What does the term 'Loss factor' indicate in cooking?

The term 'Loss factor' in cooking specifically refers to the percentage of weight lost during the cooking process. This weight loss can occur due to various reasons, such as moisture evaporation, fat rendering, or the breakdown of connective tissue in meats. Understanding the loss factor is essential for chefs and food professionals as it helps with menu planning and portion control, allowing for more accurate food cost calculations and pricing.

The other options relate to different aspects of cooking. The time taken to cook relates to cooking methods and techniques, the number of servings pertains to portioning and serving sizes, and the cost of ingredients is focused on budgeting and expense management in food preparation. Each of these has its own significance but does not define the loss factor in the context of cooking.