Planning to serve sandwiches for a large group? With the right calculations, you can ensure everyone gets their fill of delicious sliced ham sandwiches.
When serving a crowd, it’s important to estimate correctly so you have enough meat without overbuying and wasting.
I’ll walk through all the factors to consider when buying sliced ham for sandwiches and provide a formula to determine exactly how much you need for 50 hearty ham sandwiches. Let’s dig in!
Key Factors When Calculating Sliced Ham for Sandwiches
There are a few key details that affect how much ham you’ll need per sandwich:
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Type of ham – Boneless ham requires less per sandwich than bone-in ham. And deli ham needs less than a full cooked ham.
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Slices per sandwich – The more slices per sandwich, the more meat you’ll need. Estimate 1-2 slices per sandwich.
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Slice thickness – Thinner slices extend further than thick slices, Ask for shaved or thin slices
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Bread size – Mini rolls need less ham than large sub rolls. Consider sandwich size.
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Side dishes – If serving sides like salad and chips, people may eat less ham.
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Appetites – Big eaters or teens may devour more meat than dainty eaters. Know your crowd.
Keep these factors in mind when you buy and slice your ham. Thin slices on smaller bread will stretch your ham further.
General Formula for Sliced Ham Sandwiches
As a general rule, plan for 3-4 ounces of sliced ham per sandwich.
For 50 sandwiches, at 4 ounces each, you would need:
50 sandwiches x 4 ounces per sandwich = 200 ounces
Converting to pounds:
200 ounces / 16 ounces per pound = 12.5 pounds of ham
Round up to 13 pounds of ham to be safe.
If using thinner deli slices instead of cooked ham, you may be able to get by with around 3 ounces per sandwich.
Always factor in the appetite of your crowd too. For light eaters opt for 3 ounces per sandwich. For heartier appetites go with 4+ ounces.
Buying and Slicing the Right Ham
Now that you know approximately how much you need, choose your ham wisely:
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Boneless or bone-in – Boneless will stretch further per pound.
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Cooked or deli – Deli ham requires less per sandwich than a full baked ham.
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Sliced or unsliced – Buy unsliced and ask for thin slices at the deli counter.
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Whole or half – Halves or quarters are easier to slice than a full ham.
When buying sliced deli ham, request 1/8 inch thick slices for optimum sandwich meat. Each slice should weigh around 1 ounce.
For cooked ham, ask for thin shaved slices at the deli counter. 3-4 thin slices per sandwich is usually plenty.
Pro tip: Ask for a couple pounds sliced extra to allow for broken slices and overstuffed sandwiches.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
With 50 hearty ham sandwiches on deck, your guests will be thrilled!
Serve the sandwiches on soft rolls or bread. Offer traditional condiments like mayo, mustard, and pickles on the side.
Slice tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and cheese to create tasty deli-style sandwiches. Add potato chips, pasta salad, or fruit on the side.
For a soup and sandwich combo, pair with broccoli cheddar soup or loaded baked potato soup.
Or for a retro theme, serve with tater tots and creamy coleslaw on the side.
No matter how you serve it up, 13 pounds of thinly sliced ham will satisfy 50 hungry guests. Just be ready for the rave reviews on these classic ham sandwiches!
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about calculating ham for sandwiches? Here are some common FAQs:
How many sandwiches will 1 pound of deli ham make?
With thin 1 ounce slices, 1 pound of deli ham will make about 16 small sandwiches.
What’s the most slices of ham per sandwich?
For large sandwiches, go with 4-5 thin slices per sandwich (around 4 ounces). Use 2-3 slices for smaller sandwiches.
How much ham for sandwiches without sides?
If only serving sandwiches and no sides, plan for 4-6 ounces of ham per person.
Can I freeze extra sliced ham?
Absolutely. Layer ham between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. Frozen, it will keep for 2-3 months.
What’s the serving size for ham sandwiches?
Plan for 3-5 ounces of sliced ham per adult sandwich, depending on appetite and sides served.
How thick should I slice cooked ham?
For sandwiches, ask for “shaved” or between 1/8″ to 1/4″ maximum thickness to get the most slices per pound.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions on sourcing sliced ham for a crowd! Proper calculations ensure you don’t underbuy or overspend. Just remember the key factors, do the math for your event, buy wisely, and slice thinly. With this guidance, your ham sandwiches will be a hit!