Chapter 6 Food Production Control: Portions Principles of Food, Beverage, and Labour Cost Controls, Canadian Edition

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to: 6.1 Explain the importance of standard portion sizes, standard recipes, and standard portion costs to foodservice operations. 6.2 Identify four methods for determining standard portion costs, and calculate standard portion costs using these four methods. 6.3 Use yield factors derived from recipe detail and cost card, butcher tests, and cooking loss tests to determine correct purchase quantities. 6.4 Use cost factors derived from butcher tests to calculate portion costs. 6.5 Use cost factors derived from cooking loss tests to calculate portion costs. 6.6 List the advantages and disadvantages of using standardized yield figures versus in-house yield tests.

Important Chapter Definitions Butcher test: Test designed to determine standard portion costs for those items portioned before cooking Cooking loss test: Test used to determine standard portion costs for those items portioned after cooking Yield factor (or yield percentage): Ratio of the weight of part of a product to the weight of that product as purchased

Establish Standards Portions of a given menu item should be identical to one another in five respects: Types of ingredients Proportions of ingredients Production method Quantity Appearance or presentation

Establish Standard Procedures Ensure standard procedures for each menu item are followed: Standard portion size Standard recipes Standard portion cost

Three Ways to Quantify Menu Items Weight (usually in grams or ounces) Examples: meat, fish, vegetables Volume (commonly in liquid ounces or millilitres) Examples: soups, juices, coffee, milk Count Examples: bacon, eggs, chops, shrimp, asparagus

Standard Recipes A standard recipe is the recipe that has been designated to be used in an establishment for a specific item, and yield. It must include: The ingredients and quantities A procedure or method Specific equipment Temperatures

Calculating Standard Portion Costs There are four methods of calculating standard portion costs: Formula Recipe detail and cost card Butcher test Cooking loss test

Formula One may determine portion cost by means of this formula: Standard portion cost = Purchase price per unit Number of portions per unit $0.333 portion cost = $30.00 price per case 90 portions per unit

Recipe Detail and Cost Card With items produced from standard recipes, it is possible to determine the standard cost of one portion by using a form known as a recipe detail and cost card. List the ingredients and calculate their cost: Ingredient Quantity Unit Cost Extension Onions 3 pc or 600 grams kilogram $1.99 $1.194

Yield Percentage Yield (Y) must also be considered. It is defined as the ratio of the useful amount left after cleaning or trimming to the whole. Yield % = Edible Portion As Purchased 90% Yield (.90) = 9 kg EP 10 kg AP

Yield Percentage To compute actual EP cost, use the following formula: EP means edible portion AP means as purchased EP cost per kg = AP price per kg Product Yield %

Using Yield Percentage General formula: Quantity = [number of portions X portion size (decimal)] Yield % Three variations on the basic formula: Number of portions = (Quantity × Yield percentage) ÷ Portion size Portion size = (Quantity × Yield percentage) ÷ Number of portions Yield percentage = (Number of portions × Portion size) ÷ Quantity

Formulas Used in the Butcher Test Ratio to total weight = Weight of part ÷ Weight of whole Value of primary part (usable meat) = Total cost - Value of other parts Cost per usable kilogram = Total value of usable meat ÷ Weight of usable meat For US/Imp. weight: Cost per usable pound ÷ 16 ounces per pound = Cost per usable ounce

Formulas Used in the Butcher Test Portion Cost = Portion size × Cost per usable kg Cost factor per kg = Cost per usable kg Purchase price per kg Cost factor per portion = Portion cost Portion cost at specified dealer price = Cost factor per kg × Portion size × Dealer price per kg

Cooking Loss Test The cooking loss test is used for those items that cannot be portioned until after cooking is complete. It is useful to note that the butcher test form and the cooking loss test have many similarities.

Managing the Food Production Area Food losses through simple product waste can play a large role in overall excessive cost situations. In general, it can be said that food waste is the result of poor training or management inattentiveness. Increased cooking time or temperature can cause product shrinkage that increases average portion cost.

Managing the Food Production Area To reduce losses from overcooking, enforce standardized recipe cooking times. Over portioning increases operational costs, and may cause the operation to mismatch its production schedule with anticipated demand. Over portioning must also be avoided, customers to receive fair value for their money. Consistency is key to success in foodservice.

Key Terms As purchased, p. 166 Standard portion cost, p. 163 Butcher test, p. 170 Standard portion size, p. 159 Cooking loss test, p. 170 Standard recipe, p. 161 Cost factor per kilogram, p. 172 Yield, p. 166 Cost factor per portion, p. 172 Yield factor, p. 179 Edible portion, p. 166 Yield percentage, p. 179 Recipe detail and cost card, p. 165

Chapter Web Links Restaurant Computer Software: www.mealcost.com Culinary Software Services: www.culinarysoftware.com Food Trak: www.foodtrak.com

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