How Many Apples in a Pound? Apple Yield, Cored and Peeled
A pound is about 2 1/4 medium apples (3 inches across) or 2 3/4 small ones (2 3/4 inches), going by USDA’s nutrient-database weights and its 10% for core and stem. Cored with the skin on, a pound of whole apples gives about 0.91 lb; cored and peeled, about 0.78 lb, raw or cooked (USDA Food Buying Guide).
USDA yields for apple
From the USDA Food Buying Guide: how much ready-to-use or cooked product one pound as purchased gives. The figures work the same in metric: 0.91 lb per pound is 0.91 kg per kilogram.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples, fresh; 125-138 count Whole, Includes USDA Foods | 1 lb AP = 0.91 lb (3-2/3 cups) ready-to-serve or -cook raw, cored, unpeeled apples (ready to use, raw) | 91% | FBG table |
| Apples, fresh; 125-138 count Whole, Includes USDA Foods | 1 lb AP = 0.78 lb (about 2-3/4 cups) ready-to-serve or -cook raw, cored, peeled apples (ready to use, raw) | 78% | FBG table |
| Apples, fresh; 125-138 count Whole, Includes USDA Foods | 1 lb AP = 0.78 lb (about 1-3/4 cups) cored, peeled, cooked apples (cooked) | 78% | FBG table |
| Apples, fresh; 100 count Whole | 1 lb AP = 0.93 lb (about 3-7/8 cups) ready-to-serve or -cook raw, cored, unpeeled apples (ready to use, raw) | 93% | FBG table |
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 09003) lists 10% of “Apples, raw, with skin” as refuse: core and stem.
How much to buy
At 91% (cored, unpeeled apples):
| Ready to use | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|
| 1.00 lb (0.45 kg) | 1.10 lb (0.50 kg) |
| 5.00 lb (2.27 kg) | 5.49 lb (2.49 kg) |
| 10.0 lb (4.54 kg) | 11.0 lb (4.98 kg) |
| 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | 27.5 lb (12.5 kg) |
Cost per usable pound
At 91%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $1.25/lb ($2.76/kg) | $1.37/lb ($3.03/kg) |
| $1.50/lb ($3.31/kg) | $1.65/lb ($3.63/kg) |
| $2.00/lb ($4.41/kg) | $2.20/lb ($4.85/kg) |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
The MiseKit app
USDA says 91% for apple. What does your last case say?
Book yields are averages. Your supplier, your cutter and your spec decide the real one. Run a yield test in MiseKit and it keeps every result, flags the cases that come in under your standard and costs each cut from what you actually got.
- Every test kept, by supplier and date
- Short cases flagged in dollars, not just percent
- Cut costs flow straight into recipe costs
Free for one location and one person. No card needed. Works on the phones your cooks already carry.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- Peeling costs about 13% of the fruit on top of coring in the Food Buying Guide (0.78 lb against 0.91 lb).
FAQ
How many apples are in a pound?
About 2 1/4 medium apples (3 inches across), 2 3/4 small (2 3/4 inches) or 1 3/4 large (3 1/4 inches). USDA’s nutrient database weighs a medium apple at 182 g without its core and stem, which are 10% of the fruit.
How many apples do I need for 10 lb peeled and sliced?
About 12.8 lb of whole apples (10 ÷ 0.78).
How much do apples lose when cooked?
Almost nothing beyond peeling and coring: the Food Buying Guide gives the same 0.78 lb per pound for cored, peeled apples raw and cooked.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (yield tables; public domain)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28 (refuse)
USDA figures are averages; size, grade, trim, ripeness and cooking change them. Weigh your own main items before you cost a menu on them.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026.
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- How Many Strawberries in a Pound? Hulled Strawberry Yield
- How Much Fruit Is in a Mango? Mango Yield per Mango and Pound
- How Much Fruit Is in a Cantaloupe? Cantaloupe Yield per Melon