How Much Food to Purchase Per Person
Planning the perfect holiday dinner can be stressful if you are not sure how much to buy. Before you go to the store sit down to take a few minutes to plan the following: the holiday menu, number of guest you will be serving, and items and amounts you need to prepare the recipes for your holiday meal. Now you have your shopping list and you are ready to go shopping.
Here are a few suggestions for amounts to purchases per person for traditional holiday food items:
Bone In Ham purchase 1/2 to 3/4 pounds per serving per person. If you have 12 individuals purchase between a 6 to 9 lb. ham. Partially Boned Ham purchase 1/3 to 1/2 pounds per serving and Boneless Ham purchase 1/4 to 1/3 pounds per serving.
Whole turkey it is a good idea to allow for 1 pound of uncooked turkey per person . Boneless breast of turkey purchase 1/2 pound per person. Breast of turkey purchase 3/4 pound per person.
Rack of Lamb—3 to 4 ribs per serving. Double ribbed lamb chops—1 chop per person. Center cut loin roast—1/2 lb. per serving. Leg of lamb—3/4 to 1 lb. per serving. Boneless leg of lamb—1/2 lb. per serving and Lamb rib crown roast purchase 3 to 4 ribs per serving.
For dressing or stuffing plan 1/2 to 3/4 cup per person or 6 ounces. Mashed potatoes plan on one pound raw potatoes for each 3 persons your are serving. When planning vegetable casseroles or sweet potato casserole plan on 1/2 cup or 4 ounces by weight is the usual serving for each vegetable. A #10 can of sweet potatoes holds 24 to 25 servings. If you plan to serve gravy plan on 1/3 cup to 1/4 cup per person.
Homemade cranberry relish is easy and delicious and can cut costs. Plan on 1 pound of cranberry relish per 5 to 6 persons. When it comes to rolls you can figure on 1 1/2 per person . Don’t forget the butter. 1/2 pound of butter will serve 16 to 17 individuals. If you plan to serve a relish tray include 4 ounces per person, including pickles and olives. Salads, jell-o salads and fruit salads plan on 1/2 cup serving per person. Rice dishes or macaroni and cheese plan on 1/2 to 3/4 cup per person or 6 ounces. For vegetables plan on 4 ounces per person. If you want mints or nuts for the party 3 pounds per 50 individuals.
Enjoy making family memories, baking and preparing your holiday meal. Happy Holidays!
For more information contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office. In Alachua County call 352-955-2402 or email mmaddox@ufl.edu for Family and Consumer Science Agent, Martha B. Maddox or website http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu
0
