Doubts always arise when it comes to calculating how much ham is necessary per diner for a celebration of any kind, whether it is a wedding, a christening or a gathering of friends. We must take into account the type of ham, as an Iberian ham does not have the same yield as a Serrano ham. As you know, Serrano ham, as it has less fat, the percentage of ham obtained from a leg is higher than that of an Iberian ham, especially if it is 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham. And the shoulder hams are a separate issue, as they still have a much lower yield than the hams.
Spanish Ham yield
When reference is made to the yield of a ham, it refers specifically to what you are actually going to eat once the fat, the external fat, the impurities and, logically, the bone have been discarded.
It is obvious that the greater the weight of a iberico ham, the heavier the bone will be, but the yield will also be greater. For this reason, although a lighter piece will cost you less money, as it is less usable and you obtain a smaller quantity of ham, the price per kilo will be more expensive.
You should also bear in mind that it is not the same to have a ham cut by a professional, who will make much more use of the leg, than a cut by an inexperienced person; for this reason, many people opt to buy boneless Spanish ham or choose to buy it sliced and vacuum-packed.
If you are curious, you can read about the yield percentages of a ham.
What quantity of ham per person at table is adequate
Gastronomy treatises and cookery books already mention the optimum grams per diner for any type of food, so you also have a reference for hams. This will serve as a guideline and taking into account the standards established for a banquet, at home we know that it is not the same, as at Jamón Pasión every time we make an Iberian ham sandwich, we put at least double the amount.
The usual and always taking into account that it is a food that is used as a starter and not as a main course, is about 40 grams per person according to professionals dedicated to banquets or catering, but it is a food that you enjoy so much, that you will always want to repeat.
On that basis, just multiply the number of guests by 40 and you will get the total number of grams, which you only need to convert into kilograms. If you have 100 guests, it will give you a figure of 4 kg of ham, which if we apply it to a Serrano ham, which usually has a yield of 50% of the total weight, you will need a ham of 8 kg, although I recommend that you always buy a slightly larger ham, even two pieces. In the link in the previous paragraph I explain how to calculate this depending on whether it is an Iberian ham, Serrano ham or shoulder ham.
Always remember that the best option for a banquet is a ham, and if possible an acorn-fed Iberico ham, so that the gastronomic experience leaves no one indifferent. Don't opt for a shoulder ham, which is much less profitable. Leave these for dinners with friends or for your own consumption.
How many plates of ham do you get per piece?
Once you know how many grams or kilos of Iberian ham you are going to need depending on the number of diners, the rest is simple.
Portions of sliced ham at parties or restaurants are usually 80 grams per plate, depending on the size of the ham and the arrangement of the slices.
If you have 100 guests and you need 4 kilos of ham, you will need about 50 plates to serve those 40 grams per person; but as I said, it is a product that can be eaten at any time: before the main course, during and after, so don't miss out on eating a larger piece or even two, especially if it is an Iberian ham of the quality offered by the Jamón Pasión online store, which will not leave any of your guests indifferent.