Figuring out how much food to make for a large group can be tricky. When it comes to mashed potatoes, you want to make sure you have enough so that everyone gets a hearty serving, but not so much that you end up with lots of leftovers. In this article, we’ll walk through how to estimate how many pounds of potatoes you need and how to cook them to feed a crowd of 30.
Quick Answer
For 30 people, you will need around 15-20 pounds of potatoes to make enough mashed potatoes for hearty servings. This allows for around 1/2-2/3 pound of potato per person.
How Much Mashed Potato per Person?
A good rule of thumb is to plan for 1/2 to 2/3 pound of potato per person when making mashed potatoes. This provides a generous scoop of around 3/4 to 1 cup of mashed potatoes in each serving.
So for 30 people you would need:
- 15 lbs of potatoes (if serving 2/3 lb per person)
- 20 lbs of potatoes (if serving 1/2 lb per person)
Potatoes lose around half their weight when cooked and mashed. So 15-20 pounds of raw potatoes will yield around 7 1/2 to 10 pounds mashed, or enough for about 30 servings.
Estimating Cooked Mashed Potato Yield
If you want to be more precise in your estimates, here is how to calculate how much cooked mashed potato you will get per pound of raw potato:
- 1 medium russet potato (6-8 oz) yields around 3/4 cup mashed
- 1 pound of potatoes is about 3 medium potatoes
- So 1 pound yields around 2 1/4 cups mashed
With this you can estimate:
- 15 pounds will yield around 33 3/4 cups, enough for 30 people
- 20 pounds will yield around 45 cups, enough for 30 people
What Type of Potato to Use
Russet potatoes make the fluffiest, smoothest mashed potatoes. They have a high starch content that creates a soft, creamy texture when mashed. Avoid red or yellow waxy potatoes, as they will make your mash more gluey and dense.
How to Cook the Potatoes
Here are some tips for cooking the potatoes:
- Cut washed potatoes into uniform 1-2 inch chunks. This allows them to cook evenly.
- Start with cold salted water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain thoroughly and return to pot.
- Mash with butter, milk, and seasonings until smooth.
- For a crowd, consider using a stand mixer to whip the potatoes to a creamy consistency.
How to Serve
Here are some tips for serving a crowd:
- Transfer mashed potatoes to a slow cooker set on warm to keep them hot and creamy for serving.
- Scoop out portions into individual bowls for a served meal.
- For a buffet, transfer to a large serving bowl and allow guests to self-serve.
- Garnish with extra butter, cheese, bacon, green onions, etc.
- Any leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days.
Complete Recipe
Here is a complete recipe to serve 30 people:
Ingredients
- 20 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-2 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup salt, for salting cooking water
- 1 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place cut potatoes in large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1/2 cup salt. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Boil until potatoes are fork tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
- Return potatoes to pot and add butter. Mash until smooth, then add milk, sour cream, salt and pepper.
- Beat with electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
- Transfer to slow cooker on warm setting to keep heated for serving.
- Scoop into individual servings bowls or serve from a large bowl. Garnish as desired.
Serving Size Recommendations
When serving mashed potatoes to a large group, it’s important to have an idea of appropriate serving sizes. Here are some recommendations:
| Age Group | Serving Size |
|---|---|
| Toddlers (under 2) | 1/4 cup |
| Preschoolers (3-5) | 1/3 cup |
| Kids (6-12) | 1/2 cup |
| Teens | 3/4 cup |
| Women | 1 cup |
| Men | 1 1/4 cups |
These serving sizes allow for age-appropriate portions while ensuring there is enough for everyone. Adjust amounts as needed based on your crowd size and menu.
Low Calorie and Low Carb Options
For groups monitoring calories and carbs, there are some tweaks you can make:
- Use cauliflower instead of potatoes. Steam and mash cauliflower florets until smooth.
- Try a 50/50 mix of cauliflower and potatoes.
- Substitute milk with lower calorie options like unsweetened almond milk or broth.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Cut back on butter and increase seasoning with herbs and spices.
With some simple substitutions, you can create lower calorie, lower carb mashed cauliflower or cauliflower-potato mash options.
Make Ahead Tips
For convenience, mashed potatoes can be made 1-2 days ahead:
- Cook potatoes, mash, and transfer to a buttered baking dish.
- Cool, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to serve, bake at 350°F until heated through, about 30 minutes.
- For a crowd, transfer to slow cooker to keep warm.
With some advance preparation, you can save time on the day of your event.
Freezing Instructions
Mashed potatoes also freeze well:
- Cook potatoes and mash with butter only, do not add milk or cream.
- Transfer to freezer bags or containers, leaving 1/2 inch space.
- Seal, label, and freeze up to 3 months.
- Thaw in fridge overnight before reheating.
- Add milk or cream after reheating and mix well before serving.
Freezing is a great way to make mashed potatoes in advance for a crowd without worry of wasting food.
Cost Estimate
Here is a rough cost estimate for making mashed potatoes for 30 people:
- Potatoes: $10-$15
- Butter: $3-$5
- Milk: $2-$3
- Sour cream: $3-$4
- Total: Around $20
The exact total will vary depending on the season and your grocery prices. But you can feed 30 people high quality homemade mashed potatoes for around $20-$25.
Conclusion
Figuring out quantities for feeding a crowd can seem daunting. But for a group of 30, plan on 15-20 pounds of potatoes to make fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes. Cook them up with butter, milk, and seasonings and serve in a slow cooker or large bowl for a satisfying side. With a few tips on serving sizes, low calorie options, advance prep, and freezing, you can easily tackle mashed potatoes for a large gathering. Getting the right amount ensures everyone can enjoy this favorite comfort food.