Are you planning a holiday ham dinner and don’t know how much ham you’ll need for your guests? This handy calculator will help you figure it out. People: Type of Ham: Boneless Bone-in.
When hosting a large gathering of 100 guests, you want to make sure you have plenty of delicious food to go around Ham is often a centerpiece main dish for special occasions with big groups But it can be tricky to determine exactly how much ham to buy and prepare to adequately feed that many people. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about calculating ham portions for a crowd along with tasty serving suggestions.
Key Factors in Determining Ham for a Crowd
Here are some key considerations when figuring out ham quantities for a large party
- Type of ham (bone-in versus boneless)
- Number of other dishes being served
- Appetites of your guests (big eaters or light eaters)
- Whether you want leftovers for another meal
- Thickness of the slices
Keep these variables in mind as you plan ham for a group, and adjust amounts accordingly.
Recommended Serving Size Per Person
As a general guideline when feeding around 100 people, plan for 1/3 to 1/2 pound of boneless ham per person. For bone-in ham, allow 1/2 to 3/4 pound per guest.
This provides 2-3 hearty slices of ham per person. It’s better to have extra than not enough for a big party!
Total Ham Needed for 100 Guests
Based on typical serving recommendations, here is the total ham you need for a crowd of 100:
- Boneless ham: 33 to 50 pounds
- Bone-in ham: 50 to 75 pounds
Purchase a boneless ham on the larger end around 45-50 pounds, or choose a bone-in variety in the 65-70 pound range to be safe for 100 guests.
Serving Suggestions for a Crowd
To complement a large 45-50 pound boneless ham or 65-70 pound bone-in ham for 100 people, consider these tasty serving ideas:
- Honey glazed ham or pineapple glazed ham for festive flavor
- Hearty sides like cheesy scalloped potatoes, cornbread, baked beans
- Fresh salad or slaw with vinaigrette dressing
- Dinner rolls, biscuits, or corn muffins with butter
- Iced tea, lemonade, punch, or wine to drink
- Sheet cake or cupcakes for dessert
Provide a variety of sides, drinks and dessert to satisfy the crowd along with the plentiful ham.
Carving Tips for a Big Ham
Carving a ham for 100 people can be daunting. Make it easier with these tips:
- Use an electric knife to slice uniformly and efficiently
- Cut thin, consistent slices around 1/4 inch thick
- Cut across the grain in the thickest part first
- Follow the ham’s contours as you carve
- Have someone serve the carved slices to prevent long lines
With practice and patience, you’ll get the ham carved and served for the masses in no time!
Make Your Event a Success
When hosting a backyard barbecue, anniversary party, or any big celebration for 100 guests, plotting out the ham is an important piece of the planning process. With approximately 50 pounds of boneless ham or 70 pounds bone-in, you will have plenty to serve the crowd along with abundant sides and desserts. Keep these tips in mind for a seamless, well-fed event that all your guests will love.
Cite As:Sexton, J. (n.d.).
Getting every last cranberry in the holiday meal planned out can be hard, but these simple rules will make it easy to figure out how much ham to make for any size group.
First, think about how many people will be coming, what kind of ham you want to serve, and how many leftovers (you will want leftovers!) you want.
Whichever size ham you choose, be sure to allow enough cooking time. Cook a smoked ham in the oven at 325 °F (160 °C) until the internal temperature reaches 145 °F (63 °C). Let it rest for 3 minutes, or 140 °F (60 °C), and then bake it again. [1].
How Much Boneless Ham Do You Need?
The folks at the Honeybaked Ham Company have been experts in all things ham since 1957, and they recommend 1/2 pound of ham per person. However, take into account those larger appetites and again…leftovers! What’s a holiday without a midnight ham sammy?[2]
The chart below will help you figure out how much ham to buy based on how many people are coming.
| Number of People | Amount of Boneless Ham |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 2 – 3 lbs |
| 6 – 8 | 3 – 4 lbs |
| 8 – 10 | 4 – 5 lbs |
| 10 – 12 | 5 – 6 lbs |
| 15 – 20 | 8 – 10 lbs |
| 25 – 30 | 13 – 15 lbs |
How much Honey Baked Ham is needed per person?
FAQ
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