Peppers yield: how much is usable after prep (AP to EP %)
Peppers: about 82% usable going whole to deseeded flesh, with a published range of 67–89%. That is a cost factor of 1.22: for every kilo you need ready to use, buy 1.22 kg as purchased.
Yield by preparation stage
| Stage | Average | Range | What is lost | USDA item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole green pepper → flesh and skin (stem, core and seeds out) | 82% | 67–89% | Stem, core and seeds | 1776 |
| Whole red pepper → flesh and skin | 80% | — | Stem, core and seeds (limited data) | 1777 |
| Flesh → diced | 97% | 94–100% | Cutting loss | 1778 |
Yields multiply: 82% × 97% ≈ 80% for whole → diced. You never add the losses together.
Prep notes
Cut the four sides off around the core rather than halving and scooping: the core and seeds come out in one piece and almost no flesh goes with them. For strips or dice, take the white ribs off flat with the knife.
What the yield does to the cost
Red and green mixed peppers, 5 kg at £12.49 (JJ Foodservice, 10 Oct 2026) is £2.50 a kilo as purchased. At 80% usable that is £3.12 per usable kilo.
Worked example: 60 g of diced pepper in a portion of chilli needs 75 g as purchased, costing 19p. Costed on the bought weight it would read 15p, so the costing would be 20% light: 4p a portion, or £3.75 over 100 portions.
| Usable peppers needed | Buy (as purchased) at 82% |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 1.22 kg |
| 5 kg | 6.1 kg |
| 10 kg | 12.2 kg |
Use 82% in the yield calculator →
Typical uses
Fajitas, chilli and curry bases, roasted for salads and sandwiches, stuffed peppers and pizza toppings.
Storage and the trim
Keep whole in the fridge, dry, for about a week; cut peppers keep two to three days in a lidded tub. Tops around the stalk still hold usable flesh: trim it off for a sauce. Seeds and core are waste.
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 1776, 1777, 1778 (US samples of whole sweet peppers). 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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