How to Calculate the Real Food Cost of a Beef Brisket

Beef brisket yields approximately 50% to 60% of its raw weight once smoked and trimmed. This means a 12 lb raw brisket yields only 6 to 7 lbs of serveable meat. This weight loss comes from fat trimming (hard deckle fat) and water evaporation during slow cooking.

To calculate real cost, weigh the raw brisket, multiply by the wholesale price, then divide the total cost by the weight of the sliced meat. If a raw brisket cost and yields 6 lbs of cooked slices, your real food cost is .33/lb.