Ground Beef Yield: How Much Ground Beef Shrinks by Fat Content
Ground beef keeps about 70–76% of its raw weight once cooked and drained, depending on the fat: the USDA Food Buying Guide lists 0.74 lb per pound for no more than 20% fat and 0.76 lb for no more than 10%. In USDA cooking tests, patties ranged from 63% (high fat, grilled) to 77% (lean, pan-broiled).
USDA yields for ground beef
From the USDA Food Buying Guide: how much ready-to-use or cooked product one pound as purchased gives.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef, Ground, fresh or frozen; Market Style, no more than 30% fat, (Like IMPS #136) | 1 lb AP = 0.70 lb cooked, drained, lean meat (cooked) | 70% | FBG table |
| Beef, Ground, fresh or frozen; no more than 20% fat, Includes USDA Foods, (Like IMPS #136) | 1 lb AP = 0.74 lb cooked, drained, lean meat (cooked) | 74% | FBG table |
| Beef, Ground, fresh or frozen; no more than 15% fat, (Like IMPS #136) | 1 lb AP = 0.75 lb cooked, drained, lean meat (cooked) | 75% | FBG table |
| Beef, Ground, fresh or frozen; no more than 10% fat, (Like IMPS #136) | 1 lb AP = 0.76 lb cooked, drained, lean meat (cooked) | 76% | FBG table |
Cooking yield by method
USDA cooking tests: cooked weight as a share of the raw weight of the cut as described.
| Cut | Method | Yield | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef, ground, low fat (<12%), patty | Pan-broiled | 77% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, low fat (<12%), patty | Broiled or grilled | 73% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, medium fat (12%-22%), patty | Pan-broiled | 73% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, medium fat (12%-22%), patty | Broiled or grilled | 69% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, high fat (>22%), patty | Pan-broiled | 69% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, high fat (>22%), patty | Broiled or grilled | 63% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, medium fat (12%-22%), crumbles | Pan-fried | 67% | 4 |
| Beef, ground, high fat (>22%), crumbles | Pan-fried | 62% | 4 |
How much to buy
At 74% (cooked, drained meat (no more than 20% fat)), for 4 oz portions:
| Portions | Cooked | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2.50 lb | 3.38 lb |
| 25 | 6.25 lb | 8.45 lb |
| 50 | 12.5 lb | 16.9 lb |
| 100 | 25.0 lb | 33.8 lb |
Cost per usable pound
At 74%, the price per pound as purchased becomes:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $4.00/lb | $5.41/lb |
| $5.00/lb | $6.76/lb |
| $6.00/lb | $8.11/lb |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- Food Buying Guide figures are for cooked and drained ground beef; cooking method and doneness move the number.
FAQ
How much does ground beef shrink when cooked?
About a quarter to a third. The USDA Food Buying Guide gives 0.70 lb of cooked, drained meat per pound for ground beef with up to 30% fat and 0.76 lb for up to 10% fat; USDA cooking tests on patties ranged from 63% to 77% kept.
How big should a raw patty be for a 4 oz cooked burger?
About 5.4 oz of 80/20 ground beef, based on 0.74 lb cooked per pound. Grilled medium-fat patties kept 69% in USDA tests, which would need about 5.8 oz.
Does leaner ground beef shrink less?
Yes. In USDA data, lean patties (under 12% fat) kept 73–77% of their weight, medium-fat patties 69–73% and high-fat patties 63–69%, depending on whether they were grilled or pan-broiled.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (yield tables; public domain)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Table of Cooking Yields for Meat and Poultry, Release 2 (2014)
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.