Cooking for 400 men

[SavageSmoke]

I have a cook next weekend for 400 adult men and I’m ordering food.




These are my calculations. See if this adds up.




Pulled pork - 325 lbs (uncooked) assuming half that cooked

Mac and cheese - 108 lbs (cooked)

Green beans - 120lbs

Buns - 432

Slaw - 40lbs

Baked beans - 120 lbs

Sauce - 3 gallons

Potato salad - 100lbs




Am I thinking right on this?

[Lazy Layne]

Are the portions on the meat not one pound per guy? And only 432 buns doesn't leave room for many second helpings. Sounds like you may fall short, unless they're only allowed one helping, then you're good.

[Troutman]

Interestingly enough I had to cook a month ago for 40 women at my wife's place of business and I cooked about 30# of pulled pork and it was plenty. Your ratios to mine are spot on. With sides you will have more than enough. Maybe a few more buns, just depends on the crowd; hungry young men, or old geezers??

If anything cut back on the sides (you have over 1#/person), or substitute something like potato chips for one of them. Easy and you're not sweating yet another hot dish.

[bardsleyque]

buns are a waste of valuable stomach space you'll have plenty

[TheQuietOne]

I think more green beans than mac and cheese is a crime against humanity.

[HouseHomey]

What are the ages of the men? And at what time of day. Will there be booze and what is the function?

assuming men our age?? I’m 50.

assuming booze and this is a lunch.

that is an enormous amount of pork.

i think you’ll likely have enough buns
too much patio salad and way to Mac and cheese
not enough green beans
likely too much baked beans

i would increase the sauce by 1 gallon
i would increase the slaw cuz it’s cheap

and I have no idea if it’s too or to so Huskee I will take the Mulligan.

just my opinion though. You never really know.

[Huskee]

I cannot comment on the amount of sides since that's anyone's guess how much sides they'll eat, if they like what you'll have, etc...., but if you want leftover pulled pork (who doesn't, really?) plan on close to 1lb/person raw weight for adult men w/ manly appetites. I'd say you're right on for pork. You shouldn't run out, you might have TONS of leftovers or you might break even, but I lean toward the former.