., how much is 1 teaspoon.
Step 4. Enter your purchase data.
Step 5. Add the recipe, and the cost will be displayed.
