Plan a party or just a nice lunch or dinner for your friends and family. You want everything to go smoothly. We want you and your guests to always have the best sandwich at Tony’s Delicatessen and Fresh Meats. There is an art to ordering deli meat, and when you get it right, you’ll want to do it again and again.
How to order deli meat portions is fairly simple, and it just takes a little planning. Make your lists, and then get your numbers ready. Plan your deli meat with our easy-to-follow guide, and you’ll never think of making a sandwich as work again.
Planning an event and want to serve deli ham sandwiches? Figuring out the right amount to purchase can be tricky To help you make the most of your ham, we’ve put together this handy guide on estimating sandwiches per pound
Whether hosting a small gathering or feeding a crowd you’ll have the info to shop smart and make your guests happy. Let’s dive in!
Typical Serving Size
First, it’s helpful to understand standard deli ham sandwich servings. According to USDA guidelines:
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2-3 ounces of sliced deli ham is considered one portion
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Pair with 1-2 slices of bread (preferably whole grain)
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Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, condiments are optional extras
As a baseline, aim for 2-3 ounces of ham per sandwich. Adjust portions based on appetites and sandwich style.
Sandwiches Per Pound
A general rule of thumb is 1 pound of deli ham yields 5-6 sandwiches.
However, this varies depending on a few factors:
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Slice thickness – More sandwiches with thinner slices
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Bread size – Mini rolls give more sandwiches per pound
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Added ingredients – Cheese, veggies, condiments reduce ham per sandwich
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Appetites – Hearty eaters may want larger ham portions
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Leftovers – Having extras allows bigger sandwiches
Test slice thickness and sandwich styles to estimate your yield per pound.
Calculate For Your Event
To determine how much ham you need for an event:
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Decide on slice thickness and sandwich ingredients
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Make a sample sandwich to visualize portion sizes
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Estimate how many sandwiches each person will eat
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Multiply sandwiches per person by number attending
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Divide total sandwiches by 5-6 to get pounds of ham needed
Add a pound or two as a buffer for heartier appetites or extra guests.
Ham Options
Deli ham comes in a variety of styles, with some working better for sandwiches:
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Sliced ham – Pre-cut for sandwiches. Easy to portion.
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Spiral sliced – Even slices spiral around the ham. Time saver.
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Whole ham – Must slice yourself. Allows thick customizable slices.
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Bone-in – More flavor but less meat. Added carving effort.
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Boneless – Maximum meat per pound. Easy prep and serving.
Evaluate your time, sandwich style, and budget to pick the best ham type.
Bread Selection
Bread complements the ham to make the sandwich:
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Country white – Classic pairing with mild flavor.
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Wheat – Nutty, hearty flavor and added fiber.
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Sourdough – Tangy flavor contrasts the ham.
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Brioche – Sweet, rich flavor balances salty ham.
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Croissants – Flaky and buttery, upscale sandwich.
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Rolls or buns – Easy to serve, hold ingredients together.
Match bread type and size to the deli ham and other fillings.
Condiments & Extras
Condiments and toppings allow customization:
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Mustard – Yellow, spicy, or Dijon enhance ham’s flavor.
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Mayonnaise – Creamy texture and tangy flavor complement ham.
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Pickles – Dill, sweet, or bread & butter pickles add crunch and acidity.
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Lettuce – Crisp cool lettuce balances salty ham.
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Tomato – Fresh tomato slices or spread add texture.
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Onion – Sliced raw onion or caramelized onions contribute bite.
Provide a condiment and topping bar for guests to build their perfect ham sandwich.
Leftover Ham
Leftover ham stays fresh for 3-5 days refrigerated. Prevent waste by:
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Using in omelets, quiches, pasta dishes, and pizzas
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Dicing for ham salad spreads or appetizers
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Freezing slices or chunks in air-tight bags for up to 2-3 months
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Adding to soups, beans, potatoes, and rice dishes
With creative recipes, you can stretch your ham investment over multiple meals.
Save Money
You can make the most of your deli ham budget:
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Watch for ham sales and stock up
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Buy a whole boneless ham and slice what you need
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Use ham bones for beans, soup stocks, or dogs
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Mix ham with other sandwich meats to reduce portions
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Repurpose leftovers creatively
With smart strategies, you can create great sandwiches that satisfy your crowd without breaking the bank.
Ordering Tips for Events
When ordering ham for a special event:
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Overestimate your ham needs slightly
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Have sandwich ingredients prepped in advance
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Set up a sandwich bar for self-service
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Offer little extras like pickles and chips
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Have moist towelettes, napkins, trash cans available
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Use disposable serving ware for easy cleanup
With some planning, your sandwiches can be a hit without becoming a headache.
Make Delicious Ham Sandwiches
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Select ham at the deli counter or market
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Choose the optimal bread to complement your ham
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Prepare enough sandwiches for your guests
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Add delicious condiments and toppings
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Manage leftovers after the event
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Stretch your budget via sales, bulk buying, and creative recipes
Equipped with this knowledge, you can now order, prepare, serve, and enjoy mouthwatering ham sandwiches for any sized event or gathering. So pick up some ham, invite some friends, and start sandwiching!
How To Order Deli Meat Portions
When ordering deli meat, the first thing you need is the number of people you will be serving. Or, you can calculate how many sandwiches you can expect to make that week for school lunches. Most of the time, you should buy two to three ounces of deli meat for every sandwich you want to make. Yes, it is that simple.
As a general rule, you should order more than that, either by the sandwich or by the person. It’s never a bad day when you have too much deli meat. With the right deli meat, it can be hard not to put more than two or three ounces on a sandwich. Leftovers are wonderful, but so are big sandwiches.
Consider the Timing of the Meal
When you order deli meat, it’s also important to say whether you want it for lunch or dinner. Lunch meals tend to be on the light side. Even the best deli meat in the world should be a little lighter for lunch. If you want to pile it on, save the heavier sandwiches for dinner or a late summer dinner.
Knowing when you are serving the sandwiches is important when you are ordering deli meat. When you serve at a party, people expect to eat less than when you serve dinner. Now, if your lunch is on Superbowl Sunday, that is a different story all together. Plan your timing with your order, and you will know how much to put on per sandwich.
If you are having a party, you can plan how much deli meat to serve based on what else you are serving. You’ll need big and heavy sandwiches if this is the hero of the day. There should be lighter sandwiches on an eight-foot-long table of food at any time of the day.
Still, you can have a beautiful eight-foot-long buffet even if you make more sandwiches with less meat on them.
Ham Sandwich 1909 on Sandwiches of History
FAQ
How much ham do I need for 25 sandwiches?
How many sandwiches does 1 pound of meat make?
How many pounds of meat for 50 sandwiches?
How much ham do I need for 50 sandwiches?
How many sandwiches can a pound of Ham make?
When it comes to making sandwiches with ham, a good rule of thumb is that one pound of deli ham can make approximately 5-6 sandwiches. This is assuming that the ham is sliced sandwich-style and that each sandwich contains around 2-3 ounces of meat.
How much Ham should a person eat?
First, consider the type of ham you’ll be using. If you’re using bone-in ham, plan for about 1/2 pound per person. For boneless ham, a serving size of one person should be about 1/3 pound and one serving size of two people should be about 1/2 pound.
How many ounces of Ham are needed per person?
For sliced ham, you will need approximately 2-3 ounces per person. This will provide each person with a standard ‘sandwich slice’ rather than shaved. (Question regarding pounds for 40 people is not related to the given question and should be disregarded).
How much bone-in Ham should be served per person?
Martha Stewart recommends 3/4 of a pound of bone-in ham per person for holiday dinner parties. She also suggests saving the flavor-soaked ham bone for future soups and stews. According to her recommendation, this is the estimated amount of bone-in ham for your event.