Average Portion Sizes for Meat
Meat and other proteins like fish and poultry have standard serving sizes. We’ll use them to start our calculations for how much meat to purchase at the store.
For this discussion, let’s assume you are feeding adults only. Reduce it for children, and increase it for teenagers.
- Any protein should be consumed in portions of half a pound, or 8 ounces (227 gm), of raw meat.
- When serving meat with only two or three side dishes, use 3/4 pounds or 12 ounces (340 gm).
- For heavy eaters (athletes, teenagers, and others), set aside one pound each.
The yield is the weight difference between raw and cooked food. The percentage of loss due to shrinkage, trimmings, and bones is calculated. Yield is what’s left to serve.
It’s going to be simple, so don’t let your eyes glaze over thinking you need to know a lot of math.
Know the Yield, or You Won’t Have Enough
Because the bun shrinks while cooking, you may have noticed that burger restaurants advertise 1/4-pound burgers, but you never actually receive one in your order.
McDonald’s has an asterisk by their quarter pounder that states, “Weight before cooking at least 4 ounces.” They shrink by 31% after cooking due to fat and moisture loss.
30% is about average for most fatty meats especially ground meat, and that yield number is critical to know when calculating how much raw product to buy
And knowing if you are serving a large number of people is crucial
Here are some sample yields of different meats after cooking:
- Steak (NY Strip) — 84%
- Baby Back Ribs — 50%
- Brisket — 50%
- Pork Shoulder — 62%
- Whole Turkey — 50%
If you like information overload, you can download a PDF from the USDA called USDA Table of Cooking Yields for Meat and Poultry and get precise yields for many cuts of meat.
I won’t go into the calculations in the next section, but I will give you some pointers to take into account as you prepare for your upcoming party so you can accurately plan meals for any group event, dinner, or party.
In reality, it just means that you need to budget for a little bit more shopping to make up for cooking and trimming losses.
How Much Pulled Pork per Person?
You will use pork shoulder or pork butt to make pulled pork. K. A. a Boston butt. You can buy it bone in or bone out.
There is a lot of loss, between 35% to 50% from bones and the fat that either melts during cooking or gets trimmed away You can usually get 4. 5 lb. Of meat from an 8 lb. 10 to 15 people can be fed by butt and that, depending on appetite and side dishes.
Plan on serving 1/4lb. per person for sandwiches and 1/3 lb. for plates.
How Much Beef Brisket per Person?
Similar to pork butt, beef brisket is very fatty both inside and out.
Typically, you%E2%80%99ll only get a 50% yield from a full, untrimmed brisket after trimming and cooking, which means you need a 12-pound brisket to make 6 pounds of meat You often lose a good 15% weight from trimming a brisket before you even start cooking!
For sandwiches, portions range from 4 ounces to a pound for heavy eaters on football days.
You’ll need to start with 10 pounds of brisket to get the required 5 pounds if you feed ten ravenous football fans half a pound of brisket.
How Much Chicken per Person?
Planning a meal with chicken can occasionally be made simpler by counting pieces rather than weight. Sizes for boneless chicken breast range from 4 to 8 ounces. However, we will calculate by the pound for bulk meat like boneless thighs.
Use 1. If you are serving other meats and dishes, each person will get five pieces of boneless chicken breast. Plan on a quarter of a chicken or two pieces of bone-in chicken per person. That would be a drumstick and thigh or a wing and breast.
Plan on 6 ounces of boneless thigh meat per cooked portion. With a 70% yield, you%E2%80%99ll need to buy a half pound of raw thigh meat per person
How Much Turkey Per Person?
We almost never eat turkey by itself; we serve 8 ounces per person. With all the skin and bones, you%E2%80%99ll be lucky to get a 50% yield by the time you pull off every scrap of meat
You must purchase a minimum of a 12-pound turkey to feed 12 people.
But since most people prefer a nice slice of breast meat rather than leftovers from the leg and wings, it would be wiser to purchase a 14 to 16-pound bird.
How Much Steak Per Person?
You must be aware of the type of steak you’ll be serving in order to respond to this question.
Steaks with more fat or bones, such as rib eyes or porterhouse, will produce less juice. That means you need more per person.
The yields listed below are based on purchasing individual, already-cut, and trimmed steaks. The yields will be much lower if you intend to do your own cutting. Here are typical yields of common steaks.
- T-bone — 77%
- Porterhouse — 77%
- N.Y. Strip Steak — 89%
Let%E2%80%99s use 70% as an average yield and 12 ounces per portion
Purchase 17 ounces of bone-in steak per person and 13 to 14 ounces of boneless steaks.
How Many Pounds of Ribs per Person?
Most people use a count of ribs instead of weight. For instance, there are 6 to 7 ribs in a half rack of baby back ribs. You can calculate three ribs per person for large buffets that also include other meat and sides.
There is a size difference between baby backs and spare ribs. Baby back ribs come in racks of 10 to 13 and are 3 to 6 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 pounds in weight. They will only feed two people.
Spare rib racks are larger, fattier and have bigger bones. They can feed 3 to 4 people and weigh at least 2 12 pounds.
How Much Beef Tenderloin per Person?
Because they have little fat, beef tenderloin steaks and filets don’t cook down as much. You may lose 10% at the most so to serve a 12-ounce portion plan on buying 13-ounce steaks
How Much Rib Roast per Person?
Rib roasts have about 30% bones and fat. You’ll need to purchase 15 to 16 ounces per person for a generous 12-ounce cooked portion.
For ten people, start with a 10-pound roast minimum.
How Much Fish per Person?
An 8-ounce portion is a typical serving size for the majority of fin fish, such as bass and salmon. You’ll lose about 30% through cooking so figure 11. 4 ounces raw fish per person for steaks and fillets.
Use the Palm of Your Hand to Visualize the Right Portion Size
Portion control is the deciding factor for the majority of caterers and restaurants. The size of the portion determines how much the entire menu will cost. Make the portions too large, and you’ll lose money.
You don’t want to overspend, but you also don’t want to worry about losing money on your party. That’s where portion control comes in.
Just take a look at your hand to help you determine how much meat is needed for each person. A proper serving of meat is the same size as your hand’s palm. The “palm-size” rule applies to everyone because hands of all ages, including adults and children, are proportionate.
Sometimes it’s easier to visualize a portion size this way.
It’s Easy to Plan How Much Meat to Buy
Knowing how to budget for how much meat to purchase is crucial. Simply be a little more generous and tack on a few extras here and there to make sure you have enough to satisfy everyone.
One last piece of advice. To determine how much of each type of meat to purchase when using 12 ounces as your portion size and serving two or more different meats, simply divide the portion size by the number of meats.
Two different meats, each 6 ounces, three different meats, each 4 ounces, and so on
Reduce the portion sizes to 1/2 to 1/4 of the size of the main course if you serve meat as an appetizer.
You’ll get the hang of it after your first party. Ask your butcher or the employee in the meat department of your grocery store if you are still unsure of how much meat to purchase. They’ll be happy to help.
Written By: Mark Jenner
I’m a self-described BBQ nut and the website’s founder and editor in chief.
Regardless of the weather, I enjoy cooking outside with live fire and smoke using a variety of grills, smokers, and wood-fired ovens to create delicious meals. With this website, I hope to assist as many people as I can in enjoying and excelling at what they do.
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FAQ
How much is a portion of roast beef?
Allow about 375g of beef per person, so you’ll need about 1 joint for four people. 5kg, for six, 2. 25kg, for eight, 3kg and for 10, 3. 75kg.
How many people will a 3 lb roast feed?
A serving size is approximately 3 ounces, or the equivalent of a deck of cards. A 3-pound roast will make about eight servings.
What is 1 serving size of beef?
For beef and other meat, a typical serving size is 3 ounces, or roughly the size of a deck of cards. Lean ground beef has 180 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 15% of the daily recommended iron intake per 3-ounce serving. Meat cuts and cooking techniques affect the amount of fat in the meat.
How much does a portion of beef weigh?
For the average eater, a fillet of 180g is a good size. Use 150g per head of mince and potatoes instead of 115g per portion of mince, etc., in spaghetti. Consider purchasing roast beef at 225g (raw weight) for average eaters and 180g (raw weight) per head for children and small eaters.