Ham is a cherished centerpiece of many holiday meals. When Easter or Christmas roll around, most families can’t imagine gathering to dine without a glistening hunk of cured pork at the table.
But if you’re the one tasked with shopping for the ham this year how do you ensure you get one that’s just the right size for your group? You want enough so that everyone gets sufficient servings but not so much that you’re still eating leftovers come Valentine’s Day.
To take the guesswork out of ham shopping, here’s a complete guide to how much ham per person you should plan for Follow these recommendations and you’ll be hailed as the perfect ham-buying hero!
Key Factors That Impact Ham Servings
Before jumping into specific portion sizes, let’s look at the key variables that affect how much ham each person eats:
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Bone-in vs boneless – Boneless hams yield more edible meat per pound.
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Type of ham – Smoked ham tends to get eaten in larger portions than intensely salty country ham.
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Serving style – Buffet style may mean smaller portions than plated dinners.
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Leftovers – Are you intentionally buying extra for sandwiches and casseroles?
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Appetites – Holiday excitement sometimes equals bigger appetites!
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Side dishes – Groups with lots of sides may eat less ham.
Now that we know what aspects impact portions, let’s look at specific recommendations…
Recommended Serving Size Per Person
Boneless Ham
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3/4 pound (12 ounces) per person is a common guideline for boneless ham.
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For hearty appetites, plan for 1 pound (16 ounces) per person.
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For lighter eaters with plenty of sides, 1/2 pound (8 ounces) may suffice.
Bone-In Spiral Ham
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Approximately 1 pound (16 ounces) per person is a safe estimate.
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For smaller appetites, 3/4 pound (12 ounces) may be adequate.
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With plentiful sides, you may be able to get by with 1/2 pound (8 ounces) per person.
Country Ham
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Country ham’s intense saltiness means smaller portions around 1/4 pound (4 ounces) per person.
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For heartier country ham fans, allow 1/3 pound (5 ounces) per person.
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Aim for the higher end if you have a bone-in country ham.
Handy Charts for Buying the Right Size Ham
To make things really straightforward, here are some handy ham buying charts tailored to different groups sizes. Use these to take the guesswork and stress out!
Boneless Ham Pounds Needed:
- 4 people: 3 to 4 pounds
- 6 people: 4 to 6 pounds
- 8 people: 6 to 8 pounds
- 10 people: 7 to 10 pounds
- 12 people: 9 to 12 pounds
- 14 people: 10 to 14 pounds
- 16 people: 12 to 16 pounds
Bone-In Spiral Ham Pounds Needed:
- 4 people: 4 to 5 pounds
- 6 people: 6 to 7 pounds
- 8 people: 8 to 10 pounds
- 10 people: 10 to 12 pounds
- 12 people: 12 to 14 pounds
- 14 people: 14 to 16 pounds
- 16 people: 16 to 18 pounds
Country Ham Pounds Needed:
- 4 people: 1 to 1 1/2 pounds
- 6 people: 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
- 8 people: 2 to 2 2/3 pounds
- 10 people: 2 1/2 to 3 1/3 pounds
- 12 people: 3 to 4 pounds
- 14 people: 3 1/2 to 4 2/3 pounds
- 16 people: 4 to 5 1/3 pounds
Tips for Leftovers and Smaller Portions
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If you want leftovers, add 2-3 pounds to the bone-in spiral or boneless ham estimates.
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For easy leftovers, choose a whole bone-in ham and carve what you need.
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Offer smaller portions by slicing ham instead of setting out a whole boneless roast.
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Slices make it easy for light eaters to take just what they want.
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Leftover ham keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge or 2-3 months in the freezer.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Ham
Got extra ham even after following my handy charts? Here are some delicious ways to put those leftovers to use:
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Ham sandwiches with spicy mustard or mayo
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Diced ham in salads, eggs, or pasta
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Ham & bean soup loaded with veggies
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Savory ham and Swiss breakfast casserole
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Ham, apple, and cheddar melts
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Hearty ham and potato hash
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Ham and cheese biscuit sandwiches
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Mac & cheese with ham instead of bacon
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Ham, veggie, and cheese omelets
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Ideal protein addition to fried rice
With some clever repurposing, you can stretch your holiday ham to last for a whole week of meals! No waste here.
Let My Ham Guide Lead You to Holiday Hosting Glory
Take the stress out of ham buying this holiday season. Follow my handy charts for perfectly portioned ham that will fill up your guests without overloading your fridge.
Stick to my recommendations and you’re guaranteed to serve up smiles along with the spiraled pork. Just sit back and await the chorus of compliments on your mastery of ham proportions!
Can’t Find What You’re Looking For?
How many pounds of ham do you need per person?
FAQ
How much ham do I need for 10 adults?
How many people does 1lb of ham feed?
What size Christmas ham for 8 adults?
How much ham do I buy for 20 people?
How much Ham should I buy per person?
Here are some general recommendations to help you buy the exact amount of ham for your needs: For bone-in ham, plan on ¾ to 1 pound per person. For boneless ham, plan on ¼ to ⅓ pound per person. If you want leftovers, plan on ½ pound per person. If you’re serving a spiral-cut ham, plan on ¼ to ⅓ pound per person.
How many people eat a ham?
If everyone consumes 1/3 pounds of ham: 4 people – 1.3 pounds 6 people – 2 pounds 12 people – 4 pounds 20 people – 6 pounds You may want to purchase a slightly heavier spiral ham if you’re hoping to have leftover ham per person for sandwiches for the next few days! Related: Here’s Exactly How Long To Cook a Ham
How much Ham do you need for Easter dinner?
Figure you’ll need about 1/3 to 1/2 pounds of meat per person. Based on everyone consuming 1/2 a pound, here’s how much bone-in ham you’ll need per person for Easter dinner: 4 people – 2 pounds 6 people – 3 pounds 12 people – 6 pounds 20 people – 8 pounds
How much Ham do you need for dinner?
These are the essential factors in determining how much ham you’ll need on the day of the dinner. For a normal bone-in ham, the general rule of thumb is to buy around 3/4 to 1 pound of ham per adult and around 1/2 a pound for kids. This will ensure that there is plenty of ham for everyone, without leaving you with too much leftover.