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The Party Planner: Cooking for a Crowd | Chart of Estimates | The Old Farmer's Almanac

The Party Planner: Cooking for a Crowd

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Chart of Food Estimates

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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 β€œaverage” 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 8–9 pounds 16–18 pounds 32–36 pounds
Fish (fillets or steaks) 7-1/2 pounds 15 pounds 30 pounds
Hamburgers 6-1/2–9-1/2 pounds 13–15 pounds 26–30 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 8–9 pounds 16–18 pounds 32–36 pounds
Miscellaneous
Bread (loaves) 3 5 10
Butter 3/4 pound 1–1/2 pounds 3 pounds
Cheese 3/4 pound 1–1/2 pounds 3 pounds
Coffee 3/4 pound 1–1/2 pounds 3 pounds
Milk 1–1/2 gallons 3 gallons 6 gallons
Nuts 3/4 pound 1–1/2 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 2–1/2 gallons 5 gallons
Side Dishes
Baked beans 5 quarts 2–1/2 gallons 5 gallons
Beets 7–1/2 pounds 15 pounds 30 pounds
Cabbage for cole slaw 5 pounds 10 pounds 20 pounds
Carrots 7–1/2 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 1–1/2 gallons 3 gallons
Salad dressing 3 cups 1–1/2 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

 

2023 Almanac Club