How many full trays do I need for 60 people?
In most cases, 3 aluminium pans will contain around 20 portions each, which equals around 60 portions for a large crowd of people. Aluminium pans are capable of holding up to 7 – 8 quarts of food, depending on whether the food is wet or more solid.
Most experts agree that for a party of 60 guests you should provide each guest with at least 1 lb. of food. This is a good rule of thumb as some guests will only nibble as others will take much more than 1 lb. You should also take beverages into account--approximately two beverages per person, or 120 beverages.
So, for an event of 100 guests, you'll need 80 platters to feed the guests at “full meal” capacity. You may feel the need to order 1-2 more than your calculation, but keep in mind that different guests have different levels of appetite.
The easiest rule is the “One Pound Rule.” Provide one pound of food for each adult guest (not including drinks or dessert).
Most half trays serve approximately 8-10 people. Most full trays serve approximately 15-20 people.
How many bites per person? If you're hosing 25 -35 guests, plan 3-4 bites per person if a full dinner is to be served afterwards, or 5-7 bites per person if a lighter meal will be served. If you're hosting a party of 50, then you can offer 6 to 9 different items.
legally responsible guideline is 1 serving per person per hour. Be sure to plan at least1 piece per person per kind offered. 4 to 6 pieces per person when preceding a meal. 4 to 6 pieces per person per hour when hors d'oeuvres are the meal.
For 60 People you will need 36 cups of potato salad. How Many Pounds of Potato Salad For 60 Family members or People – You will need 18 pounds of potato salad for 60 people – this is around 300-325 oz depending on what you serve with it.
Rules to Plan By
Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet.
Take the number of your guest list and multiply it by three to calculate how many servings you will need for the appetizers. A rule of thumb is to always calculate a big group meal as though it is a buffet, even if it is a sit down affair.
How many appetizers do I need for 100 guests?
If you're offering catered appetizers, plan for about six portions per guest. For a party of 100 guests, this adds up to roughly 600 appetizer portions. You can also offer light snacks like nuts, fruits and pretzels to give guests something to munch on when they first arrive — stock up on these items in bulk.
How many pounds of green beans do you need for 50 people? For 50 people – you will need 25 cups of beans of approximately 7lbs of beans, which is 1.2 large cans of beans.

On average, guests will consume five to eight servings per person in a predinner hors d'oeuvres hour. For a party where you are only serving hors d'oeuvres, plan for eight to 12 servings per person in the first hour, and four to six pieces per person every hour after that.
You will need 50 cups of Ice Cream for 50 people
50 people will need a total serving of Ice Cream of 3.1 gallons – so I would buy 3 gallons and one extra quart.
Overall Tips for Planning a Party Menu
Choose items that are seasonal in order to keep the prices down and the freshness up. Think about where people will be eating. If they will be up walking around and mingling, make sure things are bite sized and can be eaten while holding a drink.
Large Tray: 45-60 people (18″ tray)
The Full Size Steam Table Disposable Aluminum Pan will typically serve at least 50 main dish servings and as many as 75 – 80 side dish servings. A typical serving size is 4 – 6 ounces.
Food Pan Sizes
Full size food pans are the standard in the foodservice industry, measuring approximately 20 3/4" x 12 3/4". All other sizes of food pans are simply a variation on those dimensions.
Avoid the temptation to make too much food. For larger parties, serve 8 appetizers per person. With more people there, you want to have a larger buffet of food to choose from, so a larger variety of 6-8 different appetizers is a good plan. The higher the number, the bigger the array of choices you need.
- Soup.
- Loose meat sandwiches.
- Baked potatoes.
- Pasta.
- Tacos.
- Make-your-own-pizzas.
- Cheese and crackers.
- Vegetables and dip.
What are 3 types of appetizers?
Appetizers can be classified into three groups-cocktails, canapes, and hors d'oeuvres.
Take the number of your guest list and multiply it by three to calculate how many servings you will need for the appetizers. A rule of thumb is to always calculate a big group meal as though it is a buffet, even if it is a sit down affair.
Appetizers - For parties in which only appetizers and finger foods are being served, base your estimate on five to eight appetizers per person, per hour. If there is a meal included, you can cut back to three or four per person per hour before the meal. Offer more types of appetizers for a larger crowd.
Rules to Plan By
Each adult will consume 1 pound of food total; children, about 1/2 pound. The more options you have, the less you need of each; decrease the main course portion sizes by 1 to 2 ounces if served on a buffet.
21⁄2-in. | 4-in. | |
---|---|---|
Full Pan | 33 | 53 |
Two-thirds Pan | 22 | 35 |
Half Pan | 17 | 26 |
Third Pan | 11 | 18 |
For 60 People you will need 36 cups of potato salad. How Many Pounds of Potato Salad For 60 Family members or People – You will need 18 pounds of potato salad for 60 people – this is around 300-325 oz depending on what you serve with it.
legally responsible guideline is 1 serving per person per hour. Be sure to plan at least1 piece per person per kind offered. 4 to 6 pieces per person when preceding a meal. 4 to 6 pieces per person per hour when hors d'oeuvres are the meal.
Figure about 4 ounces -- a quarter pound -- of veggies per guest. This works out to 1 pound for every four people.
Avoid the temptation to make too much food. For larger parties, serve 8 appetizers per person. With more people there, you want to have a larger buffet of food to choose from, so a larger variety of 6-8 different appetizers is a good plan. The higher the number, the bigger the array of choices you need.
If you're offering catered appetizers, plan for about six portions per guest. For a party of 100 guests, this adds up to roughly 600 appetizer portions. You can also offer light snacks like nuts, fruits and pretzels to give guests something to munch on when they first arrive — stock up on these items in bulk.
How many party platters do I need?
On average, guests will consume five to eight servings per person in a predinner hors d'oeuvres hour. For a party where you are only serving hors d'oeuvres, plan for eight to 12 servings per person in the first hour, and four to six pieces per person every hour after that.
Divide the Recipe into Servings.
Once you know how much the entire finished dish weighs, divide the weight by the number of servings, which is usually listed in the recipe ("serves six," or "serves eight," for example). Round the result to an easy-to-remember number to find the average serving size.
DISH | AMOUNT COOKED (PER PERSON) |
---|---|
Meat/fish (1 type) | 180-200g |
Meat/fish (2 types) | 110g |
Meat/fish (3 types) | 80g |
Heavy side (potatoes, creamy pastas) | 140g |
Full size food pans are the standard in the foodservice industry, measuring approximately 20 3/4" x 12 3/4". All other sizes of food pans are simply a variation on those dimensions.
This is a perfect size for parties, and you can expect to get between 12 and 20 slices from a single cake. A double-layer, 9 x 13 inch cake that is at least 4 inches tall yields 36 party-size servings or 50 wedding-size servings, which traditionally are slightly smaller.
The Full Size Steam Table Disposable Aluminum Pan will typically serve at least 50 main dish servings and as many as 75 – 80 side dish servings. A typical serving size is 4 – 6 ounces.