Costing a recipe

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Why cost a recipe?

• Know the cost of a recipe before it is made.

• Calculate the cost of the ingredients used, not the ingredients
purchased.
• Compare the difference in cost of changing ingredients in a
recipe on the total cost.
• Calculate the cost per portion.

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Amount purchased v amount used

The amount of an ingredient purchased will most likely be different to the

amount that is required by a recipe.
For example:
• butter is purchased in 250g ‘blocks’, but the recipe may only need
50g;
• milk is sold in litres (pints), but the recipe may only need 100ml;
• apples may be sold in bags of six, but the recipe may only need two.
Therefore there is a difference in the cost of the ingredients purchased
compared to the cost of the ingredients used by a recipe.

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Step 1: Create a costing chart

Create a costing chart, or use a template.

The chart will need the following headings:

Ingredient name Cost of quantity Quantity Quantity needed Cost of

purchased (£) purchased in recipe ingredient used
in recipe (£)
         

         

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Step 2: Find out the cost

Find out the cost of the ingredients. This might be through Consideration
looking at the receipt or by using one of the following websites: The cost of ingredients may be
www.asda.com different in supermarkets, local
www.morrisons.co.uk shops, farm stores and
markets.
www.mysupermarket.co.uk
www.ocado.com/ Brands of the same ingredient
www.sainsburys.co.uk may have different costs.
www.shop.coop.co.uk
www.tesco.com In addition, costs can change
www.waitrose.com during the year, e.g. due to
season, demand, crop failure.

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Step 3: Add ingredient details

Add the details to the chart: Ingredient Cost of Quantity Quantity Cost of
name quantity purchased needed in ingredient
• ingredient name; purchased (£) recipe used in
• cost of amount recipe (£)
purchased; Butter £1.50 250g 25g  
• quantity purchased
Milk £0.98 1000ml 100ml  
(gram, litre, unit);
• quantity needed in the
Eggs £1.20 6 2
recipe (grams, litre, unit).
Mixed herbs £1.45 11g 2g

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Step 4: Calculate cost of purchase

Calculate the cost of Ingredient Cost of Quantity Quantity Cost of

name quantity purchased needed in ingredient
purchasing all the purchased (£) recipe used in
ingredients. recipe (£)
Add up the ‘Cost of quantity Butter £1.50 250g 25g  
purchased’ column.
Milk £0.98 1000ml 100ml  
This is the total amount
spent on the ingredients – Eggs £1.20 6 2
but not what is used in the
recipe. Mixed herbs £1.45 11g 2g

£5.13

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Step 5: Calculate cost of ingredients used

To calculate the cost of Ingredient Cost of Quantity Quantity Cost of

name quantity purchased needed in ingredient
ingredient used, for each purchased (£) recipe used in
ingredient: recipe (£)
• divide the ‘Cost of Butter £1.50 250g 25g £0.15
quantity purchased’ by
the ‘Quantity
purchased’;
• then multiple by
‘Quantity needed in
recipe’. £1.50 ÷ 250g x 25g = £0.15

Note: Cost figures are rounded up/down.

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Step 5: Calculate cost of ingredients used

Finally, add up the ‘Cost of Ingredient Quantity Cost of Quantity Cost of

name purchased quantity needed in ingredient
ingredient used in recipe’ purchased (£) recipe used in
column – this will give the recipe (£)
total for the recipe. Butter 250g £1.50 25g £0.15
In this example, it is £0.91.
Milk 1000ml £0.98 100ml £0.10

Eggs 6 £1.20 2 £0.40

Mixed herbs 11g £1.45 2g £0.26

£5.13 £0.91

Note: Cost figures are rounded up/down.

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Step 6: Calculate cost per serving

The cost per serving is Ingredient Quantity Cost of Quantity Cost of

name purchased quantity needed in ingredient
calculated by: purchased (£) recipe used in
• dividing the total cost recipe (£)
of the ‘Cost of Butter 250g £1.50 25g £0.15
ingredient used in
Milk 1000ml £0.98 100ml £0.10
recipe’ by the number
of servings. Eggs 6 £1.20 2 £0.40
For example, if the recipe
served 3 people: Mixed herbs 11g £1.45 2g £0.26
£0.91 ÷ 3 = £0.30 each
£5.13 £0.91

Note: Cost figures are rounded up/down.

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Costing a recipe

For further information, go to:

www.foodafactoflife.org.uk

www.foodafactoflife.org.uk © Food – a fact of life 2019