What to buy for a mashed potato night
A mashed potato night needs more than potatoes and toppings. Plan the meal around the final guest count, then shop for the potato dish, stews, vegetables, drinks and dessert, with separate ingredients for vegetarian guests. Buy refrigerated products close to the event and label allergens before guests arrive. The checklist below also covers the serving equipment and tableware that are easy to overlook when the focus is on cooking.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 8
- Chairsqty 70
- Buffet tablesqty 4
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 75
- Soup bowlsqty 75
- Dessert platesqty 75
- Forksqty 75
- Knivesqty 75
- Spoonsqty 75
- Coffee cupsqty 50
- Water glassesqty 100
- Wine glassesqty 60
Kitchen
- Cooking potsqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 10
- Serving tongsqty 4
- Cutting boardsqty 6
- Chef’s knives and paring knivesqty 8
- Colandersqty 4
- Mixing bowlsqty 6
- Measuring cupsqty 3
Equipment
- Food warmersqty 6
- Induction hobsqty 4
- Coolersqty 4
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Kettlesqty 2
- Cold thermometersqty 2
Decorations
- Tableclothsqty 8
- Name badgesqty 70
- Menusqty 10
- Allergen labelsqty 20
Lighting
- String lightsqty 4
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Cleaning bucketsqty 3
- Cleaning clothsqty 12
- Washing-up bowlsqty 3
Catering
- Groceries
- Potatoes - 24 kg
- Kale - 6 kilogram
- Winter carrots - 8 kilograms
- Onions - 5 kilograms
- Sauerkraut - 6 kilogram
- Smoked sausages - 60 pieces
- Meatballs - 5 kilograms
- Vegetarian smoked sausages - 12 pieces
- Vegetarian meatballs - 3 kilogram
- Beef broth - 8 liters
- Vegetable stock - 5 liters
- Gravy powder - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian gravy - 3 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Cooking cream - 3 liters
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Nutmeg - 100 grams
- Bay leaves - 2 bags
- Mustard - 3 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 2 kilograms
- Ketchup - 2 kilograms
- Pickles - 4 jars
- Pickled onions - 3 jars
- Fried onions - 1 kilogram
- Applesauce - 8 jars
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Whipped cream - 3 liters
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Coffee - 3 kilograms
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Granulated sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk cups - 200 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 72 bottles
- Red wine - 12 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 40 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Freezer containers - 30 pieces
- Labels - 2 packs
Tips
- Allow about 250–300 g of potatoes per guest for the main dish, plus extra if mashed potatoes are the centre of the meal. Buy 10% more when serving a large group.
- Plan roughly 300–400 ml of stew or sauce per person if it is served with the potatoes. Keep vegetarian ingredients separate from the start, rather than sorting them after cooking.
- For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, then one drink per person per hour. Chill bottled drinks in advance and keep a separate supply of water available.
- Count tableware by guest and add at least 10% spare pieces: dinner plates, bowls, forks, knives, spoons and glasses. This covers breakage and guests taking a second serving.
- Buy dairy, fresh vegetables and other refrigerated items no earlier than one to two days before the event. Check cold storage with a thermometer and keep hot food in food warmers during service.
Frequently asked questions
- How many potatoes do I need for mashed potato night?
- Allow 250–300 g of potatoes per guest when mashed potatoes are the main dish. For 20 guests, that means 5–6 kg, plus about 10% extra if you expect generous portions or second servings.
- How much stew should I buy for a mashed potato dinner?
- Plan 300–400 ml of stew or sauce per person, depending on how many other toppings and vegetables you serve. For 20 guests, prepare about 6–8 litres.
- How many plates and glasses do I need for 20 guests?
- Set out 22 of each frequently used item: dinner plates, bowls, forks, knives, spoons and water glasses. The extra two per item provide a small buffer for breakage, dropped cutlery or second servings.
- When should I buy ingredients for mashed potato night?
- Buy shelf-stable groceries up to one week ahead and store them dry. Buy potatoes and other fresh produce two to three days before the event, and refrigerated products one to two days before serving.
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