Cost breakdown for a large batch of chili. Total yield: 9.5L, 38 portions at 250ml each.
Ingredient costs
| Item | Qty | Unit cost | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef (stew) | 1 | $14.48 | $14.48 |
| Pork (stew) | 1 | $9.51 | $9.51 |
| Sausage | 1 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Kidney beans | 1 | $4.19 | $4.19 |
| Black beans | 2 | $2.49 | $4.98 |
| White beans | 1 | $2.49 | $2.49 |
| Canned corn | 2 | $1.69 | $3.38 |
| Diced tomato | 2 | $0.99 | $1.98 |
| Crushed tomato | 1 | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Peppers | 1 | $2.26 | $2.26 |
| Jalapeño | 1 | $1.32 | $1.32 |
| Canned/roasted peppers | 0.5 | $1.44 | $0.72 |
| Carrots | 0.25 | $2.49 | $0.62 |
| Lime | 1 | $0.69 | $0.69 |
| Tomato sauce | 0.25 | $1.99 | $0.50 |
| Spices | 1 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Food cost total | $56.11 |
Loaded costs (includes labour and kitchen)
| Item | Hours | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 2.5h | $16/h | $40.00 |
| Kitchen overhead | 4h | $20/h | $80.00 |
| Total loaded | $176.11 |
Per-portion summary
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Food cost per portion | $1.48 |
| Loaded cost per portion | $4.63 |
Potential cost reductions
| Change | Current | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Dry beans (vs canned) | $11.66 canned | ~$3.00 dry; saves ~$8.66, adds soaking and cooking time |
| Butcher own meat | — | saves ~$7.24 per hour of butchering; not counted below |
| Use pressure cooker ($60 one-time) | 4 h kitchen time | ~1.5 h; saves ~$50 of overhead |
| Total with dry beans and pressure cooker | $176.11 | ~$117.45 loaded ($3.09/portion) |
The dry bean cost (~$3.00 for the equivalent of four cans) and the 1.5 hours of pressure cooker kitchen time are estimates. The butchering saving depends on how many hours you spend, so it isn’t in the total.