how much meat for 80 people?

jhkdvm

Good morning y'all!

I need to provide beef brisket, pork shoulder and pulled chicken as main meats for a buffet style party for 80 people.  There will be slider sized rolls, slaw, and beans, plus some dips (I'm not in charge of those).  Feeding adults not teenagers.

I am currently thinking one 15 lb beef brisket, 2 8 lb pork shoulders, and 5 chickens. 

Does that sound like the correct amount?

Thanks!

northGAcock

To determine how much meat to cook, you need to look at meat shrinkage: I.e. yield of meat after cooking. I don't know what kind of loss you have in Brisket....perhaps someone else can weigh in on that. For example, a pork butt / shoulder will yield about 50% cooked of the purchased amount. Fat rendering, bone etc.....leads to the shrinkage and final product.

You need to figure about 5-6 ounces of total yield per person of meat protein. This will take into account a mix of male / female and those who might even not eat as they may be vegetarian. Keep in mind that chickens for example, break down more so into natural portions. I have not done the math...but my guess is you will have around 18 lbs of cooked beef and pork. You will have about 45 pieces of chicken. You will have slightly more than 50 portions of cooked meat (pork and beef). I don't think you will be way off....but maybe another pork shoulder (which makes great leftovers) would be a safe bet. 

Legume

I think when it's a buffet, people will eat more.  When you offer three meats, people will try at least two and I would bet many will try three.  Are you chopping or slicing the brisket?  Slices won't yield as many servings, you may want to consider chopping and lightly saucing

lousubcap

As above, figure on about 50% yield by weight for the finished brisket and pork.  If you go with 1/3 lb/person you end up with around 26-27 lbs cooked for the whole deal.    
And @Legume makes an excellent point regarding buffet behavior.  Given the above, better to have more than not enough.  FWIW-

Foghorn

You're probably about right on. I've seen some recommendations for 0.625 pounds of uncooked meat per person.  That would put you at 50 pounds.  You've got 15 pounds of brisket, 16 pounds of pork and about 20 pounds of chicken (I'm guessing on chicken size here) = about 51 pounds.  With buffet behavior, you might come up just a little shy...

Hairless_Hand

The layout of your buffet will also play a role in how far your protein stretches. Put the BBQ at the end of the line and people will not completely fill their plate with meat before getting the sides. 

Foghorn

Hairless_Hand said:

The layout of your buffet will also play a role in how far your protein stretches. Put the BBQ at the end of the line and people will not completely fill their plate with meat before getting the sides. 

That doesn't work on me.  I either start at the other end, or plan accordingly and get two plates. 

Hairless_Hand

Foghorn said:

Hairless_Hand said:

The layout of your buffet will also play a role in how far your protein stretches. Put the BBQ at the end of the line and people will not completely fill their plate with meat before getting the sides. 

That doesn't work on me.  I either start at the other end, or plan accordingly and get two plates. 

There is one in every crowd!  

kl8ton

I would do what @Foghorn does.  Meat first no matter where it is on the line.  If your brisket is good, i may not even touch the chicken or pork.

lkapigian

.5 LB per person of protein works for me, some eat more, some less. I do a lot of 100-200 people and I found it a good average

Foghorn

kl8ton said:

I would do what @Foghorn does.  Meat first no matter where it is on the line.  If your brisket is good, i may not even touch the chicken or pork.

It's a good thing @Kl8ton and I are not invited...

I got asked to leave an "All you can eat" place once in my younger years...

On a more serious note, @Ikapigian, is that precooked weight?

lkapigian

@foghorn , yes pre cook, but I always add a little fudge factor...If I am doing a Pig then I figure another 10-20% for "waste" IE bones

blind99

You'll have enough, but that brisket will be gone in about 2 minutes unless you ration it! Maybe serve one brisket slider per person if they want it. Otherwise they'll see that thing and ask for three slices per person and it will sell out quick. 

kl8ton

Was it @Legume that said he prefers to let the pizza dough speak to him? 

Same philosophy applies here. 

I let the buffet speak to me.  . . I only listen to the meat first.  If the meat is no good, I allow the carbs to speak.   

bgebrent

kl8ton said:

Was it @Legume that said he prefers to let the pizza dough speak to him? 

Same philosophy applies here. 

I let the buffet speak to me.  . . I only listen to the meat first.  If the meat is no good, I allow the carbs to speak.   

There are medications that can help you with those decisions.  Share them with @Legume