Wondering how much a ham weighs or how many people a ham will serve? With so many types and sizes of hams available, it can get confusing Here’s a guide to help you understand ham weights and servings.
Typical Ham Weights
The weight of a ham can vary greatly depending on the cut and whether it has the bone in or is boneless Here are some typical ham weights
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Whole bone-in ham: These usually range from 10 to 20 pounds. A 19 pound average weight whole bone-in ham serves 30-40 people.
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Half bone-in ham (butt or shank end): Approximately 8-10 pounds. A 9 pound half ham serves 15-20.
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Spiral sliced bone-in ham: Around 10-14 pounds. A 12 pound spiral ham serves 20.
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Whole boneless ham: Usually 5-8 pounds. A 6.7 pound average weight boneless ham serves 25.
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Half boneless ham: 3-4 pounds. A 3.5 pound half boneless ham serves 10.
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Boneless ham steak Around 1 pound. Serves 3-4.
So generally, bone-in hams are larger and serve more than boneless. Whole hams weigh and serve more than half hams.
Serving Size from a Ham
As a general guideline, plan on 3/4 pound of boneless cooked ham per person, or 1/2 pound bone-in cooked ham per person.
So for example, a 12 pound cooked spiral sliced bone-in ham would serve approximately 20 people (12 pounds x 0.5 pound per serving = 24 servings).
An 8 pound cooked boneless ham would serve around 16 (8 pounds x 0.75 pound per serving = 16 servings).
However, serving size can vary based on the size of the ham pieces and appetites. Thinly sliced ham will provide more servings per pound than thicker ham slices. Those with heartier appetites may consume closer to 1 pound per person.
Buying the Right Size Ham
When selecting a ham, think about how many people you need to serve and whether you prefer bone-in or boneless.
For a smaller gathering of 8-15 people, a half bone-in ham or smaller boneless ham works well.
For larger parties of 16-40 people, a whole bone-in or larger boneless ham is a better choice.
You also want to take into account whether your gathering will include big eaters with hearty appetites. In that case, it’s smart to size up to a larger ham.
Here are some ham size recommendations based on the number of servings needed:
- 8-12 servings: 5-7 lb boneless ham or half bone-in ham
- 15-25 servings: 7-9 lb boneless ham or 10-12 lb bone-in spiral ham
- 30-40 servings: 16-20 lb whole bone-in ham
While ham sizes and serving recommendations provide a helpful starting point, it’s always wise to err on the side of having leftovers rather than not having enough. Sliced ham makes tasty sandwiches, omelets, salads, and more after the main event.
Check the Packaging
When purchasing a ham, check the packaging for serving information specific to that brand and cut of ham. Manufacturers often provide details like:
- Total ham weight before and after cooking
- Number of recommended servings
- Serving size they recommend per person
This takes the guesswork out and makes it easier to pick the perfect size ham for your purposes.
Plan for Leftovers
Even if you carefully calculate the right amount of ham for your party, leftovers are likely. Fortunately, cooked ham stays fresh for 3-5 days refrigerated. And it’s versatile for using in other dishes.
Here are some tasty ways to use up leftover ham:
- Ham sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, and mustard.
- Dice and add to omelets or egg scrambles.
- Chopped ham in pasta salads, green salads, or soups.
- Ham fried rice or ham and bean soup.
- Paninis with ham, cheese, tomato, and pesto.
- Ham and potato hash or casserole.
With proper storage, cooked ham can be frozen for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using in your favorite recipes.
Bone-In vs. Boneless Ham
Bone-in hams often have more flavor but boneless hams are easier to carve and serve. Boneless hams are a great choice for gatherings with a mix of ages, since the meat is easier to chew. For those who prefer the bone-in taste, spiral sliced hams offer simplicity of serving.
City Hams vs. Country Hams
City hams are brined and lightly smoked, with a milder flavor. Country hams are dry cured and smoked, with a robust salty taste. City hams are more commonly served at large gatherings and holiday meals.
Fresh vs. Cured Ham
Fresh hams are raw pork leg and require cooking. Cured hams are injected with brine or dry rubbed with salt. Most hams in stores are cured and ready to heat and eat.
Raw Weight vs. Cooked Weight
Hams are sold both raw and pre-cooked. Raw weight is always higher than cooked weight. For example, a 19 lb raw ham weighs around 13 lb after cooking. Check packaging so you know if weight listed is for raw or cooked.
The Takeaway
- For a crowd, choose a big 15-20 lb whole bone-in ham.
- Smaller boneless hams around 5-8 lbs are good for fewer guests.
- Allow 3/4 lb boneless ham or 1/2 lb bone-in ham per person.
- Check packaging for size, weight, serving facts.
- Plan leftovers – ham keeps and has many uses.
- City hams are mildly cured while country hams are robustly salty.
Knowing typical ham weights and serving sizes takes the guesswork out of buying the perfect amount of ham for your holiday meal or special event. With the right size ham, you can feed a crowd without an overabundance of pricey leftovers.
More Questions About Ham
CAN HAM BE FROZEN? To my taste, ham does not freeze well. It “can” be frozen, but when it thaws, it seems too wet and soggy, like the meat has broken down a bit. I don’t slice ham for sandwiches or salads when I freeze it. Instead, I use small amounts of it in soup and other dishes.
Good News! Much to my surprise, frozen ham makes excellent Ham Salad!
IS a CURED HAM ALREADY COOKED? Usually but not always. Check the package or ask the butcher.
IS A SMOKED HAM ALREADY COOKED? Yes.
HOW LONG DOES A SMOKED HAM LAST? When I bought my first smoked ham, I thought it would last a few weeks in the fridge because it was already cooked and smoked. WRONG.
It was already smoked for flavoring and cooked at the same time but it was not preserved. Like any other fresh meat, smoked ham should be cooked within a day or two of being bought. Any leftovers should also be eaten within a few days.
What is Ham? The Basic Cut, the Meat Itself
At its most basic level, a “ham” is a cut of pork, not how it’s braised or cooked. Since hams are made from the back thigh or rump of pigs, each animal only has two. Imagine where the “hams” are at the top of your own legs, it’s the same.
WHOLE HAM: The “butt” end and the “shank” end are both part of a whole ham, which weighs about 18 to 20 pounds. The “butt end” is the upper part of the ham, more “rump” and thus more fatty. The “shank end” is the lower end, more leg and less fatty. The shank end has just one bone so is easier to slice. A nine-pound bone-in, shank-end ham gave me almost eight pounds of cooked ham meat when I cooked half a ham not long ago. Some hams still have a thick layer of fat on the outside; this is what is scored in diamond shapes to make the ham look nice when it’s done baking and on the table. Other producers only leave a thin layer of fat, but that’s still enough for scoring.
PICNIC HAM: The smoked front shoulders of a pig are sometimes called “picnic hams,” but they’re not really ham cuts; they’re just pork shoulders that have been cured in a ham-like way.
HAM STEAKS – Ham steaks are slices of a cured ham, sold pre-sliced for easy cooking.
BREAKFAST HAM – A breakfast ham is a ham steak, just the most tender center section.
HICK: The hock is the ankle of the pig. The trotters are the slightly meaty part above the feet, and the hock is the joint between the trotters and the hams (in the back legs) and the picnic hams (in the front legs). A ham hock is usually sold fully cooked.
How Much Weight Does a Ham Lose While Aging?
FAQ
What is the average weight of a ham?
How many pounds is a precooked ham?
Is a 10 pound ham enough for 12 people?
What is the normal size of a ham?
How much does a ham weigh?
Hams are available in various sizes, including whole hams, half hams, and spiral sliced hams. Whole hams typically range from 10 to 18 pounds, while half hams can weigh anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds. Spiral sliced hams usually weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. It’s important to keep in mind that bone-in hams will have a larger weight due to the bone.
How much does a ham bone weigh?
The bone in a whole ham can weigh anywhere from 6 to 8 pounds. – Half Ham: A half ham can come from either the shank end or the butt end of the ham. A half ham typically weighs between 5 to 10 pounds, with the bone accounting for around 2 to 4 pounds of that weight. – Spiral Sliced Ham: A bone-in spiral-cut ham can weigh between 7 to 10 pounds.
How much does a ham steak weigh?
Sizes and servings for ham steaks include: Ham slices in the deli are usually around 1⁄4 pound each, while packaged sliced ham for sandwiches is about 1/8 pound per slice. Ham portions or slices taken from a whole, bone-in ham usually weigh:
How much does a ham slice weigh?
Ham slices in the deli are usually around 1⁄4 pound each, while packaged sliced ham for sandwiches is about 1/8 pound per slice. Ham portions or slices taken from a whole, bone-in ham usually weigh: So you can see there’s a whole range of ham sizes to suit any occasion. Here are some quick rules of thumb: