These Fruits and Vegetables Have the Best (and Worst) Edible Yield

When purchasing produce by weight, understanding edible yield, or the usable portion, is crucial for determining the true cost of your ingredients. This culinary principle highlights that some types of produce offer superior value compared to others when considering their actual usable amount. This knowledge is especially relevant for budget-conscious consumers and those aiming to minimize food waste.

Evaluating Produce Value: Understanding Edible Yield

While meticulous calculations for every home-cooked meal might seem excessive, grasping the concept of edible yield can be insightful. In today’s economic climate, awareness of food costs is increasingly important. Understanding culinary math helps consumers discern the actual expenditure in the produce section and identify potential waste.

Whether motivated by financial savings or environmental consciousness regarding food waste, recognizing items with lower edible yield can lead to smarter purchasing decisions.

Practical Application of Yield Charts

Fortunately, calculating edible yield doesn’t require laborious measurements of peels or discarded portions. Even professional chefs utilize yield charts, providing average usable amounts for various ingredients.

Determining the accurate cost of an ingredient involves adjusting the price based on its edible portion. For example, if cauliflower is priced at $1.49 per pound, and only 55% is usable after removing the core and leaves, the effective per-pound cost nearly doubles. Despite spending approximately $3 for two pounds, only slightly over a pound is actually usable. To calculate the true cost, divide the purchase price by the yield percentage (expressed as a decimal).

Example Calculation: $1.49 / 0.55 = $2.70 per usable pound

Reconsidering Ingredient Value

Suddenly, that head of cauliflower appears less economical. It’s also worth noting that professional chefs often utilize more parts of fruits and vegetables compared to home cooks. Broccoli stems can be peeled, cooked, and incorporated into soups, while onion skins can enhance stock flavor.

Citrus fruits like lemons and limes are typically zested before juicing, and even pineapple skin possesses culinary applications. Pineapple fronds may even serve as cocktail garnishes. Watermelon rinds can be pickled, though this is less common in home kitchens.

Produce with Lower Edible Yields (Higher Waste)

Considering usable portions extends beyond bulk purchases by weight. Understanding ingredient yield empowers informed price evaluation and helps minimize potential food waste. It encourages a different perspective on grocery costs and consumption habits.

Here are 12 common grocery items with lower edible yields, resulting in higher waste percentages. (Garden peas have a notably low usable portion at 38%, but are less commonly purchased pre-shelled). Prices are based on recent Instacart data.

Environmental Impact of Food Waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food waste significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Even dedicated recyclers who utilize reusable grocery bags may inadvertently contribute to environmental issues if they lack effective food waste management practices, such as composting or local recycling programs. The produce items frequently purchased might contribute more to environmental concerns than packaging methods.

Produce with Higher Edible Yields (Lower Waste)

The preceding information can encourage innovative approaches to utilize more of purchased produce and refine shopping habits, especially for those prone to discarding spoiled items. It also emphasizes the potentially high cost of out-of-season, low-yield items, such as watermelon.

Fortunately, many produce options offer high usable portions. For those mindful of food waste, increasing consumption of the following items is advisable:

• Green beans (88% usable)
• Broccoli crowns (95%)
• Button mushrooms (97%)
• Onions (89%)
• Snap peas (85%)
• Rutabaga (85%)
• Baby spinach (92%)
• Zucchini (95%)
• Tomatoes (91%)
• Blueberries (96%)
• Grapes (92%)
• Plums (94%)
• Strawberries (89%)