The Meat Math Estimator
Don't be the guy who runs out of brisket. Use Big B's math to buy exactly what you need for the crowd.
Meat Math Estimator
Never run out of bark again
Normal
Light Snack Vaquero Feast
Big B Recommends Buying
20 LBS
"Includes a 50% cook loss buffer for fat rendering."
Big B's Backyard | Math so you don't have to
How the Math Works
BBQ is tricky because meat shrinks. A lot. When you're smoking a brisket or a pork butt, you're rendering out fat and evaporating moisture for 12+ hours. That 15lb packer brisket you bought? It's only going to weigh about 7 or 8 pounds when it's time to slice.
Big B's Rules of Thumb:
- 50% Loss Brisket: Between trimming the hard fat and the long render, expect to lose half your weight.
- 40% Loss Pork Butt: These stay a bit juicier but you still lose a good chunk to the bone and fat cap.
- 0.5 LB Portion Size: A standard adult portion of cooked meat is half a pound. If you've got big eaters, slide that hunger bar to the right.