How Much Brisket Per Person: Your Guide to Planning the Perfect BBQ
Figuring out how much brisket per person to buy can be tricky, whether you’re planning a small get-together with your closest friends or a large gathering with extended family.
Not sure how much brisket per person you need?
Unlike ground beef, brisket is a solid piece of meat, requiring a bit more know-how to plan a feast with multiple people. Here is your guide to making sure your barbecue is a success!
When it comes to buying a raw brisket, a good rule of thumb is one pound per person. However, this does not consider many different factors. These include your cooking process and the various brisket recipes. It also matters if you let the meat come to room temperature first. You should think about whether you are trimming the fat side or leaving it on. The type of brisket, like a packer brisket or another cut, is important too. You should consider how much the meat may shrink while cooking. Additionally, think about any other food you will serve and how many people might want seconds.
It’s better to plan for more mouths to feed than less, so you’re not finding out there’s not enough food for everyone as you finish cooking and wrap the brisket in aluminum foil or butcher paper! There should always be more chopped brisket for your sharp knife.
How Do You Calculate Brisket Per Person?
If you want to be precise in your planning, there’s a simple formula you can use to calculate how much brisket per person you’ll need. Just multiply the number of people you’re expecting by the average amount of cooked meat each person will eat.
For example, if you’re expecting 10 people and you know each person will eat about 0.5 pounds of brisket, you’ll need 5 pounds of cooked meat total.
Of course, this method is only as accurate as your estimates. If you’re not sure how much your guests will eat, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and make a little bit more than you think you’ll need.
If you want to be safe, aim for 1.5 pounds of smoked brisket per person. This should ensure that everyone gets their fill and there are plenty of leftovers.
Of course, the amount of brisket you need will also depend on how you plan on cooking the brisket. If you’re smoking an uncooked brisket, it will shrink as it cooks, so you’ll need to factor that into your calculations.
Generally, a whole smoked beef brisket will lose about 30% of its weight when properly smoked. This means that if you want to serve eight people, you’ll need to buy at least 12 pounds of cooked brisket. No matter your choice of preparation, don’t forget to utilize a meat thermometer to prevent foodborne illness.
Let’s break this into a few easy steps to make it easier for you.
1) Determine how many people you’ll be serving
The first step is to determine how many people you’ll be serving. This will give you a good starting point for how much whole beef brisket to buy.
2) Decide what other dishes you’ll be serving
Will you be serving sides like corn on the cob or potato salad? Will they go well with the bbq sauce? What about dessert? The more dishes you’ll be serving, the less brisket each person will eat.
3) Consider whether you want leftovers
Do you want to have leftover brisket or are you okay with running out? If you want leftover brisket, plan on buying 1.5 pounds of beef brisket per person.
4) Take into account how you’ll be cooking brisket
If you’re smoking the brisket, it will be indeed be tender and flavorful so it melts in your mouth, yet it will shrink as it cooks. Keep this in mind when you’re planning how much brisket per person to buy.
5) Use these guidelines to help you make your decision
Ultimately, the amount of cooked meat you need will depend on a number of factors. Use these guidelines to help you make your decision.
That’s it! By following these steps, you’ll be sure to have enough raw brisket for your next barbecue. Even if you don’t end up using all of it, it’s always better to have too much than not enough. So get grilling and enjoy!
How Many People will 1lb of Brisket Serve?
One pound of brisket will serve two to three people as part of a larger meal.
If you’re serving sides like corn on the cob or potato salad, one pound of cooked brisket will serve four to six people.
To ensure there is leftover brisket, plan on buying 1.5 pounds of cooked brisket per person. This will give you plenty of meat to work with and ensure everyone leaves the barbecue satisfied.
How Much Will a 5 lb Brisket Feed?
A five-pound raw brisket will feed 10 to 15 people as part of a larger meal. If you’re serving sides like biscuits or salad, a five-pound brisket will feed 20 to 25 people. And, if you’re serving brisket as a main course with no sides, a five-pound brisket will feed 15 to 20 people.
Ultimately, it depends on how much your guests eat and what else you’re offering. The serving size of meat will generally decrease with the addition of more sides.
If you want to be sure there’s plenty of food, we recommend overestimating rather than underestimating.
Is a Pound of Brisket Enough for 3 People?
A pound of uncooked brisket is enough to feed two to three people as part of a larger meal. If you’re serving sides, a pound of brisket will feed three to four people.
And, if you’re serving the brisket as a main course with no sides, a pound of uncooked brisket will feed four to six people.
Even if you have a good idea of how much your guests will eat, we still recommend overestimating to be on the safe side.
It’s always better to have too much food than not enough!
Final Thoughts
When it comes to buying the right amount of smoked brisket for a barbecue, there are a few things you need to take into account. First, consider how many people you’ll serve and whether you want leftovers. Then, think about what else you’ll be serving and how you’ll be cooking the brisket. Use these guidelines to help you make your decision.
Now that you know how much raw meat to buy, it’s time to grill! Fire it up and enjoy a delicious barbecue with your friends and family.
Happy grilling!