Beef brisket is a staple at many gatherings and celebrations. When smoked or slow-cooked properly, it becomes incredibly tender and flavorful. However, determining how much brisket to cook for a party can be tricky. You want to make sure you have enough so everyone gets their fill, but you also don’t want to be stuck with a ton of leftovers.
In this article, we’ll provide a helpful guide on how much brisket per person you should plan for.
Factors That Determine Serving Size
How much brisket each person will eat depends on several factors:
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Age Adults tend to eat more than children. Plan for 1/2 pound of cooked brisket per adult and 1/4 pound per child.
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Appetite: Some people have heartier appetites than others. If you know you’re cooking for big eaters, err on the higher side.
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Other dishes: If you’re serving brisket as part of a larger meal with sides and appetizers, smaller portions are fine. For brisket as a main dish, go larger.
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Leftovers: It’s usually better to have extra than run out. Leftover brisket also makes great sandwiches!
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Type of cut: Brisket flats yield less cooked meat than whole packer briskets. Adjust quantities accordingly.
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Cooking method: Smoking causes brisket to lose around 50% of its uncooked weight. Braising results in less shrinkage.
Handy Per Person Estimates
As a general rule of thumb, here are some estimates for cooked brisket portions:
- 0.5 pounds per adult
- 0.25 pounds per child
- 1 whole packer brisket (10-16 lbs) feeds ~15 adults
To determine how much uncooked brisket to buy, remember it will shrink by about half when cooked. So for 0.5 pounds cooked per person, get 1 pound raw per person.
Here are some common scenarios:
| Number of Adults | Uncooked Brisket | Cooked Brisket |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 lbs | 2 lbs |
| 6 | 6 lbs | 3 lbs |
| 8 | 8 lbs | 4 lbs |
| 10 | 10 lbs | 5 lbs |
| 12 | 12 lbs | 6 lbs |
| 15 | 15 lbs | 7.5 lbs |
These portions are reasonable for most situations. But feel free to adjust up or down depending on your specific guests and menu. A good barbecue brisket is bound to go quickly, so having some extra is rarely a problem!
Buying and Portioning Tips
When purchasing brisket at the store or butcher shop, keep these tips in mind:
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Inspect the fat cap and seam fat. 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick is ideal.
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For easiest portioning, ask for brisket flats cut into manageable 3-5 pound sections.
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Freeze extra brisket in portions to pull out later for quick meals.
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Mark servings by quartering brisket, then slicing across the grain into 1/4 inch slices.
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Place sliced servings in foil pouches for easy reheating.
Serving Smoked or Slow Cooked Brisket
Low and slow cooking brisket results in incredibly moist, fall-apart texture. Here are some tips:
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Cook to 203°F internal temperature for maximum tenderness.
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Let rest 30-60 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.
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Slice across the grain for most tender bites.
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Serve sauce on the side to let the natural flavors shine. A simple drizzle of a reduced pan sauce is also delicious.
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Accompany with classic barbecue sides like baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread and potato salad.
Making Leftover Brisket Last
Don’t worry if you have extra cooked brisket after your party. There are endless ways to use it up:
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Chop or slice for brisket sandwiches. One of the best leftover meals!
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Dice and add to baked beans, soup or chili.
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Roll up in flour tortillas with BBQ sauce for tacos or burritos.
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Toss with pasta, veggies and cheese for a brisket pasta bake.
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Mix with eggs, cheese and spices for a hearty brisket scramble.
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cube and skewer for grilled brisket kabobs.
With the help of these tips and guidelines, determining how much brisket to make for your next gathering doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Just remember to account for your crowd’s appetite, the rest of the menu, and the joy of brisket leftovers! Proper planning will lead to happy guests and perfectly portioned brisket every time.
How Much Brisket to Buy
This year, Passover 2022 will begin on the evening of Friday, April 15th, 2022, but you should purchase your brisket a few days in advance. If you really want to know how much brisket to serve per person, **account for one pound of raw brisket (or half a pound of cooked brisket) per adult and half a pound of uncooked brisket (or a quarter pound of cooked brisket) for your little ones. For example, if you’re hosting six guests total for Passover seder, purchase a six-pound brisket flat.
Not only does brisket shrink as it cooks, but flat-cut brisket also bears a thick fat cap that should be trimmed before cooking (unlike other cuts of meat, the fat on brisket won’t really break down and will just stay chewy).
Types of Beef Brisket
When shopping for brisket, you’ll find that there are two common cuts of meat: brisket flat (aka first-cut) and brisket point. Many brisket recipes won’t specify which cut of meat to use, so here’s what to know: brisket point has a jagged, pointy end that is ideal for pulled brisket (like these braised brisket sandwiches or chopped brisket. Flat cut brisket is what you want to use if you’re planning to braise or smoke brisket and then slice it into neat servings. Flat cut, or first-cut brisket, is a leaner cut, which means it’s at its best when cooked for several hours until it becomes juicy and tender.
How Much Brisket per Person – For a BBQ, Formal Dinner or Just A Big Crowd
FAQ
How many people will a 10 pound brisket feed?
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comHow many pounds of brisket do I need to feed 10 people? – QuoraMay 5, 2022 — If you’re having a salad, a side or 2 and a vegetable plus dessert, a 10 pound brisket is more than enough. … I would suggest you would need 250g (
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Southern Livinghttps://www.southernliving.comThis Is How Much Brisket To Make Per Person – Southern LivingAug 20, 2024 — Here’s exactly how much you need. … Catherine Jessee is an Assistant Digital Food Editor at Southern Living. She is a writer, editor, and recipe d…
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prepandrally.comhttps://prepandrally.comServing Guide: How Much Brisket Do You Need Per Person?The Brisket Rule of Thumb When it comes to estimating how much meat you need per person, the “brisket rule of thumb” can be a helpful starting point. As a gener…
What is the 3/2:1 rule for brisket?
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1. Initial Smoke:The brisket is placed on the smoker and cooked unwrapped for 3 hours at 225°F (or similar low temperature). This stage allows the brisket to absorb smoke and develop a nice bark.
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2. Wrapped Cooking:The brisket is then wrapped in foil and continued to be cooked for 2 hours. During this stage, the brisket will tenderize and the juices will stay in the meat.
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3. Unwrapped Finishing:Finally, the brisket is unwrapped and cooked for 1 hour to develop a crispier bark and ensure it’s fully cooked.
How much beef brisket for 4 adults?
| Boneless Meat | Number of People | Bone in meat |
|---|---|---|
| 1lb / 0.45kg | 2 – 3 | |
| 2lb / 0.91kg | 4 – 5 | 3lb / 1.36kg |
| 3lb / 1.36kg | 6 – 7 | 4lb / 1.82kg |
| 4lb / 1.82kg | 8 – 9 | 6lb / 2.73kg |
How many servings are in a 6 lb brisket?
For a whole packer brisket, plan on one pound of uncooked brisket per person, which will equal about a half a pound or 8 ounces of smoked brisket per person. If you purchase a brisket flat or point, the butcher will have already done a substantial amount of trimming for you.
How much brisket do you eat per person?
Hearty eaters: ½ pound of cooked brisket per person. Average eaters: ¼ to ⅓ pound of cooked brisket per person. Light eaters: ¼ pound of cooked brisket per person. Children: ¼ pound of cooked brisket per person.
How much Angus brisket per person?
1/2 pound of cooked brisket per person is the standard response. However, you might need as little as 1/4 pound or as much as 3/4 pound, depending on the circumstances. One pound of raw brisket should yield about 1/2 pound of cooked meat. I tried Angus brisket during my last travel to Malaysia. Super tender and delicious!!
How much brisket do you need for a crowd?
If you’re Roasting up Brisket for a crowd of 20 people you will need: Large serving size: 20 pounds of uncooked untrimmed brisket to give 10 pounds of cooked brisket or around 1/2 pound per person. If you are cooking Brisket for a crowd or event of 50 people you will need:
How much brisket do you need for 12-15 people?
Basically, the same principles apply when you’re feeding between 12 to 15 people brisket. You will need to start with around 1 pound of raw brisket per person, which will result in 1/2 pound per guest. So for 12-15 people, you will need approximately 24 pounds of raw brisket.
How many pounds of cooked brisket in 25 x 0.25?
25 x 0.25 = 6 ¼ pounds of cooked brisket. This equates to approximately 12 ½ pounds of raw brisket. When preparing brisket for large gatherings, there are several factors to consider beyond the amount of meat needed.
How much brisket do you need to make a sandwich?
If you’re making brisket sandwiches, you won’t need quite as much meat per person. 4 to 5 ounces of cooked meat is the standard amount per sandwich. Therefore, a single pound of cooked brisket could yield 3 or 4 sandwiches. Taking shrinkage into account, that means you can plan on getting 2 servings for each pound of raw brisket.