How Many Potatoes Per Person Calculator

How Many Potatoes Per Person Calculator

If you’re having folks over for dinner and serving potatoes, this calculator will help you figure out how many potatoes you’ll need to prepare. This calculator will help you figure out how much you’ll need to prepare, whether you’re serving a roasted potatoes side dish, an au gratin, potato salad, or your favorite mashed potato recipe.

Most people eat about 6 ounces of potatoes per side dish but mashed potatoes are a favorite so expect serving sizes to be just a bit larger, at around 6.5 to 8 ounces.

One 5 lb bag of potatoes will be enough for approximately 10 servings. You don’t need to make an allowance for the peeled weight of the potatoes if you will be adding milk, butter, cheese, and/or sour cream in your potato recipe.

The calculator will also provide suggestions for the amount of instant mashed potatoes you’ll need just in case you decide not to use regular potatoes.

If you are thinking of offering a baked potato bar, head over to our Baked Potato Bar Calculator which provides a breakdown of both potato and topping quantities you might need.

What Type Of Potatoes To Use

To simplify things, potatoes can be put into 2 categories.  Those that are starchy and those that are waxy in texture.

Starchy Potatoes

Starchy potatoes are low in moisture so they readily absorb water during cooking and high in starch (making their flesh “sticky” after cooking) , making them ideal for baked and mashed potatoes.  Russet, Sweet, and Yukon potatoes fall into this category.

Waxy Potatoes

Waxy potatoes are higher in moisture so they tend to retain their shape during cooking and are less likely to fall apart.  That makes them ideal for potato salads, roasting, sliced for pan frying or au gratins.  Potatoes in this category are Red, White, or Yellow potatoes

How Long To Boil Potatoes

Whether you’re boiling dices potatoes for potato salad or whole potatoes for mashing, the boiling process is similar.  You should bring your water to a boil before adding your potatoes, then reduce the heat to medium.  Your potatoes should be cooked in a steady simmer (almost boiling).

In order to get the potatoes to cook uniformly, they should all be a similar size.

Cubed Or Sliced Potatoes

For cubed or sliced potatoes used for potato salad or pan frying, they should be ready in 10-15 minutes.  You will want to test them throughout the cooking process to avoid overcooking them.  They should be easily pierced by a fork or paring knife but not fall apart, otherwise they’ll be too tender and best used for mashing.  Cold shock them after straining to stop the cooking process.

Whole Potatoes

For whole potatoes, they should be tender in 20-30 minutes (depending on size).  You may need to cut larger potatoes down to size so that they are ready at the same time smaller potatoes are finished cooking.  Test the potatoes along the way until they are at your preferred tenderness using a fork.

Number Of Guests
Categories: Food, Party Planning
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