AI food cost calculator: plate cost that stays current
By mise · Updated September 29, 2026
Quick answer: an AI food cost calculator keeps ingredient prices current for you: when an invoice comes in or you take inventory, the real purchase price updates and every recipe's plate cost and food cost % is recalculated. You define the recipe once (ingredients, quantities, yield). mise does this, with a 7-day free trial.
Recipe costing is rarely wrong on day one. It goes stale: the price of butter jumps 20% and the dish is still costed at last year's price.
Worked example
| Ingredient | Quantity | Purchase price | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken thigh | 7 oz (yield 85%) | $3.40/lb | $1.75 |
| Rice | 5 oz cooked | $1.10/lb (dry) | $0.16 |
| Sauce | 2 oz | $6.00/lb | $0.75 |
| Garnish & oil | — | — | $0.35 |
| Plate cost | $3.01 |
At a $16 menu price, food cost is 18.8%. If chicken goes to $4.20/lb the plate becomes $3.42 (21.4%): recalculated as soon as the invoice lands. Try the manual food cost calculator for a one-off check.
How mise's AI works
- Scan the barcode with your phone camera, or snap a photo of the label if there's no barcode.
- mise's AI finds the product instantly. If it isn't in the database, it looks it up on the web and identifies it.
- The product comes up categorized: name, brand, category, size, photo and a reference price.
- You just enter the quantity. On hand, shrinkage and cost work themselves out.
Scan the barcode or snap a photo: mise's AI finds the product and categorizes it. 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK).
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Frequently asked questions
Can AI calculate food cost automatically?
Yes, once recipes exist: prices come from invoices and counts and the cost updates on every purchase.
What is a good food cost percentage?
Usually 25–35% depending on the concept; see food cost percentage.
Does it include yield and waste?
Yes: each ingredient's yield goes into the plate cost, and logged waste shows in actual food cost.
How much does it cost?
A 7-day free trial, then US$33 a month (£26 in the UK), with unlimited products and counts.