The type of mince can also have a bearing on portion size. Chicken mince, which is leaner than beef, will have fewer calories which will contribute to a healthier diet or the portion size can be increased by approximately 25g. for hungry eaters.
A standard portion of mince
According to the Heart Foundation, the recommended portion size of beef mince per person is approximately 125 - 150 grams or approximately 1 cup. However this can vary based on factors like dietary needs, personal preference and other ingredients in the dish.
Calculating how much mince to buy
It's helpful to know how much mince to buy when you are planning a meal to minimise waste and promote healthy eating habits.
The table below specifies the amount of mince recommended when feeding more than one person. Some dishes need more mince than the standard sized portion as indicated below:
|
Number of people |
Standard portion size |
Bolognese |
Nachos |
Lasagne |
Burger patties |
|
1-2 |
250g |
250-300g |
250-300g |
300-400g |
300g |
|
3-4 |
500g |
500-600g |
500-600g |
450-800g |
600g |
|
6-8 |
1 Kg |
1 Kg - 1.2 Kg |
1 Kg - 1.2 Kg |
900-1.6 Kg |
1.2 Kg |
Number of calories in different types of mince
If you are following healthy eating habits you may find it helpful to know how many calories there are in a standard 125g portion of your preferred mince.
Lean mince has slightly fewer calories and fatty mince slightly more calories. Chicken is the leanest mince whilst beef and pork are generally fattier.
| 125 gram portion | Calories |
| Beef mince | 415 |
| Chicken mince | 295 |
| Lamb mince | 335 |
| Pork mince | 370 |