The Party Planner: Cooking for a Crowd
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How much do you need when you’re cooking for a crowd?
If you’re planning a big meal, these estimates can help you determine how much food you should buy.
They’re based on βaverageβ servings; adjust quantities upward for extra-big eaters and downward if children are included.
FOOD |
SERVE 25 |
SERVE 50 |
SERVE 100 |
Meats |
Chicken or turkey breast |
8β9 pounds |
16β18 pounds |
32β36 pounds |
Fish (fillets or steaks) |
7-1/2 pounds |
15 pounds |
30 pounds |
Hamburgers |
6-1/2β9-1/2 pounds |
13β15 pounds |
26β30 pounds |
Ham or roast beef |
10 pounds |
20 pounds |
40 pounds |
Hot dogs |
4 pounds |
7 pounds |
13 pounds |
Meat loaf |
6 pounds |
12 pounds |
24 pounds |
Oysters |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Pork |
8β9 pounds |
16β18 pounds |
32β36 pounds |
Miscellaneous |
Bread (loaves) |
3 |
5 |
10 |
Butter |
3/4 pound |
1β1/2 pounds |
3 pounds |
Cheese |
3/4 pound |
1β1/2 pounds |
3 pounds |
Coffee |
3/4 pound |
1β1/2 pounds |
3 pounds |
Milk |
1β1/2 gallons |
3 gallons |
6 gallons |
Nuts |
3/4 pound |
1β1/2 pounds |
3 pounds |
Olives |
1/2 pound |
1 pound |
2 pounds |
Pickles |
1/2 quart |
1 quart |
2 quarts |
Rolls |
50 |
100 |
200 |
Soup |
5 quarts |
2β1/2 gallons |
5 gallons |
Side Dishes |
Baked beans |
5 quarts |
2β1/2 gallons |
5 gallons |
Beets |
7β1/2 pounds |
15 pounds |
30 pounds |
Cabbage for cole slaw |
5 pounds |
10 pounds |
20 pounds |
Carrots |
7β1/2 pounds |
15 pounds |
30 pounds |
Lettuce for salad (heads) |
5 |
10 |
20 |
Peas (fresh) |
12 pounds |
25 pounds |
50 pounds |
Potatoes |
9 pounds |
18 pounds |
36 pounds |
Potato salad |
3 quarts |
1β1/2 gallons |
3 gallons |
Salad dressing |
3 cups |
1β1/2 quarts |
3 quarts |
Desserts |
Cakes |
2 |
4 |
8 |
Ice cream |
1 gallon |
2 gallons |
4 gallons |
Pies |
4 |
8 |
16 |
Whipping cream |
1 pint |
2 pints |
4 pints |
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