Should I weigh food before or after cooking?

Food packaging gives a variety of serving descriptions and it can be difficult to know whether you should weigh the food before or after cooking it. To help, we’ve defined some descriptions commonly used, and given the instructions on what to do:

• As sold – as you have bought the product > Weigh raw and unprepared.
• As consumed – after the product has been prepared or made to eat > Weigh after cooking.
• As prepared per instructions – after the product has been made, using the instructions on the packaging > Weigh after cooking.
• 100g (ovenbaked) – 100g of the product after it has been cooked in the oven > Weigh after cooking.
• 100ml (made up with water) – 100ml of the product after it has been made with water > Weigh after making.
• 8x 100ml (prepared per instructions) – 800ml of the product after it has been made, using the instructions on the packaging > Weigh after making.
• 100g (pan-fried) – 100g of the product after it has been cooked / fried in the pan > Weigh after cooking