Waste Factor
manufacturing
Verified April 2026Definition
The proportion of an ingredient that is lost during preparation, cooking, or processing, used in food costing to calculate the true cost of usable ingredients.
Related Terms
Food Costing
The process of calculating the total cost of producing a food product by tracking ingredient prices, quantities, waste factors, and production yields.
Recipe Management
The systematic management of food product recipes including ingredient specifications, quantities, preparation methods, and version control.
Yield
The amount of usable product obtained from a raw ingredient after preparation, cooking, or processing, expressed as a percentage of the original weight.