How much butt do I need?

[Brewfat]

Making pulled pork for Christmas dinner. There will be nine adults and four young kids. The kids probably won't touch it.
How much should I cook? Is a seven pound butt enough?

 

[Tabb]

I know I am new here but I have had a smoker for about two years now and been a cook in the Army the last 15 years. Is this the only meat being served? If so I would get another 7 lb butt.
If your having other meats then I wouldn't worry. I always over estimate when I am having people over anyways. I try and shoot for 1 to 1.5 lbs per person but I would rather have leftovers then run out. Just my two cents.
I wish I was have pulled pork for Christmas but we are doing the traditional ham.

 

[Brewfat]

Were having meatballs and lots of other sides and appetizers. I seem to think its enough.
Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to make more.
I usually am only cooking for my wife and I.

 

[Tabb]

Yeah I always seem to find a reason to end up doing more then most think is a normal amount.

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[Bobby_M]

When my smoker is burning all friggin day, it's going to be filled to capacity with whatever I can find.

 

[billtzk]

I'm with Bobby on this. If I've got my smoker fired up, I fill it. Pork shoulder, whole brisket, and spare ribs. The ribs come out first, naturally (about 5 hours), while the rest can take 18 to 22. Most gets portioned into 1.5 pound lots, vacuum bagged, and frozen.

If that's a 7 pound pork shoulder, bone-in, I'd get one more for sure. If there were 9 of me eating, and that was the only meat, then one 7 lb bone-in butt wouldn't be enough. Considering what else you're serving, it would probably be enough though. But why take a chance? You can always split up the leftovers and send them home with your guests, or package and freeze them in convenient sizes for your own family.

 

[Cromwell]

+1 on more. How is leftover pulled pork a bad thing? If you're going to have the smoker going all day, vacuum bag some and enjoy pulled pork again in February.

 

[toolboxdiver]

I also Fill my Smoker your spending the day might as well have lots of food

 

[Brewfat]

I guess ill throw another on. Hope it fits. I smoke on a weber kettle. Works great for me.

 

[dataz722]

I will always make at least 3 butts at a time if not more, but the calculation to figure out how much is needed is pretty simple.

With other sides or food 1 portion is 4oz cooked meat. You can also figure many times that you will lose ~50% of the mass from trimming, cooking, and the bone. So a general rule is the have 1/2lb raw per serving.

 

[Fusorfodder]

Make as much pulled pork as you can, and then store the extra in vacuum bags and freeze them. When ready to serve again, just treat it as a boil in bag. The pork will come out fantastic, and it's nice to have some on hand whenever you want.

 

[HexKrak]

3/4 - 1 lb of raw per adult.

My question is why wouldn't the kids eat it? I was all over that stuff when I was a kid!

 

[Brewfat]

3/4 - 1 lb of raw per adult.

My question is why wouldn't the kids eat it? I was all over that stuff when I was a kid!

They will be too busy with toys and general craziness to eat.