Parties & drinks
How much ham per person? A handy guide
How many grams of Spanish ham per person for drinks, a party or as a starter? With a table for 10, 20 and 50 guests and how much a whole ham yields.
By Ibéricos Anjoreta · Updated on
Whether it is a birthday, office drinks or a Christmas dinner, the question is always how much ham to buy. Too little is a pity, too much as well. With these rules of thumb you will get it right.
Rules of thumb per person
| Occasion | Grams per person |
|---|---|
| Drinks with other snacks | 30 – 50 g |
| Drinks with ham as the star | 60 – 80 g |
| Starter | 50 – 70 g |
| Walking dinner or buffet built around ham | 80 – 100 g |
Ibérico ham is rich and filling, so you need less than you think, especially with bellota.
Worked examples
| Guests | Drinks with snacks (40 g pp) | Ham as the star (70 g pp) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | approx. 400 g | approx. 700 g |
| 20 | approx. 800 g | approx. 1.4 kg |
| 50 | approx. 2 kg | approx. 3.5 kg |
How much does a whole ham yield?
A whole ham also has bone, rind and fat you do not eat. As a guide:
- Ham (jamón) of 7 to 8 kilos: about 3.5 to 4 kilos of sliceable meat, enough for 50 to 100 people as a snack.
- Shoulder (paleta) of 4.5 to 5 kilos: about 1.5 to 2 kilos of sliceable meat.
The exact yield depends on the ham and on how well it is carved.
Sliced or a whole ham?
Sliced ham is ideal if you have no carving experience: open the pack and serve. Nothing goes to waste and you can easily mix qualities, for example cebo for the crowd and a few packs of bellota as the highlight.
A whole ham is a real eye-catcher at a party. You do need a stand, a long flexible knife and someone who can carve, and the ham then needs to be finished within weeks.
Tips
- Serve at room temperature: take sliced ham out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes in advance.
- Lay the slices side by side, not in a pile.
- Add sheep’s cheese, olives and bread with olive oil.
Organising something for your company? See our Christmas and corporate hampers.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams of ham per person for drinks?
Allow 30 to 50 grams per person if there are other snacks. If the ham is the main attraction, allow 60 to 80 grams per person.
How much meat is there on a whole ham?
A whole ham of 7 to 8 kilos yields roughly half in sliceable meat, about 3.5 to 4 kilos. A shoulder (paleta) of 4.5 to 5 kilos yields about 1.5 to 2 kilos.
Is a whole ham or sliced ham easier for a party?
Sliced ham is ready to serve and nothing goes to waste. A whole ham is an eye-catcher, but you need a stand, a good knife and someone who can carve.