Parsnips yield: how much is usable after prep (AP to EP %)
Parsnips: about 85% usable going whole to peeled. That is a cost factor of 1.18: for every kilo you need ready to use, buy 1.18 kg as purchased.
Yield by preparation stage
| Stage | Average | Range | What is lost | USDA item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpeeled, good quality → peeled | 85% | — | Parings (limited data) | 1640 |
| Unpeeled, fair quality → peeled and cored | 70% | 62–83% | Parings, trimmings and woody cores | 1641 |
| Peeled → boiled | 105% | 88–126% | Gains water (+5% on average) | 1642 |
| Peeled → steamed | 99% | 91–108% | Small net change | 1643 |
| Cooked → fried | 82% | 72–92% | Net losses | 1644 |
The 85% comes from a small number of samples, so treat it as a guide. Big, late-season parsnips with woody cores to cut out are closer to the 70% fair-quality row.
Prep notes
Peel, then quarter lengthways and cut out the woody core from the thick end of larger parsnips; leave the thin end whole. Par-boil for two or three minutes before roasting so the edges fluff and crisp.
What the yield does to the cost
Parsnips, 500 g bag (supermarket) at £0.74 (Morrisons, 10 Oct 2026) is £1.48 a kilo as purchased. At 85% usable that is £1.74 per usable kilo.
Worked example: a 100 g portion of roast parsnips needs 118 g as purchased, costing 17p. Costed on the bought weight it would read 15p, so the costing would be 15% light: 3p a portion, or £2.61 over 100 portions.
| Usable parsnips needed | Buy (as purchased) at 85% |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 1.18 kg |
| 5 kg | 5.88 kg |
| 10 kg | 11.76 kg |
Use 85% in the yield calculator →
Typical uses
Roast parsnips for Sunday and Christmas dinners, parsnip soup and purée, and crisps.
Storage and the trim
Refrigerate, unwashed, for two weeks or more. Peeled parsnips keep a day or two under a damp cloth. Peelings fry into crisps; cores go into soup or stock.
Yield source: USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 102, Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation (Matthews and Garrison, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 1975), Table 1, items 1640, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1644 (US samples of unpeeled parsnips). Prices as stated, read on 10 Oct 2026. Your own case is the real number: weigh it in the yield calculator.
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