To yield 21 lb of cooked turkey meat, how much boneless turkey roll should be purchased?

When determining how much boneless turkey roll should be purchased to yield a specific amount of cooked turkey meat, it's essential to consider the cooking yield factor. Typically, whole poultry loses a significant amount of weight during cooking due to moisture loss and the fat that is rendered. This yield can vary, but a common estimate for cooked turkey meat is that you might expect a yield of about 60-70% of the original weight of the raw product.

If the goal is to obtain 21 pounds of cooked turkey, one can use the average yield percentage to calculate the necessary starting weight. For instance, using an approximate yield of 65%, you would set up the calculation as follows:

21 lb cooked turkey ÷ 0.65 (yield factor) = approximately 32.31 lb of raw turkey needed.

This calculation indicates that to yield 21 pounds of cooked turkey meat, you would need to purchase around 32 pounds of boneless turkey roll. Rounding this figure brings us to the choice that signifies purchasing 32 pounds of raw turkey.

Understanding the cooking yield is crucial in practical kitchen applications, as it ensures that the final amount served meets the planned portions for a recipe or meal service. This reasoning clearly illustrates why the correct answer is