John Myers
Martin’s goose, Thanksgiving, Christmas roast – the cold season calls for a roast goose! But how many kg of goose do you have to calculate per person? Here we explain how much of a whole bird counts as an edible part and what you should consider when buying a Christmas goose!
Breast or thigh
If you want to serve a roast goose, but every guest actually prefers to eat a leg of goose, you will have a problem with the carving at the latest. Each goose has only 2 legs and 2 breast fillets. So if you only have 1-3 guests, it is wiser to buy 4 legs or just 2 kilos of ready-to-cook goose breast or leg.
This approach has the advantage that you can more easily assess the degree of doneness. With a whole bird, this is associated with significantly more effort.
Buy right!
The perfect Christmas roast begins with the purchase. You can see how much meat you need from the table – but the quality also determines the quantity! A cheap goose from the supermarket or discount store can be enriched with water and collapse in the oven to a much lower weight. If, on the other hand, you order the roast goose from the butcher or organic farmer, you can assume a solid, natural meat content. Plus, a free-range goose tastes more flavorful!
But be careful: geese weighing more than 8 kilos are often very fat and their taste is then no longer as intense. If you need a roast goose for 8-10 people, it is better to prepare 2 smaller geese. They often fit side by side in the oven!
How many kg of goose per person: table
The right amount of meat per person is of course also decided according to the table company. If there are heavy eaters, you should definitely calculate the 1 kg/guest. If children eat with you or if the guests are mostly reluctant to eat, it is better to calculate 250g of meat per guest.
Kitchen rule:
1 kg of raw or frozen goose, including innards and bones, is required for 1 adult!
This table will help you calculate your roast goose:
Number of people – goose meat
- 1-2 – 500g – 1kg of breast or leg or 1 small goose
- 3-4 – 1.5-2 kg breast or leg or 1 small goose (2-3 kg)
- 5-6 – 1 goose (4-6 kg)
- 7-8 – 1 goose (6-8 kg) or 2 small geese
- 9-10 – 2 geese (4-5kg each)
Remember that you will also serve side dishes. How many kg of goose you have to calculate per person also depends on the side dishes and the menu order! A starter, a cheese platter, and a dessert reduce the amount of meat required.
Dinner for one
Would you like to organize a “dinner for one” and cook for yourself? Welcome to the trend! At least since the lockdown times, the focus has been on the feast for one person. Buy the smallest goose you can find – you can use the leftover meat to prepare delicious ragouts the day after your dinner!
Tip: Consider the defrosting time when planning if you buy a frozen goose! Breast or leg alone will thaw faster than a whole bird! In our article, we show you what to look out for when defrosting a duck or goose.
