Count the portions
An adult counts as one full portion. Each child counts as the fraction you choose, with half a portion as the starting point. Count older children with adult appetites as adults.
The starting meat portion is ½ lb cooked per adult. You can choose ⅓ lb with filling sides or ¾ lb for a larger portion. Extra food is added once to the total.
Share the meat allowance
One meat receives the whole cooked meat target. Two meats receive half each. Three receive one third each. The current planner uses equal shares.
Trimming and cooking are different
Trimming is the fat or other material you remove before cooking. Cooking loss is the weight lost as the meat cooks. Choosing None for trimming does not switch off the cooking allowance.
The trimming choices use different amounts for each meat. A moderate brisket trim removes more weight than a moderate steak trim. I am not sure uses Moderate for whole brisket, boneless pork shoulder, boneless steak, and boneless chicken. For sausage it uses None.
The presets are editorial estimates. They are not measurements of your food or results from testing by Cookout Compass.
What the starting estimates assume
With I am not sure selected, the planner expects about half the purchased brisket weight to reach the plate, compared with 55% for boneless pork shoulder, 75% for boneless steak or chicken, and 80% for sausage. These amounts combine trimming and cooking loss.
Changing the trimming choice changes the shopping weight. The cooking allowance stays specific to the meat. The model does not cover pork shoulder with a bone, chicken with bones, or every possible cut and cooking method.
Round for the store
Each raw meat quantity rounds up to the next half pound. Actual cuts and packages may be larger. Buy an available size that covers the estimate and check that it fits your cooking equipment.
What the price estimate includes
Enter a price per pound for each meat if you know it. We multiply it by the rounded shopping weight. Missing prices produce a partial meat estimate.
The estimate does not include sides, buns, drinks, seasonings, fuel, tax, or equipment. It is not the full cost of the gathering.
Recipes on your menu
Recipe batches cover the adult portions and child portions you choose. We round up to full batches so ingredient amounts stay aligned with the recipe method. The extra meat setting applies only to separately selected meat cuts. For meatballs, choose appetizer or main course portions.
Recipe ingredients are listed separately for each dish. If you choose sliders, their beef and rolls are included in that recipe list. Only select additional meat cuts or buns when you intend to serve them as well. Recipe ingredients are not included in the meat price estimate.
Other sides and buns
Each side starts at ¼ lb of prepared food per full adult portion, with smaller portions for children and the extra food allowance included. Different dishes need different portions, so check the result against your menu.
Buns start at one per full adult portion, with the same adjustments for children and extra food. The result rounds up to a whole bun. Add more for sliders or multiple sandwiches.
Food safety uses a separate source
Food safety advice links to USDA guidance. That guidance does not endorse our serving sizes, trimming presets, or cooking allowances. The planner estimates quantities rather than cooking times or safe holding methods.