A recipe calls for 10 lbs of trimmed cauliflower. if the yield is 55%, how many pounds of cauliflower should be ordered?

• A. 9.5
• B. 18.2
• C. 10.0
• D. 12.3

Answer: (B)

When you order, you’re paying for the whole cauliflower before trimming, and only a portion becomes usable after trimming. If you need 10 pounds of trimmed cauliflower and the yield is 55%, you must start with more weight: divide the needed amount by the yield (as a decimal).

10 ÷ 0.55 ≈ 18.18 pounds, which rounds to 18.2 pounds. So, order about 18.2 pounds. As a quick check, 18.2 × 0.55 ≈ 10 pounds, confirming the calculation. The other options don’t account for the waste from trimming.