What to buy for a mashed potato night
Plan the shopping around the number of registered guests, including separate vegetarian portions and dietary requirements. You will need more than potatoes and toppings: deep plates, serving spoons, large pots, warmers and enough tableware determine whether the buffet keeps moving. Buy refrigerated items early enough to chill them safely, but leave fresh vegetables and bread until the day before or the morning of the event. Use the full checklist below to coordinate food, equipment and serving supplies.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 55
- Buffet tablesqty 3
- Coat racksqty 2
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 60
- Deep platesqty 60
- Dessert platesqty 60
- Coffee cupsqty 60
- Water glassesqty 70
- Wine glassesqty 60
- Knivesqty 60
- Forksqty 60
- Spoonsqty 60
- Serving spoonsqty 12
- Soup ladlesqty 12
Kitchen
- Large cooking potsqty 6
- Frying pansqty 3
- Cutting boardsqty 6
- Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 8
- Colandersqty 4
- Mixing bowlsqty 6
- Measuring cupsqty 3
- Ladlesqty 8
- Aluminum traysqty 20
- Coolersqty 3
Equipment
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Kettlesqty 2
- Food warmersqty 6
- Induction hobsqty 4
- Extension cordsqty 4
- Power stripsqty 4
Decorations
- Tableclothsqty 6
- Napkin holdersqty 6
- Autumn decorationsqty 12
- Name badgesqty 55
Lighting
- Atmosphere lightsqty 8
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Mopsqty 2
- Bucketsqty 2
- Cleaning glovesqty 6
- Dish brushesqty 3
Catering
- Groceries
- Potatoes - 25 kilogram
- Kale - 8 kilograms
- Carrots - 6 kilograms
- Onions - 6 kilograms
- Sauerkraut - 6 kilogram
- Endive - 5 kilograms
- Red cabbage - 4 kilograms
- Celeriac - 3 kilograms
- Leek - 3 kilograms
- Garlic - 5 bulbs
- Smoked sausages - 35 pieces
- Stew meat - 4 kilograms
- Minced meat - 3 kilogram
- Vegetarian smoked sausages - 15 pieces
- Vegetarian gravy - 3 liters
- Gravy - 5 liters
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Cooking cream - 3 liters
- Vegetable broth - 2 liters
- Beef broth - 2 liters
- Flour - 1 kilogram
- Eggs - 30 pieces
- Breadcrumbs - 1 kilogram
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Pickles - 3 jars
- Fried onions - 3 bags
- Pickled onions - 3 jars
- Applesauce - 6 jars
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Nutmeg - 1 jar
- Bay leaves - 1 bag
- Cloves - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Vanilla custard - 6 liters
- Chocolate custard - 6 liters
- Whipped cream - 12 aerosol cans
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Sweeteners - 2 boxes
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Beer - 6 crates
- Alcohol-free wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Still water - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Napkins - 6 packs
- Tealights - 40 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 50 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 10 pieces
Tips
- Allow about 250–300 g of peeled potatoes per person for a main meal, plus 10% extra for seconds and preparation loss. For 40 guests, that means roughly 11–13 kg of peeled potatoes.
- Plan 150–200 g of toppings or accompaniments per person, depending on the menu. Split the quantity between meat and vegetarian options after collecting dietary requirements, rather than guessing on the shopping day.
- Buy or reserve one deep plate, fork and knife per guest, plus at least 10% spare place settings. Mashed potatoes are difficult to serve neatly on flat dinner plates, so count deep plates separately.
- For a buffet serving 40 people, prepare at least two large cooking pots and two serving spoons, and arrange enough food warmers to keep the mash and hot toppings warm during service. Check that induction hobs and extension cords are available before shopping.
- Do not leave drinks, coffee cups, dessert plates and serving utensils until the last trip. Chill refrigerated items several hours before guests arrive, and keep coolers ready if the refrigerator cannot hold the full quantity.
Frequently asked questions
- How many potatoes do I need for mashed potato night?
- Allow 250–300 g of peeled potatoes per person for a main meal, then add about 10% extra for seconds and trimming. For 20 guests, buy approximately 5.5–6.5 kg of peeled potatoes, or more if potatoes are the only substantial dish.
- What equipment do I need for a mashed potato buffet?
- For every 20–25 guests, plan at least one large cooking pot, one colander, two serving spoons and suitable food-warming capacity. You also need deep plates, forks, knives and a buffet table; check electrical equipment and extension cords at least one day ahead.
- How much food should I buy for vegetarian guests?
- Confirm dietary requirements before finalising quantities, ideally 7–10 days before the event. Reserve a clearly separate vegetarian portion and calculate its toppings for the exact number of vegetarian guests, with one or two extra portions if registrations may change.
- When should I buy ingredients for mashed potato night?
- Buy dry goods, drinks and non-food supplies 2–3 days before the event. Purchase fresh vegetables and bread within 24 hours, and chill dairy, meat and other refrigerated items for several hours before guests arrive.
Plans a lot like this one
Start this plan in Lizzt
Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.
Organize this event for free with LizztOrganize for free and invite your contacts!