  We introduce a general class of mean-field-like spin systems with random
couplings that comprises both the Ising model on inhomogeneous dense random
graphs and the randomly diluted Hopfield model. We are interested in
quantitative estimates of metastability in large volumes at fixed temperatures
when these systems evolve according to a Glauber dynamics, i.e.\ where spins
flip with Metropolis transition probabilities at inverse temperature $\beta$.
We identify conditions ensuring that with high probability the system behaves
like the corresponding system where the random couplings are replaced by their
averages. More precisely, we prove that the metastability of the former system
is implied with high probability by the metastability of the latter. Moreover,
we consider relevant metastable hitting times of the two systems and find the
asymptotic tail behaviour and the moments of their ratio. This work provides an
extension of the results known for the Ising model on the Erd\H{o}s--R{\'e}nyi
random graph. The proofs use the potential-theoretic approach to metastability
in combination with concentration inequalities.
