Shrinkage on raw, boneless meat is around 40 percent.

When making hamburgers, you have to allow 2 per person. Grating in some onion and just a little bread crumb (1/4 cup per pound) and using regular 70% burger will give you the juiciest burgers.

Thank you,
Shell

Thanks!

Mindi, see the sandwich event page. The hardest decision is how much of each. I would figure how much if it was all one, then use 60% of the amount for each- when there are multiple meats, people tend to eat some of each, and more all together.

Boneless raw rump roast has up to a 40% cooking loss- so about 30 pounds?

How much tri-tip do I need to buy to serve 75?
How much chicken do I need to buy to serve 75?

Amber, tritip is nit an inexpensive dish, you need 1 [pund raw for each 2 people, or at least 2 pounds for 5. Consider smoked brisket. For chicjen, 1/4 chibken per person- that is close to a pound raw bine-in.

Thank you
Beth

You will find excellent numbers in the plan for 100 pages, with some cautions. For example for 100 people you need a little over 80 pounds of quaters but only 65 pounds of mixed chicken pieces. Allow 1 pound skinless boneless ham for each 4 people plus abou 1 piece of chicken. Red potatoes, 35-40 pounds per 100 persons, so 55-60 pounds. Salads are listed in the plan for 100 page.

Pam, 15 pounds ribs would give plenty, along with 16 pounds chicken pieces.

We're having my son;s 1st b-day party next week, I was wondering how much ground beef i need to cook- out for about 30 adults and 10 kids? thanks for the help

thank you

Phyllis, depending on whether it is dinner entrees, for sandwiches or for appetizers, the amounts vary. Look on the plan for 100 page for dinner entree amounts and potato salad quantities, the sandwich events page for sandwich meats and condiment amounts and the appetizer planning page for appetizer guidance. In general, allow at least 4 ounces of lean, deli sliced, ready to eat ham PLUS 3-4 ounces of meatballs as a baseline. If you do an estimate and post it, I will check it for you.

If you decide on the lunch time, you use 1/2 of the amount you would make for 100. All the items are covered in the various planning pages (buttons at the top of the main cook talk page), and do read the appetizer planning page for the discussion about quantities and timing.

If you get good rolls, allow one per person as some folks will take them as bread, even without the beef.

La, sorry to say you need 3/4 to 1 pound short ribs per person, depending on side dishes, because of the amount of bone and fat in short ribs. Heavier side dishes, beans, potatoes, etc , less meat. Lighter, fruit, green salad, more meat.
When they are the only meat I allow 1 burger and 1 hot dog per person, but I get Polish sausage or kielbasa, much tastier than hot dogs.

Salads- see the plan for 100 page.

You want about 1 cup for each 6-8 hot dogs.

DO be sure you have event insurance for liability. $1 million minimum.

His Thyme Personal Chef
Denver

Janie, 14-15 pounds of potatoes for the whole recipe and 1/4 to 1/3 cup gravy per person.

You need 1 pound raw spare ribs per person for your rib meal.

Chris

Thanks and have a great day
Lillie in Charlotte, NC

Night-2 Dinner: pork chops, barbecue ribs, shrimp kebabs, mashed potatoes, and baked green beans. How many pounds of pork chops, ribs, and shrimps should I get?

For the second night, you pick by servings. Each of these is 1 person: 10 ounces raw pork chop with bones, 1 pound ribs, 3/4 pound shrimps.

Thanks

thanks for any help.

The hardest estimate for this is the meats, because of so many choices. I would skip the hot dogs entirely and plan on 1 burger patty PLUS 1 brat or Polish sausage per person. You will have some left over, but they can be frozen for use in chili or soup later, and this is the only way I have found to make sure everyone in this small a group gets what they want.

also I am cooking pork roast for BBQ how many pounds will it take

Pork roast is similar depending on cut, bone in or out, etc.

Anita, you need 1 pound prepared ready to serve for each 3 sandwiches, and you need to plan for abot 120 sandwiches for 100 people.

I also don't know the taste preferences of your community. What I can tell you is that it takes 1/2 chicken, OR 1 pound of pork ribs OR 1 pound of beef ribs, to make a party serving for one person, or 2 pounds raw boneless well trimmed pork roast to serve 3. Hope this helps.

There are some really good pig-roasting sites on line. I think there are some links on the BBQ and brisket page.

See the beef roast directions in the holiday cooking section at the top of big pots.

Thanks!

Heather, you need 1 piece of chicken per person PLUS 2 pounds of raw tritip for each 5 persons. For the rest, use 1/3 the amount for 100 from the planning lists.

I would remind that 17 pounds brisket is only 35 servings... It is usual to expect that at least 3/4 of the guests will take some beef.

Good luck to you and a long and happy life together to the couple.

5 pounds of dry pasta will not leave any leftovers, but for a casserole would likely be enough.

If this is for grown ups, consider getting Polish sausage or kielbasa instead of regular hot dogs, very little extra expense and much better flavor.

I am having my husband a 50th birthday party (Barbecue). I am serving baby back ribs, chicken and a half of pig. The sides are potatoe salad, cole slaw, crab salad and bake beans. I am expecting about 75 to 85 people. How many slabs of ribs and chicken should I purchase? How many lbs of potatoes do I need to purchase? I will the prepack slaw (cabbage) for the slaw. Can you tell me how many bags should I purchase to make the slaw? I want this to be a birthday that my husband will never forget and do not want to run short of anything. So, I really appreciate your help.

www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/appetiz2.html

See the sandwich event page for a table that tells whet condiments per 100 people.

25 pounds potatoes for salad.

Thank you.

Please have the cook read the "Wedding Reception menu ideas" thread- the whole thread. That cook was an experienced quantity cook, had 15 helpers for 3 days before the wedding, was NOT grilling, and served only 135; she had success. You/ your cook have a LOT of work to do besides just the food to have success and not much time to do it in.

Millie, 100 pounds- this is a very bony item, and they are heavy.

Mindy, I would probably do 2 12-14 pounders. One 20 pounder would be fine, but the meat is better on the smaller birds.

I am having 30 people for Thanksgiving dinner. How big should the ham be? Please let me know bone in and boneless. Thank you.

main course roast chicken with mashed potato, sprouts, carrots & peas.

The meat will do as long as someone serves it and you do not need any leftovers.

Depends on the side dishes. If this is fajitas from a single meat only with no rice and beans, about 1 pound raw boneless meat for 3 people, plus 10%. If rice and beans, 1 pound for 4 people plus 10% is usually plenty. For the two meats, you would figure the total for one meat, then get 2/3 that amount in raw boneless beef and a little less than 1/2 that amount in boneless skinless chicken. Yes that add up to more than 100%, but when you have two meats people eat more and some of each.

Kelly, for your amounts see the plan for 100 page and the dessert planning page, you might also like the bbq and brisket page for some ideas and links. The usual problems with chicken are cooking to hot, to fast, so yo end up with perversely dry, underdone chicken. Good grilled chicken takes a solid hour over a medium to low fire, the secret is really good grill folk and allowing enough time- that is a LOT of grill space- if you have to hold, hold tightly covered at 180 degrees in a preheated oven.

Kelly, you have to fully cook the chicken when you par-cook it, and oven roasting is better than boiling. I would also marinate before roasting. If you are NOT grilling, take a look at the orange dijon wedding chicken, which can be made ahead and frozen and is much more Mother's Day-ish than BBQ chicken. Then serve a rice or pasta salad and a spinach strawberry salad instead of cole slaw. Prettier.

Brian, three meats for 40 people is a tough calculation, see the discussion on the bbq and brisket page. I would do 1 piece of chicken PLUS 1/2 pound ribs PLUS 1/3-1/2 pound raw tritip per person, this is the only way to make sure everyone gets his or her first choice, which you need for buffet service. And no you would be better off cooking done and serving room temp. cold on the beef; tritip is unforgiving and does not take well at all to reheating.

From St.John Episcopal Church for Deaf In Birmingham ,Al

If it is the only main course, this is usually about 40 cups. At a cup and a half per person (large bowl), it serves about 30+ people.

Potatoes, I allow 35-40 pounds for 100 people. You would want about 3/4 that.

Anita, about 18 pounds boneless fillet should be enough with this menu. I would probably serve a non-pasta salad if I were serving spaghetti.

very sorry hope you can be a great help to me,hope to here from you soon,many thanks,

Potatoes, definitely 35 pounds per 100- with this many men you don't want to

I would start with 1/2 pound raw ribs plus 2 pieces of fish per person (3 if nuggets and not fillets). 3 hush puppies per person. The rest is covered in the lists and recipes on site; use 2/3 of the amounts per 100. The recipe for cheesy hash browns is at the bottom of the family brunch page.

Audrey15-18 pounds, and 1 egg per pound.

www.ellenskitchen.com/forum/messages/8118.html

Good day with smile. May the lord be with you always.

What amount is needed of these?

On the sandwiches, you need 4 ounces of cooked ready to eat meat per person, that is 1 pound raw boneless shoulder for each 3 people. Freeze/ store in the sauce and it bulks up the meat some. 120 rolls per 100. Sandwich condiments per 100 are on the sandwich event page, you would use BBQ sauce instead of ketchup, otherwise the same. I would provide a big bowl of egg salad or swirled peanut butter and jam for the non-pork eaters; in this size crowd there will be some.

If you are set on the rigatoni, use the pasta dinner for 50-60 at the bottom of the spaghetti page as a guide and make 1/2 only. It will be plenty.

Aleita, if this is served in a bowl or over rice, I would do 2 gallons for the kids, plus extra for the adults

sincerely,
Rosa

Use the link to the armed services quartermaster recipe file in the middle of the Big Pots page for help on amounts of many dishes for 100 and for basic recipes.

ambrosia, fruit salad- both fruit salads. You check the fruit tray page for total quantities per 100, divide in half for each.

Since you have 2 choices meat, people will eat a little more, so go with 10 pounds raw weight per each 40 people- maybe even 12 unless you are serving rice and beans as part of the side dishes. For the toppings, this will make you laugh, but use the servings for the Baked Potato Bar toppings, allowing the larger amount for sour cream and grated cheese. Be sure to allow at least 3 tortillas per person- people usually make 2 fajitas, but eat a 3rd with butter or guacamole or other toppings- I usually do 2 corn and 2 flour per person.

Shredded roast beef in gravy - 40 lbs.
Sliced turkey in gravy - 35 lbs.
mashed potatoes - 50 lbs.
green beans - 6 of the large cans
Toss salad mix - 18 lbs.
1 1/2 gallon dressings
Bread and rolls (was thinking about a combo of sliced bread and kaiser rolls - not sure how much)
Vegetable and relish tray

Fruit trays would be an attractive and appropriate addition to the menu- see the fruit tray page.

Have to cook for 130 children,

chicken nuggets,
corn fritters,
rice
pasta salad
meatballs,
I don't know the exact amounts of : chicken breast, and the rest of the ing. can you help me please.?

When I have this information, I may be able to help.

5 (8pounds each after fat is cut off)Briskets
18 racks of Pork Ribs- 2bones per guest
50 pounds of Hot Itailan Sausage sliced
50 pounds of Reg. Sausage sliced
Making Potatoe Salad Homemade Making it with 35pounds of Potatoes
3-Lg Cans of Green Beans
3 Lg Cans of Ranch Style Beans
18 pds of Salad w/ veggies cucumbers,red onions, cherry toms etc.
1 gallon of each ranch and It.
2 gallons of BBQ Sauce 1 more gallon of sweet/hot
I'm making the rolls homemade. 2oz balls of dough= 120 rolls
Pickles,onions?

Julie, see the taco salad for 30 and get 10-12 times the amounts for 30. Rice about the same as beans.

Cami, if this is the only meat, at least 20 pounds. You might also do some chicken quarters.

How many pounds of rice for 40 people?
THANKS!

Annabeth, you want about 1 cup cooked per person, so 4-5 pounds would not be too much. Rice is cheap.

Thanks You

So for the meat, just add 15 more people's worth to your amounts; about 5 more pounds of beef and 3 of chicken..

Florence, 1/2 pound raw tritip per person, 10 pounds dry rice per 100, see plan for 100 for salad. Add a good roll.

Beverly, see the spaghetti dinner for 50 at the bottom of the spaghetti page, use that list for quantities.

Thanks

Get help for the day of the service, even with this cozy wedding, you can't do it all.

We are serving breakfast for about 40 High School football players. Need to know how much of everything we have to make. There will be scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage links, toast, and hash brown potatoes. Could you please tell us how much we need of each of these? Also, what time do we need to start preparing, so its all done by 8:30 a.m.? Thank-you so much for your help!

Thankyou!

Julie, I do 1 burger PLUs 1 Polish sausage or hot dog per person, plus 10% if it is self serve, as people come back for seconds and families include teens and other heavy eaters. Condiments, are discussed on the sandwich page, bottom of the table. Polish sausages are tastier than hot dogs at about the same price.

or going with lasagna garlic bread fresh fruit and cookie
how many 9x13 pans of lasagna?????

Don't forget bread/rolls
Have one box of veggie patties (Boca, Morningstar, for example) for the non-meat eaters

How much hamburger will we need for the sloppy joes and of the rest? Thanks so much for the help!

I would add fruit trays and a relish tray ( of the tray for 50-60) from this site.

Ms. Que, about 8 pounds. Coarse or chili grind if you can get it, or even better, chuck chopped by hand.

Maria, I would do 2 pounds asparagus, 1/2 pound beans, 6-8 large portabella, 1 or 2 eggplants,
3 each bell peppers, 3-4 each zucchinis.

For the meats, tougher, but I would aim for about 28 pounds ready to eat pork, 80 burgers, 100 sausages.

Whole salmon goes on sale as low as 3.98 a pound and can be bought frozen. Frozen Dover sole fillets, a very nice fish, are available here for about that price. An alternative would be a salmon mouse or pate.

Cake is good Water is good. Soda is OK if you add 4-6 gallons of unsweetened ice tea- see the beverage planning page.

If you are going with 1 pound boneless raw chicken per 3, about 70 pounds, you can cut the carnitas to 70 pounds also, even for heavy eaters. The $200 saved would be a great donation to the local food bank...

I am looking to do a stew (without veg, just beef) for 15 good eaters. How many pounds of braising beef would I be looking for? Many thanks - Jill

Thanks you for your help!
Staci

For fancy, improve your cheese selection and amounts and add a buttered crumb topping

Belinda,use the plan for 100 tables to make a first estimate, post it, and I will check it for you.

Krysel, all of these, in ready to eat
Carne Asada, 4 ounces per person
Chicken, 3 ounces per person
Chorizo, 2 ounces per person

A half gallon of slaw is plenty.

Linda, it depends on what other entrees are being served, but you want 300-400.

I am serving roast Bison or Elk at a wedding as well as either salmon or grilled chicken. Buffett style, summer wedding. In rough numbers there are about 68 adults, the rest are kids (most under 7). How many pounds of roast should I make? What about the chicken or fish pieces? How many pieces? - There will be other food too. Salads, potatoes, rice pilaf, veggies, fruit, etc.

Jessica, depends on what else is served, but I always allow at least 6 pieces per person.

Diane, use the BBQ and brisket page to take a stab at estimating this, post the effort and I will give you some feedback.

Sandy, short ribs come in a LOT of different cuts. Get some from the butcher you are using, weigh, and multiply.

I'm serious; if you have never roasted a hog, you are headed for disaster trying to do all, day of.

i need help in quanitifying.. please.. thanks!

Karen, If these are precooked, ready to eat, 3-4 pounds depending on the ages of the kids and how heavy of eaters the crew is.

Thanks Amy

Mary all tehse items are covered in detail in the plan for 100 list. Just get 2 times the amount for 100, unless they are elementary school, in which case, about 1 3/4.

Starting from raw, 1 pound boneless raw beef per 4, and cook low and slow to reduce shrinkage. Top sirloin or top round, very thinly sliced cold.

Thanks in advance for your help - HELP!!!

Cheese Board
-cheddar
-jalapeno jack
-brie
-boursin
-grapes
-crackers

Cheese Board- Total 18-pounds cheese
-cheddar
-jalapeno jack
-brie
-boursin
-grapes-1 pound per 5
-crackers 1 ounce per person, and add breads above

www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/texmexfajitas.html

Paula, hard on the budget! You can't expect less than 2 pounds per 5 kids, so amount depends on attendance.

I'm serving chips and sala, fruit kabobs, and cocount chiken salad on crackers for apps. Of course, we will have birthday cake for dessert. Thank you for your opinion!

Best I can do, hope it helps.

Sara, this is a very light menu if these are the only foods. If it is at a mealtime, you need to plan at least 30 pounds per 100, up to 1/2 pound raw ground beef per person (it shrinks a lot) and at least 3 buns per person.

The same for meat balls and sauce?

Write back.

You could use some chips or a pasta or potato salad?

1 1/2 case or ribs
140 pieces of legs and thigh
100 hot dogs
baked beans w/hamburger
will that be enough to feed 100 people

We are cooking chili, buns, beef on a bun, salads and such. How many roasts do we need to feed 70 with some leftovers but not a freezer full.

Yemini, I allow 1 pound raw boneless beef for 3 people for sandwiches. So figure out how much/many you want to feed later, and you can figure it out.

However, with thie many people, you need to consider adding 15-20 servings of a vegetarian entree, or a side dish that can be a vegetarian entree- not everyone eats meat or pork.

Tim, 1 pound sausage per 5, everything else is covered in the plan for 100 tables.

You do not need to cook 6 hours, just until they shred, which is usually about 3. Add sauce, store for several days in sauce in fridge or freeze, thaw in fridge and reheat.

thank you

Thanks!
Missy & Baby Dax

Use only bell pepper and onion on the meat skewers, put the other veggies separately, they don't take the same amount of time to cook.

Thanks!

Whoops! Sorry =)

Mahalo.

I am cooking eighty five pounds of top sirloin roasts this sunday for a golf tounament and was just curious if you had any suggestions for my timing. Can I pre cook and keep the roasts moist somehow and warm them up a touch before serving? Should I cook them in crock pots all day?

I would add mac and cheese for an entree for people who don't eat meat. 6-8 pounds dry pasta per 100, plus sauce.

brisket, 2 pounds raw well trimmed per 5 people
pulled pork,2 pound ready to eat per 4-5 people (5 if sandwiches, 4 if plated)
teriyaki chicken on skewers,3 ounces boneless skinless chicken per person.

joe

How much should I serve of each? I don't want to
Be stingy and I don't want to run out.
Can you please help the most I've cooked for is
70 people. I do believe we are at 200 orders. If not 250
The final count isn't in yet!
Help I have butterflies when I try to figure it out.

You could make and freeze the beans ahead, or use canned refried...

You can't provide an open bar without a liquor license. They can use the beverage planning guide to buy their liquor and you can provide a bar tender.

Thank you.

Mike, not my area, try some of the good BBQ sites.

God bless.

Thanks

If winter, add oatmeal and toppings, about a gallon.

Instruction 3: Read the beef roasting article, then go to Alton Woods "Good Eats" site and read his. You can then make your roast perfectly to your taste of doneness, but I hope that won't be more than medium rare.

ham, 8-10 pounds

True Alfredo doesn't hold. The recipe above will.

THANKS EH!

fruit salad, do fruit trays, prettier, easier, keep better and the leftovers ar more usable. See the fruit tray page, do about 150 people worth.

I am also thinking about adding sweet potato casserole to the menu also.

can you help me with what we need thanks in advance.

Does this sound better & do you have any more suggestions that are on the simple side the, have you had a chance to look over the menu I am having for the Rehearsal Dinner I asked you about & I am having Cowboy Beans instead of sweet potato casserole for that menu Thanks in advance.

Add a raisin sauce or even better fried apples for the ham.

Peanuts-8 pounds
Butter Mints- 8 pounds
Chocolate Covered Pretzels about 2 per person

Thanks so much this will really help so much I always tend have to much food & with us the grooms family having to do the entire wedding we can't afford to over do everything about this wedding so thanks so much for your help

We are having a dinner party and I will be making an Indian dish with boneless chicken for about 30 people. How much boneless chicken will I need? Keep in mind that we will have a couple of other dishes along with the chicken.

Many Thanks ,
Pat .

chef2chef.com
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pizza rolls for the kids everyone will eat these- expect at least 300