How Many People Will a 7 lb Honey Baked Ham Feed?

Honey baked ham is a cherished centerpiece for holidays, special gatherings or anytime you want to treat your guests to something special. But if you’re hosting an event how do you know what size ham to get? Specifically, how many people will a 7 lb honey baked ham feed?

In this article we’ll break down honey baked ham serving sizes so you can be sure to order the right size for your group. You’ll learn what factors like bone leftovers, and appetites affect the serving amount. Read on for a complete guide to serving sizes for 7 lb hams and other common sizes.

Serving Size Basics for Honey Baked Ham

HoneyBaked Ham Company, the creators of the famous honey baked ham, provide a basic guideline for serving sizes:

• Plan for 1/2 pound of bone-in ham per person
• Plan for 1/3 pound of boneless ham per person

This takes into account having leftovers It’s better to have extra ham than to run short during your event

So for a 7 lb bone-in ham, you can expect to feed approximately 14 people based on the 1/2 pound per serving guideline.

However, serving sizes can vary a lot depending on your specific ham, your menu, and your guests’ appetites. Let’s look at all the factors that can affect servings.

Factor 1: Leftovers or No Leftovers

The recommended 1/2 pound per person for bone-in ham allows for generous leftovers. If you don’t need leftovers, you may be able to stretch a 7 lb ham to feed closer to 16-18 people.

But leftovers are one of the best parts of a holiday ham! You can use them for sandwiches, omelets, casseroles, soups, and more. It’s better to have too much ham than run short during your meal.

Factor 2: Ham Shape and Bone

Honey baked hams come in a variety of shapes, some with more bone than others:

• Bone-In Spiral Hams have more edible meat vs. bone. A 7 lb spiral cut ham feeds about 16.

• Bone-In Sirloin Hams have a round leg bone taking up space. A 7 lb sirloin ham feeds about 14.

• Boneless Hams have the most edible meat per pound. A 7 lb boneless ham can feed 18-20 people.

In general, hams with less bone will yield more servings of meat per pound. But the bone also adds flavor!

Factor 3: Slicing Method

How you slice the ham affects how far it will go. Thin slices stretch farther than thick slices.

• Slicing only what you need at a time instead of the whole ham prevents waste.

• For buffets, slice the meat thinner since guests tend to take smaller portions when they serve themselves.

• If serving ham dinner plated, thicker slices may be better.

Factor 4: Menu and Sides

Consider what else you’re serving alongside the ham. Lots of hearty sides and other entrées means smaller ham portions. Lighter sides and appetizers allow bigger ham servings.

• Heavy potato and pasta sides tend to fill people up faster, so they’ll take less ham.

• For holiday meals, plan on smaller ham servings since there are so many dishes.

• For simpler menus focused around the ham, plan for larger portions of it.

Factor 5: Appetites and Demographics

Who’s coming to your meal affects how much ham they’ll eat. Kids, seniors, and light eaters will take smaller portions than hungry teens and adults.

• For family events with lots of kids, allow 1/3 pound per child and 1/2 pound per adult.

• Teen boys can pack away as much ham as their dads! Plan accordingly.

• Singles dinners where everyone grazes don’t require as much ham per person.

Know your guests and plan accordingly. Don’t worry about exact counts – just estimate high so your ham doesn’t disappear too quickly.

Handling Leftover Ham

Leftover ham keeps for 3-4 days refrigerated. To freeze, slice ham and wrap airtight. Use frozen ham within 2 months.

• Sliced ham stays fresher when frozen compared to whole. Portion into meal sizes before freezing.

• Add leftover ham to omelets, pizza, sandwiches, salads, soups, and casseroles.

• Bake in a ham and cheese crustless quiche or stuff into breakfast burritos and freeze.

With some creativity, you can use up every last bit of your honey baked ham leftovers!

Ordering the Right Size Honey Baked Ham

And remember, it’s better to have too much ham than run short and leave guests disappointed. Those honey baked ham leftovers make great sandwiches after all!