How Much Ham Per Person Calculator
Calculate how much ham to buy for dinner, holidays, or events with our free ham per person calculator. Get the perfect amount every time.
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How Much Ham Per Person: The Complete Guide
Whether you're planning a holiday dinner, a family gathering, or any special occasion, ham makes an impressive centerpiece. But determining the right amount to buy can be tricky. Our Ham Per Person Calculator helps you estimate the perfect quantity based on your specific needs.
Ham Serving Size Guidelines
The general rule of thumb for ham portions depends on several factors, including:
- Bone-in vs. boneless: Bone-in hams require larger portions per person to account for the bone weight.
- Main dish vs. buffet option: When ham is the star of the meal, you'll need more than if it's one of many options.
- Guest appetite: Consider your crowd - big eaters or light eaters?
- Desired leftovers: Many people intentionally buy extra ham for sandwiches and recipes in the following days.
Standard Ham Portions
Bone-in Ham
- Small portion: 3/4 lb per person
- Medium portion: 1 lb per person
- Large portion: 1.5 lbs per person
Boneless Ham
- Small portion: 1/3 lb per person
- Medium portion: 1/2 lb per person
- Large portion: 3/4 lb per person
Types of Ham to Consider
Bone-in Ham
- More flavorful due to the bone
- Typically juicier
- Bone can be used for soup stock later
- Usually requires longer cooking time
- Common varieties: shank end, butt end
Boneless Ham
- Easier to serve and carve
- More meat per pound purchased
- Often comes pre-sliced (spiral ham)
- Typically cooks more quickly
- Sometimes less flavorful than bone-in
Cooking Time Guidelines
Cooking times vary based on the type of ham and whether it's pre-cooked (most store-bought hams are):
- Pre-cooked bone-in ham: 18-20 minutes per pound at 325°F
- Pre-cooked boneless ham: 15-18 minutes per pound at 325°F
- Uncooked fresh ham: 22-26 minutes per pound at 325°F
The ham is ready when the internal temperature reaches:
- 140°F for pre-cooked ham (you're essentially reheating it)
- 145°F for uncooked ham (with a 3-minute rest time)
Glazing Your Ham
A glaze adds flavor and creates a beautiful shiny exterior. Apply the glaze:
- During the last 20-30 minutes of cooking time
- Score the surface in a diamond pattern first for better absorption
- Apply multiple thin layers rather than one thick layer
Classic Ham Glaze (for a 8-10 lb ham)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
Making the Most of Leftovers
Purposely buying extra ham provides the foundation for several additional meals:
Quick Leftover Ideas
- Ham sandwiches
- Ham and eggs for breakfast
- Chef's salad with ham
- Ham fried rice
- Grilled ham and cheese
Recipe Ideas
- Split pea soup with ham
- Scalloped potatoes with ham
- Ham and bean soup
- Quiche Lorraine
- Ham tetrazzini
Leftover ham can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3-4 months. Bone-in ham bones can be frozen separately for future soup stocks.
With our Ham Per Person Calculator and these guidelines, you'll serve the perfect amount of ham for your next gathering!
Frequently Asked Questions
For bone-in ham, plan for 3/4 to 1 pound per person. This accounts for the weight of the bone and allows for some leftovers. If you want generous leftovers or are serving big eaters, aim for the higher end of that range (1 pound per person). For a dinner with 10 guests, you would need a 7.5-10 pound bone-in ham. If the ham is the only main dish, lean toward the higher amount. If serving multiple main dishes, you can reduce the quantity slightly.
For boneless ham, plan for 1/3 to 1/2 pound per person. Since there's no bone weight to account for, you need less ham per person than with bone-in varieties. For a group of 10 people, you would need a 3.5-5 pound boneless ham. Pre-sliced spiral hams are convenient but may dry out more quickly during cooking, so follow package instructions carefully for best results.
Bone-in ham:
- More flavorful and juicy
- Takes longer to cook
- More challenging to carve
- Bone can be used later for soups and stocks
- Comes in shank or butt end varieties
Boneless ham:
- Easier to slice and serve
- Cooks more quickly
- Often reformulated (pieces pressed together)
- Sometimes less flavorful but more convenient
- Higher meat-to-weight ratio
For special occasions and when presentation matters, bone-in ham is often preferred. For everyday convenience, boneless ham works well.
Cooking times vary based on type and weight:
- Pre-cooked bone-in ham: 18-20 minutes per pound at 325°F
- Pre-cooked boneless ham: 15-18 minutes per pound at 325°F
- Uncooked (fresh) ham: 22-26 minutes per pound at 325°F
Most store-bought hams are pre-cooked, so you're essentially reheating them. A pre-cooked ham is done when the internal temperature reaches 140°F. For a fresh (uncooked) ham, cook until the internal temperature reaches 145°F, then let it rest for at least 3 minutes before carving.
Spiral-sliced ham:
- Pre-sliced for easy serving
- Often comes with a glaze packet
- More prone to drying out during heating
- No carving skills needed
Whole ham:
- Typically juicier when cooked
- More flexibility with glazing and flavoring
- Requires carving skills
- Often more affordable per pound
If convenience is your priority, choose spiral-sliced. If maximum juiciness and flavor are most important, choose whole ham. For spiral-sliced hams, be careful not to overcook, as they dry out more easily.
To reheat leftover ham while keeping it moist:
- Oven method: Wrap ham slices in foil with a little broth or water, heat at 275°F until reaching 140°F (about 10 minutes per pound).
- Slow cooker: Place ham with 1/4-1/2 cup liquid (broth, water, or apple juice) on LOW for 1-2 hours.
- Microwave: Cover ham slices with a damp paper towel and heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals until warm.
- Skillet: Add a splash of water or broth to the pan, add ham slices, cover and heat on medium-low until warmed through.
The key is low, slow heating with added moisture. Avoid high heat, which will dry out the ham. Leftover ham can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3-4 months.
Traditional side dishes that complement ham include:
- Scalloped potatoes or mashed potatoes
- Green beans or asparagus
- Dinner rolls or biscuits
- Macaroni and cheese
- Glazed carrots
- Roasted brussels sprouts
- Sweet potato casserole
- Creamed spinach or corn
- Spring salad with vinaigrette
- Applesauce or apple-based side dish
Ham's salty flavor pairs well with both sweet sides (like sweet potato casserole) and acidic sides (like those with apple or pineapple).
Leftover ham is incredibly versatile and can be used in many dishes:
- Ham sandwiches or sliders
- Breakfast dishes (ham and egg casserole, quiche, omelets)
- Soups (split pea with ham, ham and bean soup)
- Pasta dishes (carbonara with ham instead of bacon)
- Scalloped potatoes with ham
- Ham salad
- Ham and cheese crescent rolls
- Fried rice with ham
- Cuban sandwiches
- Pizza topping
Don't forget to save the bone from bone-in ham to make stock! It adds incredible flavor to soups and beans.
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