How Much Meat Should One Plan For When Cooking?

Especially if you are cooking for several guests, the question arises as to how much meat you should plan for per person. By estimating as accurately as possible, you can not only save money but also avoid leftovers that may no longer be hygienically safe to store.

Therefore, first, ask whether there are vegetarians or vegans among the guests. For the other guests, you can use the following amounts of meat per person as a guide. The quantities refer to the raw, unprocessed meat:

• Meat on the bone: 200 grams
• Boneless meat: 150 grams
• Minced meat: 125 grams
• Sausage filling: 50 to 100 grams

However, the amount of meat per person also depends on other factors:

• Individual eating habits
• Experience has shown that men consume more meat than women.
• You should plan about half the amount of meat for children.
• If the meat is the main meal (steak, schnitzel, layered meat), the amount of meat may be higher than the amounts given. If it is part of a casserole or stew, it can be lower: In our Schnitzeltopf recipe, 100 grams of meat are calculated per person.
• For some dishes, the total amount of meat may be well above the recommendation. A larger roast usually turns out better than a very small one. The recipe for braised leg of venison calculates 1.3 kg of meat for 4 servings, while you use 1.25 kg for our roast veal.

In principle, meat should only be on the menu in moderation in a balanced diet. An adult should not consume more than 300 to 600 grams of meat and sausage products per week. White meat (chicken, turkey) is classified as healthier than red meat (including beef, pork, lamb). In another article, you will find more tips for the right portion sizes for meat, but also for vegetables and carbohydrate side dishes.