74%
Iceberg lettuce yields 74%
You buy iceberg lettuce by its whole weight, but you only plate 74% of it. That 26% loss is real cost the invoice never shows — here's the math.
Yield is the fraction of an ingredient that actually reaches the plate after you clean, peel, and trim it. What you pay is the AP (as-purchased) price; what it costs on the plate is the EP (edible-portion) price.
Coring, ribs, and bruised outer leaves are the loss. Weigh what you actually plate, not what you carry in from the walk-in.
Say your invoice shows $1.62 per head of iceberg lettuce (an example AP price).
At 74% yield, your real cost is $2.19 per head EP — because $1.62 ÷ 0.74 = $2.19.
AP price is illustrative; the EP figure is computed (AP ÷ yield). Use your real invoice price below.Yield breakdown
| As-purchased (AP) | 100% |
|---|---|
| Edible portion (EP) | 74% |
| Lost to trim | 26% |
Source: CIA Standard Yield Tables.
Common questions
What is the yield of iceberg lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce typically yields 74% edible portion of its as-purchased weight, per the CIA Standard Yield Tables.
How much iceberg lettuce is lost to trim?
About 26% of the as-purchased weight is lost to cleaning, peeling, and trimming before it reaches the plate.
How do you calculate the edible-portion cost of iceberg lettuce?
Divide the as-purchased price by the yield: EP cost = AP price ÷ 0.74. At 74% yield, the trim makes your real plated cost meaningfully higher than the invoice price.
Market readconfidence low · as of 2026-06-12
About $25.00–$78.00/carton (wholesale reference), up +1.8% over the recent window.
Higher than 26 of its last 26 weekly reads — near the top of its recent range.
Cheapest in Los Angeles (~$53.50), priciest in Boston (~$72.00).
Watch. Up and holding, but the data is thin — wait for more before a big call.
One pricing methodology backs the level, but week-to-week prices are jagged, so the trend isn't firm.
Sources · 2
Sourced: CIA Standard Yield Tables, via the Plate Cost Calculator · what yield means · edible portion