Growing up, my grandfather cooked for us often, and boy, was he a great chef. He could make a delicious meal out of the simplest ingredients.
And don’t get me started about leftovers! Mashed potatoes became potato pancakes, turkey became sandwiches, and pasta was now a casserole. That man could breathe new life into almost anything.
These meals were necessary because, as a former cook in the army, he would only make massive quantities of food. A large stock pot was the norm in his house. I forgot to mention that we had a small family of four.
Fast forward to today, and while I gained his love of repurposing leftovers, I am trying not to overcook. One ingredient I constantly struggle with is potatoes. It seems as though I always make enough for the entire neighborhood.
Too many potatoes isn’t a huge issue since I love these starchy carbs, but I would like to know just how many potatoes per person are needed. If you are inundated with too many mashed potatoes or overloaded with baked potatoes, french fries, or potato salad, this post is for you.
Want to learn how many potatoes per person to buy and cook?
Let’s go to The Chalkboard.
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How Many Potatoes Per Person — The Average Potato Sizes
Americans love their potatoes. The average person consumes over 120 pounds of this starchy veggie each year. That’s more than double the amount of lettuce we eat. It’s safe to say that potatoes are pretty popular.
The average potato weighs 5-10oz. Anything that weighs more is considered large.
Loose potatoes on a grocery store display are often larger and meant for baking since consumers usually buy one per person. Bags typically contain medium-sized potatoes.
Small potatoes are great for salads and roasting; medium-sized is the most versatile and works well as mashed potatoes, baked, and fried. Large potatoes are great for baked and french fries.
| Size | Uses | |
| Small | 2-5oz | Salad, Roasting |
| Medium | 5-10oz | Mashed, Baked, Fried |
| Large | 10oz.+ | Baked or French Fries |
One pound is 16 oz. therefore, contains approximately three medium-sized potatoes.
How Many Roasted Potatoes Per Person
Roasted and baked potatoes are NOT the same. They are both baked in the oven, but roasted potatoes are cut into smaller pieces, coated with olive oil, and cooked in the oven until crispy. Baked potatoes are cooked whole.
An average serving size is ½ pound of roasted potatoes per person.
| Number of Guests | Amount of Roasted Potatoes |
| 2 | 1 lb. |
| 4 | 2 lbs. |
| 6 | 3 lbs. |
| 8 | 4 lbs. |
| 10 | 5 lbs. |
How Many Pounds of Mashed Potatoes Per Person
Typically, you want to make ½ pound of mashed potatoes per person.
| How Many Potatoes For Mash For 2 | 1lb. |
| How Many Potatoes For Mash For 4 | 2lbs. |
| How Many Potatoes For Mashed Potatoes For 6 | 3lbs. |
How Much Potato Salad Per Person
The serving size for potato salad is not as straightforward as other dishes. I reviewed over twenty popular potato salad recipes, and the serving size varied dramatically. This side dish is a bit trickier since it’s often not the only food served.
Potato salad is often on the menu at cookouts and BBQs with other sides. Since there are other options, the portions are smaller.
Here’s a good rule of thumb. If potato salad is the only side dish, plan for six ounces per person. If there are several side dishes, have 3.5 ounces per person.
| Number of Guests | How Many Potatoes For Potato Salad*(Only Side Dish) | How Many Potatoes For Potato Salad* (Several Other Side Dishes) |
| 2 | 8 oz. (½ lb.) | 12 oz. (¾ lb.) |
| 4 | 14 oz. | 1 ½ lb. |
| 6 | 1 ⅓ lbs. | 2 ¼ lb. |
| 8 | 1 ¾ lbs. | 3 lbs. |
| 10 | 2 ¼ lbs. | 3 ¾ lbs. |
| 12 | 2 ⅔ lbs. | 4 ½ lbs. |
| 14 | 3 ¼ lbs. | 5 ¼ lbs. |
*Amounts are rounded to the nearest ounce to make cooking and scaling recipes easier.
What Do You Think?
How many potatoes per person do you typically make? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear.
Read More:
How To Stop Rice From Overflowing
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Theresa says
For 8 people I make 15 pounds of potatoes for mashed potatoes. Yes, we have some left overs but not as many as you would think. I would be mortified to not have enough.
Kristen says
I agree, you never want to be short on food.
Linda Corp says
How many russet potatoes are in 2 pounds?
Kristen says
About four in total. Two should fit comfortably in your hand to equal a pound.