Available in: Agile-Free | Aware | Analyzer | Multi-Outlet
Converting between weight and volume is essential for accurate food cost calculations. Ingredients are often purchased by weight but used by volume. Manual conversions ensure consistency in cost control and food preparation.
If you buy flour by the pound but measure it by the cup, you need a weight-to-volume conversion to calculate cost accurately. Without it, you risk under- or overestimating ingredient costs, which affects budgeting and profitability.
How To Add a Manual Conversion
Go to the ingredient.
- Click +Add Manual Conversion.
- Enter the conversion details:
- There Are: Quantity in the target unit (e.g., 2 cups)
- Per: Base unit (e.g., lb)
- Yield%: The usable percentage after shrinkage (e.g., 95%)
Example 1: Shrinkage Only
Scenario: You purchase butter by the 1 lb brick and use it the same way, but estimate 5% shrinkage due to residue on wrappers and utensils.
- There Are: 1
- Per: lb
- Yield%: 95
Result: reciProfity calculates that only 0.95 lbs are usable per brick. If your recipe calls for 1 lb, you’ll need more than one brick. The cost per usable pound increases from $2.577 to $2.692.
Example 2: Weight-to-Volume + Yield
Scenario: You buy butter by the pound but use it in recipes by the cup, with 95% yield.
- There Are: 2
- Per: lb
- Yield%: 95
Why “2”? There are 2 cups of butter in 1 pound—this is a standard culinary conversion. So, you're telling reciProfity: “There are 2 cups per pound of butter, but only 95% of that pound is usable.”
Result: reciProfity calculates the After-Shrink cost per cup as $1.346. This ensures accurate costing in recipes that use volume measurements.
Example 3: High Shrinkage Ingredient
Scenario: Cauliflower has a 40% shrink rate.
- For every 1 lb of raw cauliflower, only 0.6 lbs are usable.
- Cost per ounce increases from $0.086 to $0.144.
Even small cost differences can add up significantly over time.
Where You’ll See It
In Ingredient View, the After-Shrink cost is displayed and used in recipe costing automatically. No additional conversions are needed once this is set.