How to estimate portion vs. meat needed?!?!?!

[wkahler]

We are trying to plan pulled pork for my father in laws 60th birthday and need to try and figure how much raw meat to cook in order to feed anywhere from 75-100 people.  We are not planning on doing large sandwiches mainly just little hawaiian rolls with a grab of meat on them.  I was figuring 1lbs per person but with smaller portions not sure and left overs are ok unless its like 20lbs of it LOL!!

[beefmann]

1 lb per person is a good way to go,,, also figure about 30% shrinkage when you  get done

[OU812]

1 lb per person is a good way to go,,, also figure about 30% shrinkage when you  get done

Thats 1 lb raw weight  ;D

[Piker]

I know a few caterers over the years some of them will do anything you want. The general estimate for them was 8 oz. of meat per person thats cooked. I always thought it was not enough but it you have lots of sides it usually is more than enough. If you order an 8 oz. steak and a baked potato it is lots for me and I have an average appetite. Thks Piker

[OU812]

1 lb raw butt will cook down to around 8 to 10 oz cooked butt

[beefmann]

1 lb per person is a good way to go,,, also figure about 30% shrinkage when you  get done

Thats 1 lb raw weight  ;D

1 lb raw

[Caneyscud]

On those small sammies - probably a third of a pound of cooked product per person.  1 lb raw pork will yield somewhere between less than 2/3 to 3/4 or a pound of final cooked product - depending if you start with a shoulder, bone-in butt, or boneless butt.  Obviously, the bone-in meats will yield less than the boneless - but not always (enhancement warning).  You will be safe to buying between 1/2 to 1 lb raw per person.  1/2 # should give you enough, but 1# will be sure and you'll have those great leftovers!

[Ka Honu]

I might as well give my version of the same answer that everyone else gave... 

     One pound of raw (boneless) butt will generally produce 8-10 ounces of product - enough for two average sandwiches (or three on dinner rolls). 

     For what you're serving, people will probably want two dinner roll sandwiches at about three ounces each so you'll want about 6 ounces pulled per person. 

     That comes to 12 ounces (3/4 pound) raw weight with a bit of wiggle room so if you're cooking for 80, you'll want 60 pounds raw or 75 pounds for 100.

     I generally start with a pound raw per person but I usually serve heavier eaters and want plenty of leftovers.


Hey Caney - Good to see (read) you.  Where you been?

[Caneyscud]

Here and there.  But mainly Wifey decided we needed to redo the house and got some added duties at work.  Plus wifey decided I needed to find her pics to look at on Pinterest - so got hooked doing that!.  Plus a couple of ministries opened up big time and putting some time into them until the end of April. 

[Smokeville]

We are trying to plan pulled pork for my father in laws 60th birthday and need to try and figure how much raw meat to cook in order to feed anywhere from 75-100 people.  We are not planning on doing large sandwiches mainly just little hawaiian rolls with a grab of meat on them.  I was figuring 1lbs per person but with smaller portions not sure and left overs are ok unless its like 20lbs of it LOL!!

I had to look up what a Hawaiian roll was and they look pretty good. Do they have a different flavour than a similar ordinary dinner roll?

I've used mini-pita pockets. They are about 2 inches or so in diameter. The neat thing is that when you take a bite, the good stuff doesn't squirt out the other side and also people can add their own sauce in the opening if they want sauce.

Have fun!!!  (I'm 62)

Rich

[Ka Honu]

I had to look up what a Hawaiian roll was and they look pretty good. Do they have a different flavour than a similar ordinary dinner roll?

"Hawaiian roll" had a different connotation back in the day and yes, they were good (but, then again, so was I, "back in the day.")

I'm pretty sure that what wkahler is talking about is a Hawaiian sweet bread dinner roll (which is close to identical to a Portuguese sweet bread dinner roll).  They have a sweeter taste than a "normal" dinner roll (go figger) and I rarely eat them, preferring to save my calories for protein and alcoholic beverages.  Other, less enlightened people, however, swear by them.