Pulled pork is a classic BBQ dish that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. But determining how much to make can be tricky. When calculating for a large group it helps to know key details like how many pints are in a pound of pulled pork.
In this serving size guide we’ll break down what you need to know
- How many pints are in a pound of pulled pork
- Serving size per person and meal
- Recipe and cooking tips
- Freezing and storing leftovers
Whether you’re cooking for a small dinner or a big block party, this guide will ensure you make just the right amount of pulled pork for your guests.
How Many Pints are in a Pound of Pulled Pork?
When it comes to serving sizes, a pint of pulled pork equals about one pound. This means
- 1 pint = 16 ounces
- 1 pound = 16 ounces
So a pint and a pound are the same volume when it comes to shredded pork.
This equivalency makes it easy to scale up recipes. If you need to serve 50 people, simply calculate the total pounds of pork required and that gives you the pint amount.
Recommended Serving Size Per Person
How much pulled pork you need depends on the type of meal:
- Main entree at dinner: About 6-8 ounces or 3/4 to 1 pint per person
- Sandwiches: 4-6 ounces or 1/2 to 3/4 pint per sandwich
- Sliders or tacos: 2-3 ounces or 1/4 pint per serving
A good rule of thumb is plan for roughly 1/2 pound or one pint per person. Adjust up or down based on sides and appetite.
To determine total quantity needed:
- Decide serving size per person
- Multiply by number of guests
- Add extra as needed
Tips for Calculating Poundage of Raw Pork
- Allow for up to 50% shrinkage when cooking
- Factor extra for leftovers
- Get boneless shoulder or pork butt
- Estimate 1 pound uncooked pork = 1 pint pulled pork
If feeding 50 people 8 oz portions, you’ll need about 50 pounds raw pork. This yields 25-30 pounds cooked.
Best Practices for Cooking Pulled Pork
Cooking your pork low and slow is the key to succulent pulled pork:
- Cook at 225-250°F: Ideal smoking temp for tender, fall-apart meat
- Allow 1-2 hours per pound: Give it plenty of time to break down collagen
- Use a thermometer: Pull pork at 195°F internal temp
- Rest before shredding: Wrap in foil and rest 30-60 mins to retain juices
- Moisten with sauce/juices: Adds flavor and prevents dryness
Mop, spritz, or baste the pork every 45-60 minutes while cooking to keep it moist. Cherry, apple, hickory, or pecan wood add nice subtle smoke flavor.
Easy Pulled Pork Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3-5 lbs pork shoulder
- Dry rub: brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Barbecue sauce
- Burger buns
Instructions:
- Coat pork shoulder with dry rub
- Smoke at 225°F for 1-2 hours per lb until 195°F internal temp
- Rest 30-60 mins, then shred meat with fork
- Mix in BBQ sauce to taste
- Serve on buns
Adjust rub and sauce to your liking. Delicious served with coleslaw and pickles.
Freezing and Storing Leftover Pulled Pork
Properly stored, leftover pulled pork keeps for:
- Fridge: 3-4 days
- Freezer: 4-6 months
To freeze:
- Portion into freezer bags or airtight containers
- Remove excess air
- Seal and label with date
- Freeze up to 6 months
To reheat:
- Thaw in fridge overnight
- Use microwave, oven, or stovetop
- Add BBQ sauce, broth, or jus to moisten
Great ways to use frozen pulled pork:
- Tacos, sliders, pizza and more!
When planning pulled pork for a BBQ or gathering, a pint is equivalent to a pound. Estimate 1/2 pound or one pint per person as a general serving size. Factor extras for children, leftovers, and appetites. Cook low and slow, rest properly, and freeze any extras so the pork party can continue!
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How much should 30lbs of pork shoulder feed?! #pulledpork #smoker #math #mathinthewild #teacher
FAQ
How much does 1 lb of pulled pork serve?
How many sandwiches will 1lb of pulled pork make?
How many people will a pint of BBQ feed?
How much does 2 lbs of pulled pork feed?
How much pulled pork do you need per pound?
Plan on getting about ½ pound of pulled pork for every pound of raw pork butt you purchase. That’s a shrinkage factor of 50 percent. So if there are 10 people on your guest list and you want to serve 1/3 pound of pulled pork per person, you’ll need about 6-1/2 to 7 pounds of raw pork butt.
Can one eat pork?
A cooked, medium pork cutlet or steak provides 239 calories, 34 grams protein, 10 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 697 milligrams sodium, and 0 grams carbohydrate, if you eat only the lean part of the steak. Pork contains many of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) found in beef and it is high in protein, but can be lower in fat than beef—depending on cut and preparation. Meat from any kind of mammal, including pork, can cause an allergic reaction (and some people who are allergic to mammalian meat also react to poultry).
How much pulled pork for 40 people?
40 people x 2/3 = 27 pounds of raw pork How much pulled pork for 50 adults? 50 people x 2/3 = 33.5 pounds of raw pork How much pulled pork for 100 adults? 100 people x 2/3 = 67 pounds of raw pork
How much pulled pork do you need for a dinner party?
So rather than trying to nail the exact amount of pork based on those numbers, let’s simply go with a third of a pound of pulled pork for every attendee. So say you’re serving a group of 10 people. You’ll need roughly three and a third pounds of pulled pork to ensure everyone gets a third of a pound serving.