Live Weight vs. Cooked Weight: The Golden Guide to Ordering Whole Lechon

When ordering a traditional Cebu whole lechon, one of the most common surprises for hosts is the difference between Live Weight and Cooked Net Weight.

What Happens During the 5-Hour Charcoal Roast? During our slow rotisserie roasting process over native hardwood charcoal: 1. **Moisture Evaporation**: Natural juices circulate, tenderizing the meat while water moisture evaporates. 2. **Fat Rendering**: Pure pig fat liquefies and self-bastes the meat, keeping it succulently moist while dripping into the charcoal pit. 3. **Glass-Skin Blistering**: The skin contracts and hardens into our signature golden crackling.

This natural cooking cycle results in a standard **30% to 35% shrinkage loss**.

How to Calculate for Your Guest Count: - **Small Tier (12-14 kg Live)** ➔ Yields ~8-9 kg Cooked Meat ➔ **15 to 20 Guests** - **Medium Tier (15-18 kg Live)** ➔ Yields ~10-12 kg Cooked Meat ➔ **25 to 30 Guests** - **Large Tier (19-22 kg Live)** ➔ Yields ~13-15 kg Cooked Meat ➔ **35 to 45 Guests** - **Extra Large Tier (23-26 kg Live)** ➔ Yields ~15-18 kg Cooked Meat ➔ **50 to 65 Guests**

At Sito's Lechon, we clearly label both weights on every whole lechon size so you always get the exact serving you expect!