How Many Pulled Pork Sandwiches Per Shoulder?

For pulled pork, the standard rule of thumb is one-third to one-half pound of meat per person. When cooked and shredded, a bone-in pork shoulder will lose around 40 percent of its weight. For example, a raw 10-pound pork shoulder (or two 5-pounders) will yield about 6 pounds of finished meat, serving 12 to 18 people.

How much pulled pork do I need for a pulled pork sandwich?

  • To be on the safe side you’ll need 0.66 pounds of raw pork to make 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork assuming you are serving 2 medium sliders per person. You’ll want 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork for each large pulled pork sandwich.

How many sandwiches will 4 pounds of pulled pork make?

On average, one pound of BBQ pork will feed three people, so serve one-third pound of pulled pork per head. When pulled pork is cooked and shredded, it will lose half its weight.

How much does 20lbs of pulled pork feed?

60 people / 3 servings per pound = 20 pounds of prepared pulled pork.

How much pork do I need for 50 sandwiches?

If you’re preparing pulled pork for feeding 50 people you will need: With 1-3 Sides: 50 Pounds Of Raw Pork to serve at least 25 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork for 50 people. With 3+ Sides: 33.33 Pounds Of Raw Pork to serve at least 16.66 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork for 50 people.

How much will 2 lbs of pulled pork feed?

Serving size: This recipe will yield about 2 pounds of cooked pulled pork; enough to serve about 6 people (5 oz per serving). See the post above for my tips for calculating how much pulled pork you’ll need for a larger group.

How big of a pork shoulder do I need?

For pulled pork, the standard rule of thumb is one-third to one-half pound of meat per person. When cooked and shredded, a bone-in pork shoulder will lose around 40 percent of its weight. For example, a raw 10-pound pork shoulder (or two 5-pounders) will yield about 6 pounds of finished meat, serving 12 to 18 people.

How much pulled pork do you need per person?

In general, you should plan to have about 1/3 pound of pulled pork per person. Obviously, this is the short answer. When you’re dealing with a large, fatty cut like pork shoulder, you can’t just buy two pounds of meat for six people and call it a day—that’s not how it works.

What is the best cut for pulled pork?

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork? Pork shoulder is ideal for pulling purposes. It has an optimum fat content that yields to create tender, melty meat, but it’s essential you cook it slowly to allow the protein to break down properly.

How many pounds of pork shoulder do I need for 50 people?

For 50 people, a minimum of 25 pounds of boneless pork butt or shoulder should be used. There will be some weight loss due to rendering (and evaporation) during the cooking process, so a minimum figure of 30 pounds is more safe. Usually, only one quarter pound of meat is allocated per serving.

How many pounds of pulled pork will feed 30?

Plan for a bit more meat, about five to seven ounces, if you’re serving dinner to your crowd. For a party of 30 to 40 people, this works out to be nine to 12 pounds of pulled pork for lunch, and 13 to 17 pounds for dinner.

How many pulled pork sliders are in a pound?

The pulled pork sliders only use 2.5 ounces of meat so you can get about six generous sliders per pound.

How much does the bone weigh in a pork shoulder?

Pork shoulder will range in weight from an average of four to six pounds for boneless and six to nine pounds for bone-in.

How much is pork per pound?

Pork Pricing & Information Average lbs of pork after processing is 90-126 lbs for Whole pig. Average cost for Whole pig after processing is $680-$800. Average cost per pound after processing is $6.00-$7.00/lb.

How much meat do you need for a BBQ sandwich?

A good rule of thumb is to count on about ⅓ pound of cooked meat for each person for a main. This amount may vary between ½ pound if your guests are big eaters or you don’t have many sides, to ¼ pound if your sides are generous.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person: A Guide to Serving Sizes

Looking to wow your guests with a mouthwatering pile of smoked pulled pork at your next barbecue? Look no further. Certainly, it’s a seductive thought. Pulled pork is not only a fantastic source of protein, but it is also tasty, adaptable, and provides excellent value for money. Some home cooks are put off by the prospect of serving pulled pork to a large group because they believe it will be too much labor to estimate the exact amount of servings. Though it takes a little more effort than it does with burgers and hot dogs, there is a simple calculation that may take the guessing out of the process.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person

Estimate that each person will consume around one-third pound of pulled pork. If the event is taking place during the day, if there are a large number of youngsters on the guest list, or if there will be a broad range of side dishes available, you might be able to get away with serving a little less.

About Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is traditionally produced from the upper half of the hog shoulder, sometimes known as Boston butt, and is a popular dish in the South. The average weight of a pork shoulder roast purchased at the store is between 4 and 8 pounds, depending on the butcher. The picnic shoulder or picnic ham refers to the bottom part of the hog shoulder that has been cut in two. Alternatively, both sections can be purchased together, in which case they will most likely be labeled as a full shoulder. Nonetheless, because the picnic shoulder has more bone than the Boston butt, it is more difficult to determine the yield of the meat (see How To Calculate, below).

Because of the high fat content, it has a wonderful taste and is quite juicy.

Tips on Buying Pork for the Smoker

When at all possible, avoid shopping at large-scale supermarkets like Walmart and Target. It’s likely that pork that has been bred for industrial reasons would have less fat and, as a result, less flavor than it otherwise would. Check with your local butcher to ensure that the pork you’re purchasing has been grown in a humane manner before purchasing it. For those of you who are as passionate about grilling as we are, the term “heritage breed” is certainly known to you. The following are some prominent examples of pork preparations: A few examples include Berkshire or kurobuta (Japanese for “black pig”), which is heavily marbled and incredibly rich; Red Wattle, which originates in the South Pacific and has a robust, almost beefy flavor; and Tamworth, which is naturally leaner than its brethren and produces incredible bacon and sausage.

You’ll undoubtedly notice a change in the flavor and quality of the product. You can find out more about heritage breed pork and how it is grown by watching this video.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person?

In general, you should plan on serving approximately a third of a pound of pulled pork to each individual. Obviously, this is the shortest possible response. When dealing with a huge, fatty piece of meat like pork shoulder, you can’t just go out and buy two pounds of meat to feed six people and call it a day. That’s just not how it works with this type of meat. Additionally, you’ll have to consider a variety of external elements, some of which you may not be aware of until you’re about to enter the service.

How To Calculate

It’s important to realize that cooked pork will weigh around half as much as raw pork shoulder if you’re following the rule of thumb of 1/3 pound per person, which is what most experts recommend. This is due to the fact that the majority of the moisture will evaporate throughout the cooking process. To put it another way, you should anticipate to get around 3 pounds of smoked pulled pork from a 6lb pig shoulder when you purchase it. To make it easier to understand, here’s how the idea is put down into a simple formula: Amount (in pounds) of raw pork required is equal to (guests x (1/3)) x 2.

You obtain the number 6 when you divide the number 18 into thirds.

This calculation indicates that you should purchase around 12 pounds of uncooked boneless pork shoulder.

Other Considerations

While 1/3 pound per person is a reasonable benchmark to utilize, you may be able to make further modifications based on the parameters we’ve provided below.

1. Time of Event

At midday, you may get away with offering lesser servings since people are less hungry. If your event takes place early in the day, you might want to consider reducing the per-person quantity to 1/4 pound rather than 1/3 pound.

2. Setting

Generally speaking, people will consume more food in a formal sit-down event than they would at a casual backyard get-together. You may want to consider reducing the portion sizes for the latter. When visitors are moving around in a bustling area, they are less likely to be attentive to the food being served. We understand that the pulled pork will most likely be the main attraction, but what other dishes do you have in mind? Will you be serving burgers or hot dogs as a side dish to the main course?

Prepare to serve extra meat per guest if you’re serving a simple platter of pulled pork with buns (see recipe below) and a couple bowls of potato chips as an accompaniment to the main course.

4. Bun Size

You are not required to serve your pulled pork with buns, but if you do, consider how the size of the buns will effect the amount of your servings.

While regular hamburger buns may carry around 5 ounces (or one meal), using slider buns or bigger bulkie rolls may need you to revise your estimates. It’s also important to realize that the buns will fill your guests full more quickly, which means they may not return to the table for seconds.

5. Age of the Guests

The 1/3-pound-per-person rule will ensure that there are plenty of leftovers when there are a lot of youngsters under the age of ten on the guest list, so plan accordingly. In these instances, we recommend that you plan for only 1/4 pound each child as a minimum.

6. Leftovers

Because pulled pork is such a versatile and delectable dish, we prefer to follow the “more is more” mindset when it comes to cooking with it. After the celebration is finished, you can utilize the pork in a variety of delectable meals that can be stored and reheated with little effort. The best part is that while Boston butt is a reasonably priced cut of meat, purchasing an additional pound or two will just add a few dollars to your total bill. It’s preferable to have too much than not enough of anything.

How To Store Leftover Pulled Pork

To keep leftovers, you can use any airtight container as long as the lid is well secured to the container. It is also possible to use a plastic freezer bag. First and foremost, make sure you save as much of the liquids as you possibly can. The longer you marinate the pork, the easier it will be to reheat it. In the next step, firmly close the container and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. Pulled pork that has been refrigerated should be eaten within 48 hours. It is recommended that you thaw and consume the pork within three months if you choose to freeze it.

Ideas for Leftovers

  • Make sure you have a supply of zip-top bags on available so that visitors may take a few portions home with them when they depart. Combined with your favorite barbecue sauce, serve on bulkie rolls with cole slaw and crispy fried onions on top. Preparing shredded pork tacos is simple when you use corn tortillas, sliced onions, cilantro, tomatillo salsa, and a squeeze of lime

The Bottom Line

There are exceptions to any rule, and while we would recommend that you allow for a third pound of pulled pork each person, there are certain restrictions. As a general rule, we recommend using this quantity as a guideline and always purchasing a serving or two more than you anticipate using. Good luck with your grilling! Articles that are related:

  • Getting the Best Cuts When Butchering a Pig
  • How to Shred Pork

Quick answers

20 people x 2/3 = 13.5 lbs of uncooked pork

How much pulled pork for 25 people?

25 people x 2/3 = 17 lbs of uncooked raw pork

How much pulled pork for 30 people?

25 people x 2/3 = 17 lbs of uncooked pork.

How much pulled pork for 40 people?

25 people x 2/3 = 17 lbs of uncooked pork

How much pulled pork for 50 people?

50 people divided by two-thirds equals 33.5 pounds of uncooked pork

How much pulled pork for 100 people?

100 people divided by two thirds equals 67 pounds of uncooked pork

How much pulled pork for 150 People?

150 people multiplied by 2/3 is 100 pounds of uncooked pork

How much pulled pork for 200 people?

200 people divided by two thirds equals 133.5 pounds of raw pork

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person? Use My Calculator!

Pulled pork is one of the most affordable barbecue dinners you can cook, and it’s also a fan favorite because of its simplicity. A large quantity of pulled pork is an excellent option if you need to serve a whole group. The important question is, though, how much do you actually require. The short answer is that one dish of pulled pork weighs around one-third of a pound. This implies that you will need a pound of pulled pork for every three persons you intend to feed with your dish.

Who Are You Feeding and How Are You Serving?

If the case calls for it, you should adapt the rule of a third of a pound per person accordingly.

Cooking for Fundraisers

A popular purpose for preparing a large quantity of pulled pork is to raise funds for a good cause. You may raise a significant amount of money by selling BBQ box dinners to benefit your church or your child’s sports team. It’s important to remember when organizing fundraisers that although you want to raise as much money as possible, you also want to make sure that your consumers feel like they received what they paid for. Sales of pulled pork sandwiches and plate lunches are two of the most prevalent methods of raising funds through the sale of pulled pork.

By utilizing either a little bread that is brimming with meat or a large bun and smothering the meat with coleslaw, you may make your sandwich appear more spectacular than it actually is.

This, I believe, makes for a fairly ample portion of food.

This is a dilemma since a third of a pound of pork does not appear to be a substantial amount of meat when placed in the major section. In this instance, you may need to raise the amount of meat on each plate lunch to half a pound per person.

Cooking for a Party

If you are expecting a large number of people to attend your party, you may need to allocate additional funds for the meat portion. People will often serve themselves during a party, and you will have little control over the amount of the portions. Others guests may eat far more meat than is considered a portion, and some will return for second or third helpings of the same dish. I recommend increasing the quantity of meat served each visitor to half a pound for backyard barbecues and other similar events.

  • Plates and utensils will be placed on one side of the serving line, followed by salads, vegetables, and other side dishes, all of which will be prepared by the caterers.
  • Because their plate is already half-full, they end up eating less meat than they would have otherwise.
  • Foods that are heavy in calories, such as mac and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans, can fill individuals full more quickly than lighter options such as broccoli salad and watermelon slices.
  • You may use standard-size hamburger buns, King’s Hawaiian buns for sliders, or some large Kaiser rolls for monster sandwiches, all of which are delicious.
  • Approximately one-half pound of meat is used in the Kaiser bun sandwich.
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How Much Meat to Buy

Calculating how much meat to purchase is an easy process, but it is dependent on how you intend to prepare your pulled pork. If you purchase readymade pulled pork, such as that available at Costco, life is made easier since you can get the precise quantity that you require. The amount of completed product that you will obtain from the cut of pork that you start with must be considered, though, if you are planning to produce your own from scratch. The butt, picnic shoulder, and loin are the three most frequent pieces of pig used to make pulled pork, and they are all delicious.

If you start with a loin, you will only lose around 10% of the weight you would otherwise lose.

If you multiply four pounds by the three servings per pound standard, you will find that you have enough meat to feed around 12 people.

Pounds of Raw Pork Butt Feeds How Many People(1/3 pound serving) Feeds How Many People(1/2 pound serving)
8 12 8
16 24 16
24 36 24
32 48 32

Example2: If you start with a pork loin that weighs eight pounds uncooked, you could anticipate to wind up with a little more than seven pounds of finished pulled pork after cooking. In order to calculate the amount of meat you will need for 21 people from seven pounds of beef, multiply the number of servings per pound by three. Because pig butts and loins are roughly the same in price per pound and because the loin yields more final product, the loin appears to be the better deal on the surface of things.

Loins have a tendency to dry out and do not acquire the attractive bark that you see on butts.

Pulled Pork Calculator

The URL to the pulled pork calculator that I put up for you is available in a Google Sheet, which you can access by clicking on the image below. The sheet is locked for editing, but you may make a copy of it and make your entries and computations in the copy instead of on the original. To create a copy of the sheet, select “File” from the dropdown menu in the top left corner of the sheet. To complete the worksheet, you will need to enter three data points.

  • The number of guests
  • The size of the portions
  • The average number of portions

For starters, I would recommend a serving size of 0.33 pounds, but you may adapt it to your liking by increasing or decreasing it. It is useful to know the average number of portions per guest since it allows you to account for folks who come back for seconds. In the case of a fundraiser where everyone receives one dish, the value should be “1.” This would be common if you were selling sandwiches to raise money. However, if you are hosting a party and anticipate that half of your visitors would return for seconds, you should set the value to “1.5,” which means that half of your guests will receive one additional piece.

Following the completion of the three entries, the calculator will display the number of pounds of finished pulled pork you require, as well as the number of pounds of pig butt you will require to begin with.

What To Do With Leftovers?

It is recommended that you start with an amount equal to 0.33 pounds, but you can increase it to your liking. In order to account for customers who return for seconds, you need calculate the Average Number of Portions per Guest. In the case of a fundraiser where everyone receives one meal, the value should be “1.” This would be common if you were selling sandwiches to generate funds. In contrast, if you are hosting a party and anticipate that half of your guests would return for seconds, you should set the value to “1.5,” since this will result in 50 percent of your visitors receiving an additional share of the meal.

The calculator will calculate how many pounds of finished pulled pork you will require, as well as how many pounds of pig butt you will require to begin with, once you have completed the three entries.

  • Baked Potatoes: Sprinkle on top of Stuffed Baked Potatoes or stir into the batter for Twice Baked Potatoes Breakfast Burritos may be made using this filling. Make a Barbecue Pizza for dinner. Nachos de carne asada (pulled pork nachos)

The following are some other articles I wrote about how to make pulled pork that you might find useful.

How Long Should a Pork Loin Be Smoked? Pulled Pork on a Rotisserie is a simple and delicious dish.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person? [Serving Guide]

When you mention “pulled pork” to any BBQ meat enthusiast, you will be greeted with a drooling audience. While it is enjoyable to prepare, it is easy to overindulge and end up with an excessive amount of leftovers. Discover how to decrease waste while yet keeping everyone pleased. Burgers and hot dogs are delicious, but they may be a little. boring. Pulling pork is a terrific way to show off your BBQ abilities when you want to be a little more experimental with your cooking. Traditionally, it has been a hit at my grilling parties, and with good cause.

When it comes to meat lovers, it’s up there with the tastiest foods they can get their hands on.

Trust me on this.

You don’t want to run out of food before everyone has had their fill, and you certainly don’t want to be left with mountains of it after everyone has gone home either.

How much pulled pork per person?

According to the USDA, one pound of BBQ pork will serve three people; thus, serve one-third pound of pulled pork each person. The weight of pulled pork will be reduced by half once it has been cooked and shredded. For example, a raw 8-pound pork shoulder will generate 4 pounds of shredded pulled pork, which will serve around 12 people when cooked through.

Pulled Pork Calculator

There are two easy principles to follow when determining the ideal amount of pork: THE FIRST RULE: One pound of cooked pulled pork is sufficient to serve three individuals. So serve one-third of a pound each person to make things move more smoothly at work. Cooked pulled pork is generally half the weight of raw pork, according to rule number two. As a result, for every pound of raw pig, you may expect around half a pound of resultant pulled pork. So, how can we turn this into a mathematical formula?

  • Following that, you double it by 50 percent to get the yield.
  • For example, if you are anticipating ten guests, you should 10 guests x 13 pounds of meat equals 3.33 pounds of flesh 6 2/3 pounds of uncooked pork is required if the output is 3.33 lbs/50 percent (or 0.5).
  • Children: Contrary to popular belief, children are unlikely to be able to consume as much food as adult visitors.
  • As a matter of convenience, I attempt to adjust the formula to something like multiplying the number of visitors by 0.25 in order to figure out how much cooked pork I will need.
  • Food intake varies depending on the time of day: people tend to consume more calories at supper than at lunch.
  • If you’re putting together a buffet, I usually recommend being a little extra generous with the portions.
  • The menu consists of the following items: The creation of a large mountain of pulled pork when offering a feast of burgers and hot dogs does not really make sense if you’re also serving a feast of burgers and hot dogs.

If the pulled pork is part of a bigger meal, it’s best to keep your mouth shut. If you are serving other major courses in addition to the pulled pork, you may reduce the amount of pulled pork you need to cook by one-third by using less meat.

How to store pulled pork leftovers

Even if you do the most comprehensive of computations, you may find yourself with leftovers to contend with. Even worse things may happen than being faced with a mound of scrumptious pulled pork on your plate! What follows is information on how to care for it in a safe and effective manner, while ensuring that you keep as much of its original quality as possible: Place the pulled pork mixture in an airtight container and set aside (you might need more than one). Make sure to pour in any extra sauce as well, since this will aid in retaining the taste.

  • If you wish to store it for a lengthy period of time, place it in the freezer.
  • When meat is warmed from frozen, it loses a lot of its nutritional value, but occasionally circumstances necessitate a longer-term solution!
  • Do you want to smoke your pulled pork?
  • Nachos with Pulled Pork (Smoked)- Nachos are one of the best party foods there is, bar none.
  • Smoked Pulled Pork Tacos-Pulled pork tacos served immediately after being pulled from the smoker.
  • The 6 Best Methods for Reheating Pulled Pork- Pulled pork is a cornerstone of smoked barbecue cuisine.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person — Serving Size Guide and Calculator

This article will tell you how much raw pork to buy and cook so that everyone at your next barbecue has enough pulled pork, using a simple formula and a few of rules of thumb. You like sharing your culinary creations with enthusiastic diners, don’t you? Of course you do – we don’t just do it for the sake of pleasing ourselves! Given that we’re such kind individuals, we always want to make certain that our visitors have plenty to eat. Even if it means settling for a bit less than we had hoped for.

If you’re fed up with rationing meat or undervaluing yourself, this article will come to your rescue.

I’ve already done some easy arithmetic for you (“It was my assumption that there would be no math.”) but I’ve also included the original formula so that you may test it out for yourself if you’d like.

Now you can confidently calculate the amount of raw pork required for each person to receive a good portion of pulled pork.but you don’t have to because we’ve included a fast look-up table for your convenience! I’ll begin by stating a very important truth.

Cooked Pork Will Weigh Half as Much as Raw Pork

If you’ve ever grilled meat (or if you’ve ever watched Seinfeld), you’re probably acquainted with the term “shrinking.” You’ve probably seen that those hamburger patties that appear like they’re going to smash your buns come off of the grill considerably smaller than they did when they went on. This is due to the loss of moisture caused by the pressure of contracting fibers forcing it out of the flesh. It’s the same thing when it comes to raw pork, and in particular hog shoulder or pig butt, which is the source of pulled pork recipes.

  • (Fat = taste, after all!) With all of that fat, there’s a lot of liquid — and weight — to lose, which is a good thing.
  • This is incredible.
  • However, this is little when compared to the loss.
  • The worst thing that may happen is that you end up with a little extra money, which is never a terrible thing.
  • Remember to always buy more pulled pork than you need since leftover pulled pork may be used in a variety of ways.

At a Glance — Table of Amount of Pulled Pork for Different Size Groups

Here are fixed amounts for particular numbers of people and children to save you the trouble of doing unneeded calculations. For the sake of making it fit on a smartphone mobile screen, we’ve divided it into two tables: one for adults and another for youngsters. Adults are the first to be considered:

Number of Adults Cooked Pork Required (in pounds) Raw Pork to Buy (in pounds)
1 1/3 2/3
2 2/3 1 1/3
5 1 2/3 3 1/3
10 3 2/3 6 2/3
20 6 2/3 13 1/3
30 10 20
50 16 2/3 33 1/3
100 33 1/3 66 2/3

And now, for the younger ones:

Number of Children Cooked Pork Required (in pounds) Raw Pork to Buy (in pounds)
1 1/4 1/2
2 1/2 1
5 1 1/4 2 1/2
10 2 1/2 5
20 5 10
30 7 1/2 15
50 12 1/2 25
100 25 50

If you are not interested in utilizing the formula from the next part, you may figure out any value in between using these charts. Not to mention that if you have 100 kids over for pulled pork, you’re in serious trouble!

How Much Cooked Pulled Pork to Serve Per Person— the Math

Of course, this is mostly a question of personal preference. Individuals will always be divided into those who desire more and those who desire less. In light of my own personal experience and the general opinion among pitmasters and pork enthusiasts, you should plan on serving the following: Adults should have 1/3 pound of cooked pulled pork and children should consume 1/4 pound of cooked pulled pig. It’s important to remember that this is the cooked weight, not the raw weight. This implies that you’ll need 2/3 pound of raw pork per adult and 1/2 lb per youngster for each participant in your group.

A Simple Formula for Buying Raw Pork

Math? Dammit. Well, it’s meat math, so I guess I shouldn’t be too bothered by it. For any mix of children and adults, the following formula will help you determine the amount of raw pork you will require for your meal preparation. In order to figure out how much money you’ll need, you’ll need to multiply the number of adults by a third of pound and the number of children by a quarter pound. Once you’ve calculated your total, multiply it by two to get the weight in pounds of raw pork you’ll need to purchase.

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Consider the following scenario: you’ve invited five couples, each of which has six children.

So there are a total of 10 adults and 6 youngsters. After including our substitutions into our formula, we arrive at: ((10 x 1/3) + (6 x 1/4)) x 2which becomes (3.3 + 1.5) x 2and that becomes 4.8 x 2for a total of 9.6 pounds of raw pork. Easy-peasy.

Other Things to Consider

With the exception of appropriate cooking temperatures, there are no hard and fast regulations when it comes to barbecuing. Taking this into consideration, there are a couple of elements to consider before you go out and buy your raw pork.

What Meal are You Serving?

The size of the portion will vary based on the meal. Lunch portions are often more moderate in size, however a supper portion may be a little more substantial.

What’s the Occasion?

If your guests will be wandering around and maybe eating off paper plates, you should plan on serving larger amounts than you would for a sit-down lunch. If you’re preparing food for a festival where attendees will be tasting items from a variety of exhibitors, a smaller portion is recommended. However, if you’ve deliberately invited friends and family over to try your products, they’ll be expecting a substantial serving of pulled pork! Are you presenting side dishes or any other grilled or smoked meats with your dinner guests?

Final Thoughts

When you’ve mastered the art of pulled pork, you want to make sure that everyone, including yourself, gets enough to fulfill their need. With a little forethought and knowledge of what happens to meat throughout the cooking process, you can cross at least this one worry off your list and concentrate on preparing the ideal batch of meat. It is my goal that this knowledge will be of use to you during your next porkfest, or at the absolute least will allow you to say to someone: “Well, you know, if you want to make sure you have enough pig for everyone.” You can send them here if they want to challenge you.

And remember, it’s perfectly OK to serve yourself first at your own picnic – as long as no one else is around to see it.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person – Guide & Calculator

Affiliate links are used in this piece of content. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page, we may get a commission at no additional cost to you as a result of your transaction. Any smoker will tell you that the most important thing to do while smoking pork shoulder (or any other sort of meat) is to concentrate entirely on the task at hand: smoking a superb pork shoulder. The last thing you need is to be mentally adding and subtracting numbers and second guessing yourself about whether or not you prepared enough food to feed your guests on your special day.

We also offer a helpful pulled pork per person calculator that you can use to estimate how much pulled pork you will need.

Pulled Pork Per Person Calculator

When calculating how much pulled pork per person you will need to purchase, there are two fundamental rules that you must keep in mind. The first concept is that, on average, you should count on 1/3 pound of cooked pulled pork per person while preparing pulled pork. In other words, one pound of pulled pork may usually provide enough food for three persons. It goes without saying that this amount will vary depending on how hungry your visitors are, whether or not you have children, and what you’re serving alongside the pulled pork.

To grasp the second premise, one must first realize that cooked pork weighs less than raw pork.

Water and other liquids are drawn out of the pig throughout the cooking process, resulting in a finished product that is substantially lighter than the pork was when it was first prepared.

Keeping all of these criteria in mind, the following is the method for determining how much pulled pork to serve per person: (1/3) x 2 = Amount of Raw Pork You Should Purchase (based on the number of guests).

You would multiply the number of visitors you have by a third (or divide by 3). As a result, your ultimate aim should be 4 pounds of cooked pulled pork. When you multiply 4 lbs of cooked pulled pork by 2, you get 8 lbs of raw pork that you need purchase.

Considerations To Be Mindful Of

In the vast majority of cases, the formulae and ideas outlined above will be completely effective. However, there are a few factors that you should take into mind while performing your calculations. It may be necessary to change the amount of pulled pork per person that you prepare from time to time in order to satisfy your diners’ preferences.

Time of Day

If your smoked BBQ feast is served at lunch or dinner, please specify. For the most part, lunch portions are smaller than dinner amounts – so if you’re serving your pulled pork at lunch, you might want to reduce the amount of cooked pulled pork you serve each person to 1/4 pound instead of 1/3 pound, or even less.

Type of Event

Additionally, the location of your barbeque is really important! Are you preparing a meal for a formal dinner or a barbeque by the pool? Whenever you prepare a meal for a sit-down supper, people tend to eat more and go back for seconds if they have room in their bellies. According to my observations, if your barbeque takes place in a more dynamic location, such as a pool party or a tailgate, you may find that you have a reduced requirement for the amount of food per participant. Because individuals are up and moving around, they are more likely to err on the side of caution when it comes to overindulging in food.

  • Is it only pork, or are you also cooking burgers or smoking other forms of meat to accompany it?
  • If your visitors have a large number of alternatives to pick from, you may want to consider reducing the overall amount of each type of food you provide.
  • Is it sandwiches or tacos that you’re serving?
  • If you’re serving pulled pork with a variety of delectable sides, you probably won’t need to prepare a mountain of pork for your guests to devour.

How About the Kiddos?

The location of your barbeque is also quite important. Prepare a formal meal or an informal barbeque by the poolside, depending on your guests’ preferences. Whenever you prepare a meal for a sit-down supper, people tend to eat more and go back for seconds if they have the space. I have found that when your barbeque is in a more dynamic situation, such as a pool party or a tailgate, you will have a reduced requirement for the amount of food per participant, according to my observations. With everyone up and moving around, people tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to consuming too much food at a time.

Is it only pork, or are you also cooking burgers and smoking other forms of meat to accompany it?

If your visitors have a large number of alternatives to pick from, you may want to consider reducing the total amount of each type of food you provide.

Is it sandwiches or tacos that you’re putting out? Is it a fully loaded BBQ plate with potato salad, coleslaw and baked beans, or anything else? There’s no need to prepare a mountain of pulled pork for your visitors if you have a variety of great side dishes that will complement the pig.

When in Doubt… Leftovers Aren’t A Bad Thing

You should always prepare a little extra pulled pork than you think you’ll need per person if you’re ever in question about how much to cook for a party. One of the best things about pork shoulder is that it’s a very inexpensive cut of meat, so buying an additional pound or two will only cost you a few extra dollars in the long run. In addition, pulled pork makes for some extremely tasty leftovers the next day. I guarantee that you’ll be able to come up with delicious ways to use up your leftovers, whether it’s tacos, BBQ pizza, or sandwiches with pickles and a little onion on the side.

Visit that website for ideas, methods, and anything else you need to know about maximizing the use of your BBQ leftovers after the party is finished.

Storing Leftover Pulled Pork

To conclude on a positive note, it’s critical to understand how to properly and safely store any leftovers you may have. When it comes to excellent leftovers and keeping the flavor of your pulled pork, proper storage is essential. Take a container that can be sealed and kept airtight, such as a plastic freezer bag. Place your leftovers in the container, being sure to pour in any extra fluids that have accumulated in the serving pan during cooking. Because the fluids are essential for retaining moisture and effectively reheating your leftover BBQ, it is important to keep them in the fridge.

It is recommended that you consume your food within 48 hours if it has been chilled to guarantee that it is safe to eat.

After three months, the flavor of your frozen food will begin to diminish as a result of the dreaded freezer burn.

Final Thoughts

This advice on how much food you should anticipate preparing for your guests should hopefully have clarified the air for you! Finally, deciding on the appropriate amount requires a combination of art and science. There are a few broad guidelines to follow, and generally speaking, a third of a pound of cooked pulled pork per person is plenty. However, depending on your audience and the environment, you may need to adjust this number up or down. And, just in case we’ve put the wagon before the horse here, if you want to understand the principles of pulled pork, check out our article on how to pull pork next.

Please share your thoughts with us in the comments area.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person (With Calculator)

In the summer, there’s nothing better than a backyard barbecue. While hamburgers and hotdogs are still popular choices for a barbecue lunch, pulled pork has become more popular as well. Do you still not believe us? Try yelling “pulled pork” and see how many people come running to your BBQ to have a taste of it for themselves. Pulled pork is a crowd-pleasing dish that provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your BBQ talents. While we’re on the subject, when it comes to pulled pork, there’s nothing else that compares in terms of both appearance and flavor.

Oh, my goodness!

Take our word for it when we say that if pulled pork appears on the menu, it will not be there for long.

Hosts are frequently confronted with the challenge of determining how much food will be acceptable for a given occasion.

Having enough is a constant battle; either you don’t have enough and run out before everyone has had their fill, or you have a ton of leftovers to deal with. It’s not a bad thing to have some leftover pulled pork, but you don’t want to end up with 10 pounds of leftovers.

But How Much Pulled Pork Per Person?

If you are having difficulty determining the quantity, you have arrived to the correct location. In this post, we’ll talk about a pulled pork calculator, or, to put it another way, we’ll put out a set of detailed recommendations for making pulled pork. These will assist a dissatisfied host in determining how much raw pork to purchase for their upcoming outdoor gathering. Essentially, the guideline is comprised on two really straightforward rules:

Rule1

Consider the following scenario: you need to prepare one pound of prepared pulled pork to feed three people. As a result, one-third of a pound, or around five ounces, is sufficient per person.

Rule2

When it comes to cooking the pork, you should expect around half of the output. Example: If you are cooking a 20-pound piece of raw pork, you will finish up with 10 pounds of pulled pork that is already prepared and ready for serving. In accordance with this guideline, you may determine how much raw pork you require using a very simple formula, which is detailed in the following section: The number of guests multiplied by the number of servings per pound is the amount of pulled pork you’ll need to prepare (in pounds).

We realize how perplexing things must appear to you at the moment.

As a result, I’ve provided you with a sample computation so that you may put things into perspective and begin to make sense of things.

Sample Calculation For Pulled Pork Servings

The number of visitors you expect to arrive is 60 people. 60 persons x 3 meals per pound = 20 pounds of pulled pork that has been made. You’ll need 40 pounds of raw pork for every 20 pounds of cooked pulled pork you have. Briefly stated, you’ll need around 40 pounds of uncooked pork to adequately feed 60 people.

Here Is A Handy Calculator To Help You With The Math

To be sure, this may be a very useful formula to have on hand, but you must also consider a variety of other elements before arriving at final numbers.

Age Group and Gender

It’s true that various age groups have diverse food preferences. Teenagers have a tendency to drink more, but a group of elderly men would consume less. Similarly, children will consume far less than adults. Men, on the other hand, often consume significantly more than women. Additionally, we would recommend that you take into consideration the occupations of your visitors as well. For example, a group of athletes may have a greater hunger than a group of individuals who work in an office environment.

Type Of Occasion

The cuisine and the amount of food you serve are totally dependent on the occasion you’re entertaining. If we may inquire, is this a children’s party that you’re throwing? Is it a social gathering, or, as we already indicated, an outside celebration of some sort? Things would be different if it was simply a normal get-together to which you invited your neighbors and friends to spend Sunday night with you and them. To summarize, you must first determine the nature of the event for which you intend to prepare food because different occasions necessitate different sorts of meal preparation.

Furthermore, it should be noted that sit-down dinners necessitate the provision of more food on the table than stand-up socials and events.

Time Of The Day

We are confident that you are aware of the fact that the majority of individuals consume more meat during supper. As a result, you may want to give careful consideration to the time of day before beginning your meal planning. It is likely that you will need to allot around 5 to 6 ounces of pulled pork per person if you are hosting an afternoon or evening party, and approximately 7 to 8 ounces of pulled pork per person if you are hosting a dinner party.

Style Of Dish You’re Serving

If the pulled pork is given as a complementary side dish, such as with a salad, the amount of pulled pork required for sandwiches will obviously be different than that required for sandwiches. If, on the other hand, you choose a buffet, we recommend that you be a little more liberal with your portions. This is due to the fact that buffets are difficult to plan, and you can never be certain how much meat each visitor will get to consume. We believe it is preferable to have leftovers than to have guests leave with half-empty stomachs, don’t you?

See also:  How Many Minute Does It Take To Freeze French Fries?

How To Store Pulled Pork Leftovers

If the pulled pork is served as a complementary side dish, such as with a salad, the amount of pulled pork required for sandwiches will clearly be different. If you choose a buffet, however, we recommend that you be a little more liberal with your portions. In part, this is due to the fact that buffets are difficult to plan and you can never be certain how much meat each visitor will consume. In this case we believe that leftovers are preferred to having guests leave with half-empty stomachs, don’t we?

Quick Tips To Make Your Pulled Pork Better

Make careful to brine the pork shoulder the night before your gathering. While you are cooking it, it will retain more moisture as a result of this. A pork shoulder is a huge piece of meat that requires a significant amount of time to properly prepare. As a result, be certain that you take this into consideration. It might take anywhere from 10 to 12 hours to cook, depending on how much weight is involved. The general rule of thumb is that one pound of beef should be cooked for 90 minutes. If you don’t have that much time, you might want to try utilizing thetexas crutch to reduce the amount of time spent cooking.

It is intended to be cooked at a low and moderate temperature.

Before serving pulled pork, one last consideration should be made: make sure it is at room temperature before serving.

You must heat the shoulder to at least 200 degrees before you begin to shred it since the shoulder has a lot of connective tissue.

How Much Pulled Pork For A Crowd (5-100+ People)

It’s time to call a halt to the games. It is entirely up to you and you alone to prepare meals for these folks. Your pulled pork will determine the fate of their stomaches. There is nothing more frustrating than not having enough food to serve your visitors! Prepare enough pulled pork to feed a party of any size with this one and only recipe guideline.

The ratio does not change when there are 5, 10, 25, 50, or 100 persons or more present. Listed here are the serving sizes for pulled pork, as well as everything else you’ll need to consider to ensure that there is enough food for everyone.

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person

When it comes to cooking pulled pork for a large group of people, the most crucial guideline is to know how much raw pork to purchase. This is due to the fact that raw pork shoulder loses around 30-40 percent of its weight throughout the cooking process, with the amount fluctuating somewhat depending on whether you are purchasing bone-in or boneless. Because to the melting of the fat and the evaporation and dehydration of the meat during the cooking process, this occurs. Keep in mind that you frequently add some liquid back during the pulling step, such as apple juice or barbecue sauce.

For safety’s sake, you’ll want to start with 1 pound of raw pork per person, allowing for second-serves and leftovers, and end up with at least half a pound of cooked pulled pork.

As a result, you’ll need around 0.66 pounds of raw pork per person in order to produce one-third of a pound of cooked shredded pork.

How Much Pulled Pork For 5 People?

It is essential that you know how much fresh raw pork to purchase when cooking pulled pork for a large group of people. The reason for this is that raw pork shoulder loses around 30-40 percent of its weight when cooking, with the amount variable depending on whether the pork shoulder is bone-in or not. Because to the melting of the fat and the evaporation and dehydration of the meat during the cooking process, this happens. Keep in mind that you frequently add some liquid back during the pulling stage, such as apple juice or BBQ sauce.

For safety’s sake, you’ll want to start with 1 pound of raw pork per person and work your way up to at least half a pound of cooked pulled pork.

You should serve one-third of a pound of cooked pulled pork per person when serving pulled pork with three or more sides.

We’ve made it as straightforward and straightforward as possible here to make it easier for you.

  • If you’re serving 1-3 sides, you’ll need 5 pounds of raw pork to serve at least 2.5 pounds of cooked pulled pork each person (for a total of 5 people). With three or more sides: A total of 3.33 pounds of raw pork will provide at least 1.66 pounds of cooked pulled pork for a group of five persons.

How Much Pulled Pork For 10 People?

If you’re cooking for a group of 10 people, make sure you have the following ingredients on hand:

  • With 1-3 Sides:10 Pounds of Raw Pork (enough to serve at least 5 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork for 10 people)
  • 10 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork (enough to serve at least 5 people)
  • 10 Pounds of Cooked Pulled With three or more sides: For 10 people, you’ll need 6.66 pounds of raw pork, which will yield at least 3.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork.

How Much Pulled Pork For 25 People?

Prepare the following to ensure that you have enough pulled pork to feed all 25 of your guests:

  • With 1-3 Sides: 25 Pounds of Raw Pork to serve at least 12.5 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork for 25 people
  • With 3+ Sides: 25 Pounds of Raw Pork to serve at least 12.5 Pounds of Cooked Pulled Pork for 25 people
  • With 3+ Sides: 25 Po For 25 people, you’ll need 16.66 pounds of raw pork, which will yield at least 8.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork.

How Much Pulled Pork For 50 People?

If you’re making pulled pork for 50 people, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • With 1-3 Sides, the following is possible: To serve at least 25 pounds of cooked pulled pork for every 50 guests, you’ll need 50 pounds of raw pork and three or more sides. A total of 33.33 pounds of raw pork is required to feed at least 16.66 pounds of cooked pulled pork to serve 50 persons.

How Much Pulled Pork For 100 People?

In the event that you’re preparing food for an occasion, a party, or the entire neighborhood, you’ll want to make certain that the quantities are accurate. You’ll need the following supplies:

  • 1-3 sides: 100 pounds of raw pork to serve at least 50 pounds of cooked pulled pork for 100 people
  • 3+ sides: 66.6 pounds of raw pork to serve at least 33.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork for 100 people
  • 4+ sides: 100 pounds of raw pork to serve at least 50 pounds of cooked pulled pork for 100 people

How Much Pulled Pork Per Person For Sliders?

Nothing is more deplorable than a slider that is light on the meat. If you’re serving pulled pork sliders, don’t skimp on the meat that will be the star of the meal. As a general rule of thumb, you should still prepare 13 pounds of cooked pulled pork per person, but you should divide the amount according to how many sliders each visitor will be eating. 0.1 pound of pulled pork each slider for little pulled pork sliders: For those bite-sized flavor bombs of pulled pork, you’ll want to stuff them with 0.1 pound of pulled pork per slider.

It’s need to prepare 0.66 pounds of raw pork in order to generate 0.33 pounds of pulled pork, which will provide enough for 3 sliders per person to be served.

It is reasonable to anticipate that visitors will have 2 sliders apiece for this size slider, depending on the number of additional sides and meals provided.

Large Pulled Pork Sliders: For each large pulled pork sandwich, you’ll need 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork, which is equal to 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork.

As a rule of thumb, if you’re serving your slider as the centerpiece of the meal, you’ll only need one bigger slider per person. To produce 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork for each visitor, you will need 0.66 pounds of raw pork and 0.33 pounds of cooked pulled pork.

Which Cut Of Pork To Use For Pulled Pork

Despite the fact that you may make pulled pork from parts such as hog leg or pork neck, the classic and most popular cuts come from the pork shoulder. It is a huge cut of pork that contains both the upper blade shoulder and the lower arm shoulder. It is also known as the pig shoulder roast. The full pork shoulder for your barbeque may be available for purchase if you find the correct butcher. Most butchers, on the other hand, sell the top and bottom of the shoulder as distinct items. Hog butt, also known as Boston butt, is the top of the pork shoulder that is soft, flavorful, and marbled with fat, making it ideal for making pulled pork.

Both portions of the shoulder yield a significant amount of pulled pork, with weight only reducing by 30-40 percent throughout the course of the cooking process.

Just make sure to use the same piece of meat each time if you’re cooking many cuts; otherwise, some may come out soft while others will result in tough pulled pork.

Serving Pulled Pork For A Crowd: Considerations

The remainder of the menu has a significant impact on the amount of pork that you will need to prepare the dish. In the event that you’re serving a lot of sides, you might want to scale down the recipe, or scale it up if the pulled pork is the main attraction. Remember to take into consideration the following items, depending on what else you’re serving:

  • Side Dishes that are starchy and full: Fries, garlic bread, and other filling sides will make your guests less likely to return for second helpings. Is There Any Other Meat on the Menu: It is likely that not everyone will have a portion of pulled pork because you are providing other meat alternatives such as hot dogs, burgers, and brisket for them. Leaving Out the Sides: If you’re only providing pulled pork as the main attraction, be sure to maximize your pork output so that everyone has plenty to eat. If you are providing dessert, even if you do not have many sides, you may want to reduce or regulate the amount of pulled pork you serve so that your visitors have space for dessert.

If you’re offering pulled pork in the morning, your visitors won’t be in the mood for a substantial dinner. They may be a bit more hungry for lunch, and if you offer pulled pork in the evening, your visitors will be in the mood for a hefty supper as well. Make use of this information when determining how much pulled pork to serve a large group. You should expect your guests to consume less food when you throw a casual BBQ rather than a formal dinner or while a big sporting event is taking place.

A sit-down meal attracts guests who are there to eat, which means you’ll need to serve extra pulled pork and sides to keep everyone satisfied.

As a result, you may wish to arrange a large order at the butcher shop to ensure that you have enough meat for all of your visitors.

Depending on whether you’re hosting a BBQ for your grandmother’s reading group, you might want to rethink your portion amounts.

If it’s meals for a sports team, on the other hand, they’ll all be hungry after working out and spending the entire day in the sunshine. Keep in mind that if you’re serving youngsters instead of adults, you’ll need to use less meat per person.

Allow for Second Servings

Consider the amount of pork you will need to serve each visitor, as well as the number of other sides you will be offering. Now, add a little wiggle room to accommodate for the possibility of your visitors returning for a second helping! It is true that not everyone returns for seconds, but because some individuals consume more than others, the situation eventually balances itself out. Others will pack a plate “for the road” or stock up on leftovers for the next day’s lunch. If you provide enough meat for people to enjoy two or three meals from your barbeque, it will be much more memorable for everyone involved.

How To Keep Pulled Pork Warm When Cooking For Crowds

Keeping your pulled pork warm can prevent it from becoming dry and chewy, or even worse, from being spoiled. When preparing for a large group of people, loading your pulled pork into a crockpot and turning it on low is the most convenient and dependable means of keeping your pulled pork warm. If you like, you can either divide it out yourself or have visitors come over and get it right out of the crockpot themselves. It is important to store pulled pork at a safe temperature in order to avoid bacterial development and to ensure that the meat remains hot and tender.

Another simple solution is to store your pork in a cooler and wrap it in aluminum foil before wrapping it in a towel.

Make careful to wrap the tinfoil-wrapped meat in clean cloths before cooking it for added protection and insulation.

How To Store Pulled Pork Leftovers

Depending on how long you intend to keep your pulled pork leftovers, I would suggest one of the three options listed below. Temperature in the room: Wrap the pulled pork in tinfoil and lay it in a cooler, then cover it with blankets, to keep it at room temperature for several days. This approach will not keep your beef warm eternally, so don’t plan on storing it in the cooler for more than a couple of hours at most. Check the temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer to ensure it remains safe.

This procedure will keep your meat fresh for a few days after it has been cooked.

Roasted or smoked pulled pig flesh will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days if stored properly.

If at all possible, vacuum seal the bag to keep bacteria from growing and freezer burn from occurring.

Keep the pulled pork in the freezer until you’re ready to eat it, then defrost it when you’re ready to serve it. You can keep pulled pork in the freezer for up to six months (or longer), but the quality will deteriorate over time, and I recommend eating it within three months of freezing it.

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