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font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
max-width: 1200px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
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padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
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margin-bottom: 25px;
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The Science of Pulled Pork Mathematics
Planning a BBQ, graduation party, or wedding reception? One of the most stressful parts of catering your own event is fearing you won't have enough food. Conversely, you don't want to buy 50lbs of meat if you only need 20lbs. This Pulled Pork Calculator takes the guesswork out of the grocery store run.
Understanding Pork Butt Shrinkage (The Yield)
The most critical factor in calculating pulled pork is the yield percentage. Raw pork butt (also known as Boston Butt) contains a significant amount of fat, water, and connective tissue. During the long smoking process (typically 8-12 hours), the fat renders out and the water evaporates.
The Golden Rule of BBQ Math:
Expect to lose roughly 40% to 50% of your raw weight during the cook. If you buy a 10lb bone-in pork butt, you will likely finish with about 5-6lbs of edible meat once the bone and fat cap are removed.
- Bone-In Butt: Approx 50% Yield. (Buy 2lbs raw for every 1lb cooked).
- Boneless Butt: Approx 60% Yield. (Less waste from the bone).
- Picnic Roast: Approx 55% Yield. (Often has a larger skin/fat cap).
How Much Meat Per Person?
The serving size depends entirely on how you are serving the meat:
- Sliders (1/4 lb): Ideal for appetizers or parties with many other side dishes.
- Standard Sandwich (1/3 lb): The most common catering serving size. It fills a standard hamburger bun generously.
- Dinner Plate (1/2 lb): If pork is the main attraction with minimal sides, or for a crowd of big eaters.
Note: For children under 12, it is safe to calculate half of an adult portion, though teenagers should be counted as adults.
Other Essentials: Sauce and Coleslaw
Don't forget the sides! A good rule of thumb for BBQ sauce is 1 cup for every 2-3 lbs of cooked meat if you are mixing it in, or 1 bottle per 10 people if serving on the side. For coleslaw (a classic topper for pulled pork sandwiches), plan for about 4 ounces per person.
Cooking Tips for Large Quantities
When cooking multiple butts at once, airflow in your smoker is key. Do not jam the pieces of meat together; leave at least an inch of space between them to allow smoke and heat to circulate. While the total cooking time doesn't necessarily double with two butts, the recovery time for your smoker temperature might increase, adding 1-2 hours to your total cook time.
function calculatePulledPork() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var adults = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_adults').value);
var children = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_children').value);
var portionSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_portion').value);
var yieldPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_cut').value);
var bunType = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_buns').value);
var bufferMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pp_leftovers').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(adults) || adults < 0) adults = 0;
if (isNaN(children) || children 15) {
timeEstimate = "10 – 14 Hours";
}
if (rawMeatNeeded > 40) {
timeEstimate = "12 – 16 Hours (Multiple Smokers/Racks)";
}
// 7. Display Results
document.getElementById('res_raw_weight').innerHTML = rawMeatNeeded.toFixed(1) + " lbs";
document.getElementById('res_cooked_weight').innerHTML = totalCookedNeeded.toFixed(1) + " lbs";
var bunText = "None";
if (totalBuns > 0) {
var packages = Math.ceil(totalBuns / 8); // Assuming 8 buns per pack
bunText = totalBuns + " Buns (" + packages + " packs)";
}
document.getElementById('res_buns').innerHTML = bunText;
document.getElementById('res_sauce').innerHTML = cupsSauce.toFixed(1) + " Cups (~" + bottlesSauce + " Bottles)";
document.getElementById('res_time').innerHTML = timeEstimate;
// Show result area
document.getElementById('pp_result_area').style.display = "block";
}