Whenever you plan to serve a big pork dish like a ham for Easter or Christmas dinner, you are faced with a lot of questions. Where should I buy the ham? What kind of ham should I buy? Should it be bone-in or boneless? How much ham should I give each person? It’s likely that your holiday meal has been a little smaller lately, but small get-togethers with family and friends are beginning to return to normal. These questions are just as important when you’re cooking for three people as they were when you were cooking for twenty. It can be stressful to have a lot of family and friends over, and the costs of food, wine, and decorations can add up quickly. We don’t want you to spend more than you have to, so let’s figure out how many pounds of ground or boned ham each guest will need. From Our Shop.
Sandwiches are a quick, easy, and delicious meal for any time of day. Whether you’re packing school lunches, feeding a crowd at a party, or just making a sandwich for yourself, having the right amount of ingredients is key. One of the most popular sandwich fillings is sliced ham. But how much ham per person do you really need when making sandwiches? Here is a complete guide to help you figure out the ideal ham servings.
Factors That Determine How Much Ham You Need
There are several factors that influence how much ham you’ll need per sandwich
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Type of Ham – Ham can be purchased bone-in or boneless. In general, boneless ham will require less per serving compared to bone-in since you’re not paying for the extra weight of the bone Ham off the bone tends to be the best choice for sandwiches.
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Sandwich Size – Obviously, the dimensions of your sandwich impact how much ham is needed Small tea sandwiches require less ham than a large sub-style sandwich
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Appetites – Are you feeding hearty eaters or those with lighter appetites? Hungrier people may want more ham per sandwich than dainty eaters.
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Leftovers – Will you have side dishes or be serving a full meal? If so, you may need slightly less ham per sandwich.
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Add-Ons – Will you add cheese, veggies, condiments? These extras can make a sandwich more filling so less meat may be needed.
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Budget – Ham can be pricey, so the cost per pound might determine how generous you can be with servings.
Handy Serving Size Guidelines Per Person
Here are some general serving size guidelines to follow for ham sandwiches:
- Boneless Ham – 1/3 pound per person
- Bone-In Ham – 1/2 pound per person
- Deli Ham – 2-3 ounces per sandwich
For deli ham, you’ll get about 4-6 slices per sandwich from 1/3 pound. For boneless ham, plan for a 1/3 pound serving size. If you have bone-in ham, allow 1/2 pound per person to accommodate the bone.
Here’s a simple serving size chart:
| Type of Ham | Serving Size Per Person |
|---|---|
| Boneless Ham | 1/3 pound |
| Bone-In Ham | 1/2 pound |
| Deli Ham | 2-3 ounces per sandwich |
Of course, serving sizes can be adjusted up or down based on your specific sandwich needs. It’s always better to have extra than run out!
Tips for Buying and Storing Ham
When purchasing ham for sandwiches, keep these tips in mind:
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For freshness, buy ham and deli meats at the end of your grocery trip. This reduces time at unsafe temperatures.
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Inspect packaging carefully for leaks that could contaminate other food. Discard any compromised packages.
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Refrigerate ham promptly after purchasing. Store bone-in ham in original wrap for 5-7 days max. Store sliced ham and deli meats in airtight containers or bags.
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For freezing deli meat, use airtight freezer bags or containers in 1 pound portions. Place paper towels inside packages to absorb moisture during thawing.
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Don’t overbuy deli meats on sale. Only purchase what will reasonably be eaten within 1-2 days. Give meats a sniff test before purchasing.
Proper storage keeps your ham fresh and safe for sandwich making!
Serving Ideas for Ham Sandwiches
Once you’ve determined how much ham you need, get creative with sandwich combinations! Here are some ham sandwich recipes to try:
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Classic ham and cheese with lettuce, tomato, mustard
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Honey ham, havarti cheese, and peach jam
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Ham, salami, and provolone panini
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Breakfast sandwich with ham, fried egg, and cheese
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Ham salad sandwich – diced ham, mayo, onions, celery
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Grilled ham and cheese
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Ham, pineapple, and teriyaki sauce
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Ham, avocado, sprouts, and pesto mayo
Mix and match ham with cheeses, veggies, fruits, spreads, and other ingredients for easy yet delicious sandwiches. Get the kids involved in creating their own signature ham sandwich creations!
Vegetarian and Vegan Ham Alternatives
For those avoiding meat, there are many options for vegetarian and vegan “ham” sandwiches:
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Meatless deli slices like Yves or Tofurky
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Grilled eggplant or portobello mushrooms
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Hummus, avocado, or nut spreads for creaminess
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Watermelon “ham” with smoky spices
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Seitan or tempeh roasts can mimic ham flavor and texture
With all the meat-free products now available, vegetarians don’t have to miss out on ham sandwich flavors. Explore plant-based ingredients like jackfruit, hearts of palm, beets, and more to craft tasty faux-ham sandwiches.
So now you know precisely how much ham per person you need when making sandwiches. For boneless ham, plan for 1/3 pound per serving. Bone-in ham needs a 1/2 pound allotment per guest. Follow proper storage methods, get creative with combinations, and enjoy delicious ham sandwiches without worrying about shortages!
Okay, so how the heck do I cook ham?
If you want to start from scratch, try the glazed ham recipe from Your Best Baked Ham contest winner Kayb. If you want to start from a lower level, try Food Editor Emma Laperruque’s apricot and Dijon-glazed spiral ham (aka precooked!) recipe.
To be honest, I like sliced ham on a plate, but it won’t make me leave the appetizers. A ham sandwich bar, on the other hand, absolutely will. For one of the best sandwiches since the PB&J, put out potato buns, pickles, mayo, Swiss cheese, apricot or strawberry jam (yes, jam on ham! go for it!), and a pile of sliced ham.
to cook or not to cook
Some cured hams, like the very thin slices of Italian prosciutto you’d put on a sandwich, can be eaten as soon as they come out of the package. Same goes for some of the big guys, too. D’Artagnan, a meat company, makes a smoked, bone-in ham half that is fully cooked and “can be served cold, at room temperature, or heated, with or without glaze.” “But I still think you should wrap the ham in foil and cook it in the oven at 300°F until a thermometer reads 140°F. Yes, pre-cooked hams are easier for people who aren’t very good at cooking or who are busy, but you can’t choose how sweet or salty they will taste. For two winning recipes, read on.
How much Honey Baked Ham is needed per person?
FAQ
How many pounds of ham per person for sandwiches?
How many will a 5 pound ham feed?
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Number of People
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Amount of Boneless Ham
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6 – 8
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3 – 4 lbs
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8 – 10
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4 – 5 lbs
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10 – 12
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5 – 6 lbs
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15 – 20
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8 – 10 lbs
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How much ham do I need for 10 adults?
How much spiral ham for 20 people?
How much Ham do you need for a ham sandwich?
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. Next, think about the size of the sandwich you’ll be making. If you’re making smaller sandwiches, such as finger sandwiches, you may need less ham per person than if you’re making larger sandwiches.
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 much Ham should a dinner party eat?
If your dinner party prefers country ham, you’ll likely need a smaller amount, because the ham’s saltiness and intensity will keep your guests’ portions on the smaller side. We recommend 1/4 to 1/3 pounds per person at most, though you can round up slightly for a bone-in ham.
How much deli meat do you need for a sandwich?
Depends on the sandwich size, typically 5 or 6 ounces per sandwich, thus 50 sandwiches can be made with either 16 pounds to 19 pounds of meat. How much sandwich meat for 12 sandwiches? The amount of meat you need to order is basically just simple math. If you need 12 servings of deli meat, you’re going to need 4 and a half pounds.