Page 4 | One (average sized) tray of roast potatoes for eight people

Rach247 · 2025-12-25T12:05:16+00:00

…including four large and permanently-hungry men. Just seen it being prepared at my in-laws. No other potatoes, boiled carrots and broccoli are the only other sides. AIBU to be disappointed (and preemptively hungry)?

PurpleLovecats · 26/12/2025 00:38

I don’t understand how I’m so fat and most other people are so thin judging by these sorts of threads!
Two roast potatoes is plenty for me, my son cooked three per person today and we had several left over for tomorrow so most people clearly only had two.
I am hugely overweight, but eat so much less than anyone I know!

Twofortheroadwanderlust · 26/12/2025 00:40

Goldeh · 25/12/2025 12:54

Oh god, I'm catering for eight and I've only done one tray

In my defence, they're homemade ones and they're big, chunky things. I've got a load of sides as well, including two trays of Yorkshire puddings (aka, all middle DC will eat from the dinner), mashed potato, buttered turnip, sprouts, parsnips, carrots, broccoli, peas, and then three desserts to choose from (or not choose from).

No judgement lol
but one of your kids will only had Yorkshire puds for dinner ?? wow lucky bugger!! With or without gravey???

MySilentLions · 26/12/2025 00:50

banivani · 25/12/2025 20:52

Please tell me your tips on how to cook loads of roast potatoes! I can’t figure out how to do more than one tray because they won’t roast properly if both trays are in oven at same time, so they tend to get a bit rationed. This year I overcrowded my tray a bit but luckily they came out ok, not great though. They are by far the most popular bit so would love to provide more than enough rather than this rationing business I have going on.

We did another batch in the air fryer. Just as good as the oven version.

ADHDdiagnosis · 26/12/2025 00:50

I feel sorry for you! I’ve just plated up a second Christmas dinner for myself- nearly 1am but it’s Christmas after all. I over cater always. It’s part of my family culture. Plus the reheated second roast is fantastic too.
I hope you had enough to eat!
I’ll be doing the same again tomorrow too

Cricketashes · 26/12/2025 07:10

MySilentLions · 26/12/2025 00:27

Yeah everybody hates you and visits MacDonads on their way home as they are starving Didn’t the BOWL of potatoes give you any clue?

I do 4-5 good sized potatoes minimum per head plus extra for teens/anyone who is sporty or active. On average teen DC eat 8-10 roasties per meal. And scarf any leftovers.

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That's a huge amount! I'm sporty and active and certainly couldn't eat 4 or 5 let alone more than that that you assume I'd eat because I'm sporty. I also have a 6ft teen that only eats 3 at one meal time.

Jellycatspyjamas · 26/12/2025 07:53

Ineffable23 · 25/12/2025 22:38

To be clear, I love roast potatoes. But I don't understand how you can do 2+kg of potatoes and fit anything else in the oven? My oven only has 3 shelves, so if you have carrots + parsnips, plus pigs in blankets + stuffing for one shelf each, you only have a single shelf left for roasties!

I use the oven tray/grill pan. It’s wide and shallow so fits loads of potatoes.

StopGo · 26/12/2025 07:57

safetyfreak · 25/12/2025 16:18

Boiled potatoes for Christmas, ew 😮

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Absolutely agree 🤢

StellaMary · 26/12/2025 08:43

I did 2kg for 10 people and it was plenty- we had one or two over and everyone had a huge plate of food. Can’t really understand this thread.

Westfacing · 26/12/2025 08:43

There's a thread where people are showing photos of their Xmas dinner - I was surprised at how small most peoples roast potatoes were!

I know huge boulders are a bit ugly but I cut mine reasonably large and can easily polish-off two or three of that size. Some of the MN roasties were not much bigger than a sprout! Rather like those 'breakfast' potatoes you might get in a caff or hotel buffet.

I think we're not talking like for like here, portion wise, rather than number of roasties!

FableLies · 26/12/2025 08:51

StellaMary · 26/12/2025 08:43

I did 2kg for 10 people and it was plenty- we had one or two over and everyone had a huge plate of food. Can’t really understand this thread.

I let MN get into my head and did for too many. No one ate the amounts people describe here. Especially with the additional sided you serve at Christmas. I've written a list for next year on amounts already, as a realistic reminder!

FableLies · 26/12/2025 08:52

Westfacing · 26/12/2025 08:43

There's a thread where people are showing photos of their Xmas dinner - I was surprised at how small most peoples roast potatoes were!

I know huge boulders are a bit ugly but I cut mine reasonably large and can easily polish-off two or three of that size. Some of the MN roasties were not much bigger than a sprout! Rather like those 'breakfast' potatoes you might get in a caff or hotel buffet.

I think we're not talking like for like here, portion wise, rather than number of roasties!

My are larger, too. Many, on those photos, look like Aunt Bessie size or smaller.

CalzoneOnLegs · 26/12/2025 08:53

@Westfacing the big potatoes now are now packed for ‘baking potatoes’ though aren’t they, and the smaller ones for general use

Tamtim · 26/12/2025 08:57

I think this must be something that happens with age. My mother has always been a ‘young’ mum but she always tells me not to bring food when we visit as she’s bought loads. I always take food and she has never bought enough. I don’t understand it because my hubby and I always provide too much when entertaining or providing food.

SmoothCollie · 26/12/2025 09:10

I am having awful flashbacks to the boxing day that my PIL served me half a potato, the smallest salmon darn you've ever seen and a teaspoon of veg. I honestly thought everyone took pride in having a bountiful feast for guests like my family did and I got such a shock when I met them.

jackstini · 26/12/2025 09:11

Need at least 4/5 per person and always do 50% more just in case

Did the pigs in blankets first then finished off in air fryer so more space in the oven
I thought 60 pigs for 5 people would give me plenty left for today but nope! *DS doesn’t eat the turkey or beef so they were his total ‘meat’ part of the meal!

Other sides red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, green beans, parsnips, peas, carrots, stuffing, mash, swede & carrot mash & Yorkshire puddings

jeaux90 · 26/12/2025 09:25

The best tip I learnt here for roasties and parsnips were preparing and part boiling them in the trays the night before with the goose fat all over, slam them in the fridge. All you had to do then is put them in the oven

Bjorkdidit · 26/12/2025 10:23

Westfacing · 26/12/2025 08:43

There's a thread where people are showing photos of their Xmas dinner - I was surprised at how small most peoples roast potatoes were!

I know huge boulders are a bit ugly but I cut mine reasonably large and can easily polish-off two or three of that size. Some of the MN roasties were not much bigger than a sprout! Rather like those 'breakfast' potatoes you might get in a caff or hotel buffet.

I think we're not talking like for like here, portion wise, rather than number of roasties!

I do them quite small (cut a medium potato into about 6 pieces) so they cook quickish in a hot oven after par boiling for about 12 mins.

I used beef dripping and Morrisons The Best roasting potatoes and they were amazing.

I did half the bag so 750 g for just me and DP and we ate just over half of them which is good as we've enough left of everything for seconds today.

Fgfgfg · 26/12/2025 10:52

Westfacing · 26/12/2025 08:43

There's a thread where people are showing photos of their Xmas dinner - I was surprised at how small most peoples roast potatoes were!

I know huge boulders are a bit ugly but I cut mine reasonably large and can easily polish-off two or three of that size. Some of the MN roasties were not much bigger than a sprout! Rather like those 'breakfast' potatoes you might get in a caff or hotel buffet.

I think we're not talking like for like here, portion wise, rather than number of roasties!

I saw that thread. Looking at some of the plates DP and I were shocked at both the lack of roast potatoes and the size. On a few of them it was difficult to even spot the potatoes. Who in their right mind would have a plate with a dozen sprouts yet only one potato.?

Notthisagainyouidiot · 26/12/2025 10:59

I'm in distress about 10 pigs between 8 tbh.

Jellycatspyjamas · 26/12/2025 10:59

The roasties are the best bit, we all had 4/5 decent sized potatoes, no leftovers today other than the meat. I’m very good at judging portion sizes.

Soony · 26/12/2025 11:06

You'd think most people host would be anxious not to under cater but it's happened to me. My sister in law and her husband had the appetite of sparrows, would be distressed at being over faced by food.

The potato count became a family joke with our DC who were hungry teen boys after the incident of the potato shortfall.
Those who were serving themselves first not unreasonably assumed another dish of potatoes was coming through. It wasn't. The last two people had to pretend not to be disappointed at having no potatoes.

Pinkladyapplepie · 26/12/2025 11:12

In childhood there were 8 of us. At Christmas we had a large chicken 2 roast potatoes and if a really good day 2 other veg. The only other thing was sage and onion stuffing made with just boiled water.
Desert was one medium sized Christmas pudding and custard, so a desert spoonful max.
My mum was not interested in food at all, we had tiny portions but always a small desert. I really don't know how we all survived on these rations😂

Boododedoop · 26/12/2025 11:24

The last two people had to pretend not to be disappointed at having no potatoes

Id have asked them to share. In fact I’d have asked everyone to cut bits of what they had for the others who were without.

Silverbirchleaf · 26/12/2025 11:31

We had two roast potatoes per person (ie one potato cut in half). That was plenty for us.(plus lots if veg etc)

AliTheMinx · 26/12/2025 11:34

YANBU. That sounds terrible.

We also had a roast potato disaster. I was going to do the Christmas shop.last weekend, but my mum was rushed into hospital, so I was there and DH did the Christmas shop..I reminded him about getting roast potatoes. I am a terrible cook, but I can "make" nice roast potatoes. I usually buy the ready prepperd ones on a foil tray, but then roast in extra goose fat - and for my son and I, who aren't big roast (or turkey) fans, the roasties are our favourite part of.lunch. DH said he said he had bought roast potatoes so I didn't give it a second thought.

On Christmas morning, I opened the fridge to look for the roasties and no sign whatsoever. DH said "Oh, they are in the freezer'...! I opened the freezer to find a tiny bag of McCain roasties. I could have cried... this was for 5 adults!!!! I did my best to recreate my nice "crispy' roasties, but they were awful. We only had a few small potatoes each, and it was so disappointing. With my mum still in hospital, it seemed trivial in comparison, and I know DH didn't do it on purpose, but it was really rubbish. I just about held it together... until he then said we didn't need to decant the cranberry sauce into my lovely little Le Creuset bowl I had put out and xould just have the jar on the table. THEN I really lost it - ha ha!!