How Much Pulled Pork for 40 People (Easy Guide)

When it comes to large gatherings, there are few dishes that can compete with pulled pork. Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it’s also relatively easy to make, and you can make enough to feed a large group of people. But how much pulled pork do you need to make to feed 40 guests? In this blog post, we’ll show you how to calculate the perfect amount of pulled pork for large gatherings and provide some delicious pulled pork recipes to feed 40 guests.

What is Pulled Pork?

Pulled pork is a type of pork dish made from slowly cooking a Boston butt (or pork shoulder). The slow cooking process tenderizes the meat and makes it so that it can be easily pulled apart with two forks or a meat shredder. Pulled pork can be served on hamburger buns, with sides, or in tacos or burritos.

Calculating the Perfect Amount of Pulled Pork for 40 Guests

How Much Pulled Pork for 40
How Much Pulled Pork for 40

When it comes to calculating the perfect amount of pulled pork to make for 40 guests, the best way is to figure out how much raw pork you’ll need first. A good rule of thumb is to estimate that one pound of raw pork will yield half of its weight in cooked pork. So, if you’re cooking 10 pounds of raw pork, you’ll end up with 5 pounds of cooked pork.

To calculate the perfect amount of pulled pork for 40 guests, you’ll need to figure out how much raw pork you’ll need to make. For 40 guests, you’ll need approximately 25 pounds of raw pork. This will yield 12.25 pounds of cooked pork, which is enough for 40 guests if you’re serving one-third of a pound per person.

The formula looks like this: 0.333 (per pax) x number of guests x 2 (to compensate the lost). In our case, it should look: 0.333 x 40 x 2 = 24.5 (pounds). Let’s round up a bit and 25 pounds of raw pork is what we need.

Pulled Pork Recipes to Feed 40 Guests

Now that you know how much raw pork you’ll need to make, you can start looking for pulled pork recipes to feed 40 guests. A good place to start is with a classic pulled pork recipe. This recipe calls for 25 pounds of raw pork, 5 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce, and a variety of spices and seasonings.

Once you’ve got your ingredients, the cooking process is relatively simple. You’ll need to put the pork in a slow cooker and cook it on low for 8-10 hours. Once the pork is cooked through, you can use two forks or a meat shredder to pull it apart. Once the pork is shredded, you can mix it with the barbecue sauce and spices and serve it on hamburger buns.

Another great pulled pork recipe to feed 40 guests is a Korean-style pulled pork. This recipe calls for 25 pounds of raw pork, 1 cup of soy sauce, 2.5 cup of brown sugar, 3/4 cup of sesame oil, 1.5 cup of garlic, and 1.5 cup of ginger. Just like the classic pulled pork recipe, you’ll need to put the pork in a slow cooker and cook it on low for 8-10 hours. Once it’s cooked through, you can mix the pork with the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger and serve it on hamburger buns.

Different Ways to Serve Pulled Pork at Large Gatherings

Once you’ve got your pulled pork cooked and ready to go, you’ll need to decide how you’re going to serve it at the large gathering. One of the most popular ways to serve pulled pork is on hamburger buns. You can also serve it with sides such as coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni and cheese. If you’re feeling creative, you can also use the pulled pork as a topping for hot dogs or as an ingredient in pork sandwiches or pork sliders.

How to Store Leftover Pulled Pork

If you have any leftover pulled pork after the large gathering, it’s important to store it properly. The best way to store pulled pork is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The pulled pork should stay good for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. If you have a lot of leftover pulled pork, you can also store it in freezer bags in the freezer.

How to Reheat and Serve Pulled Pork

If you’re in a rush, you can easily reheat pulled pork in the microwave. Just put the pulled pork in a microwave-safe dish and heat it for 1-2 minutes, or until it’s heated through. Alternatively, you can also reheat pulled pork in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until it’s heated through.

Tips for Success

Hosting a large party can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to making sure you have enough food to feed all your guests. If you’re planning to serve a main course of pulled pork, it’s important to know how much pork to purchase to ensure everyone has enough to eat. In this blog section, we’ll provide some tips for success when it comes to making sure you have the right amount of pulled pork for 40 people.

First and foremost, you need to take into account how much pork you will need. Generally, you should plan to purchase a minimum of one-half pound of meat per person. If you have bigger appetites in your guest list, or if pork will be the main feature of the meal, you may want to increase the portion size to one-third pound of pork per person. To ensure there’s enough food for everyone, it’s always a good idea to purchase a few extra pounds of meat.

When it comes to choosing the right cut of meat for pulled pork, the fatty cut of bone-in pork shoulder is the best option. It’s often referred to as a “picnic shoulder” or “whole butt” and is usually sold in eight-pound packages at the grocery store. If you’re hosting a large party, an eight-pound pork shoulder should yield enough meat for 40 people.

Once you’ve purchased your pork shoulder, it’s time to get cooking! For the best pulled pork, you’ll want to season your pork with a good rub. This can include a wide variety of spices such as chili powder, garlic, onion, and paprika. Once seasoned, you can either cook your pork in the oven, on the grill, or in a crock pot.

Whichever cooking method you choose, it’s important to keep an eye on the internal temperature of the pork. You’ll want to cook the pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 190-200 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take about four to six hours, depending on the size and cut of the pork. Once the pork is cooked, let it rest for 15-20 minutes before shredding it with two forks.

To ensure you have enough pulled pork for 40 people, it’s always a good idea to make a little extra. If you have any pork leftovers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to six months.

These are just some of the tips for success when it comes to making sure you have enough pulled pork for 40 people. With a little planning and preparation, you can be sure that your guests will have a delicious meal and enough food to last them throughout the night.

Bottom line

Feeding 40 guests can be a challenge, but with a little bit of planning and the right recipes, it’s easy to make enough pulled pork to feed a large group. The key is to calculate the perfect amount of pulled pork for the number of guests you’re serving. A good rule of thumb is to figure out how much raw pork you’ll need based on the number of guests. For 40 guests, you’ll need approximately 25 pounds of raw pork, which will yield 12.5 pounds of cooked pork. Once you’ve got the raw pork, you can use one of the pulled pork recipes we’ve provided to make enough pulled pork to feed 40 guests. Finally, you can use the leftover pulled pork to make pork sandwiches, tacos, or burritos.

So, the next time you’re hosting a large gathering and need to make pulled pork for 40 guests, remember to use the simple formula we’ve provided. With this formula, you’ll be able to calculate the perfect amount of pulled pork to make for your guests. And if you have any leftover pulled pork, you can use it to make delicious pork sandwiches, tacos, or burritos

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Shara

Shara @The Bird BBQ

Shara loves to experiment with different flavors and techniques when it comes to BBQ. She has been perfecting her craft for years and loves hosting backyard BBQs with friends & family. She often comes up with creative recipes that her guests rave about.