If you’re having 19 people for Christmas…

[Florally]

How many bags / trays of roast potatoes would you do? 😅

I know it’s September, but just based off a debate with my DH when I was loosely weighing the possibilities of what we need / what we have (chairs etc) to make sure we’re okay to do this.

I was particularly concerned most about oven space and potatoes being a favourite (particularly of my children’s) I wanted to work out if this meal would work and there would be enough for everyone..

Meat we can do in advance, lots of veg I can just pivot to all doing on the hob… thinking maybe I can include microwave and air fryer for some things. But potatoes?! Feel like there has to be enough and they have to be amazing right? (Done in the oven!)

for reference, the 19 is 4 60 plus, 8 30’s and 40’s, 4 teens, 3 under 10’s and one other who basically eats nothing so i’m not counting them in the need for food.

I think I would count 5 roast potatoes per person basing on getting two roasties per potato on average.

I'm.aware not all will eat 5 but my 9 year old would eat 7 (favourite bit of the meal) whereas some kids would only manage two and some adults won't be that fussed sl I all averages out

Personally I would aim for 4 or 5 fairly small roast potatoes each if you are also doing roast parsnip but no mash. I would be doing a tray of home made roasties and parsnips in the oven then a batch of frozen ones in the air fryer . . .
(I would also be doing a large pan of red cabbage the day before and popping it in a bowl in the microwave for 2 or 3 mins to serve.)

We cooked half of our Christmas dinner in the neighbour's oven one year (they were away, knew we had a houseful and offered) and it made it loads easier. Anyone you know well enough to ask?

You’d need 4 trays of roasties - how many ovens do you have?!

Also, there’s no way I can make proper Yorkshire puddings with oven restriction, they’ll have to be frozen.

I have two ovens, one microwave that can also be an oven and two air fryers I could get out.

Is this even possible?

thankyou so much for replies, why am I so immediately stressed about this in September 😂

I am good for table space and chairs with borrowing and I just need to buy one plate! I just want to make sure everyone has enough food.

I won’t be able to lean on my neighbours, they are amazing but always host their own Christmases.

I could do some mash? But it’s not as good as roasts is it?

My kids are like the DC mentioned above, the potatoes are the best bit to them!

Two ovens microwave and airfryer is plenty!

Devote one oven to turkey, and once that is out, 3 big trays of roasties.

The other oven for stuffing, parsnips, pigs in blankets. Carrots, red cabbage and green veg on the hob. Gravy and bread sauce on the hob.
I don’t do Yorkshires with turkey!

I have to do Yorkshires! My kids would not forgive me…. And the baby coming loves to chew on one.

Two big trays will surely do four each? You may need to cook them a bit longer. People eat fewer potatoes with all the trimmings.

I feel like we don’t big trays when we have another family for dinner - but maybe you’re right. And with trimmings people will have less..

Do the red cabbage weeks in advance ... freezes perfectly, defrost, microwave [Delia Smith's Christmas red cabbage recipe]

Sorry ‘do’ big trays

Nothing wrong with making your Yorkshire puddings and then freezing them, put them in the oven as it cools, straight from frozen, to get proper Yorkshire puddings with no effort on the day.

6 medium sized roasties per person. 19 jacket potato sized potatoes in effect.

I’ve never frozen Yorkshires! Didn’t know you could!

love this thank you

Mash is not as good…..but this is why we have mash with the roast. 2-3 roast potato bits each, unlimited mash

... agree re potatoes but just wanted to say wow 19 people - sounds fab but you deserve a medal for agreeing and I really hope you have a DP/DH who will spoil you rotten with thoughtful gifts just like your guests hopefully will.

Have hosted 15 a few times and am again this year. My tips:

Frozen roast potatoes from Waitrose. Taste as nice but literally put in oven. I am not peeling potatoes for 15 🙄

Bought M&S gravy

Ruthless delegation. Clear lists for each family so family A cheese board and pudding family B sausage rolls and crackers etc

Put food out on kitchen surfaces they go and help themselves like a hotel. The food literally won’t all fit on the table

Who has mashed potato and Yorkshire puddings with a turkey roast? Bizarre. And far too much effort and faff for that number.

Well, the M&S ready to cook roasties in an 800g tray serves four. Given that twelve of your guests are 30-40 or teens (and we all know how much they can eat) I'd say you needed five trays.
If you also did a large dish of mash, you might get away with four trays of roasties. You could fully prepare the mash ahead of time and reheat in the microwave on the day.
To help with oven space, you could hold one tray of roasties in reserve, and put it in to cook as everyone was being served, then offer it as second helpings during the meal.
It might be a good idea to serve out the roasties yourself, so you can control individual portion size.

Time your turney to be cooked an hour or two before you need it. Wrap it in foil and throw a towel over to rest and it’ll stay warm for ages. Then you ahe. Room in the oven for roast potatoes. I par-boil potatoes day before and toss in flour and season to roast. No mash it’s just a filler! I have 20 for dinner

My boys always want yorkshire puds with any roast! They also like both mash and roasts🤷‍♂️ aunt bessies only take 5 minutes though so can go in the oven whilst dishing everything else up. They wouldn't thank me for home made anyway😖

Who DOESN’T have Yorkshire puddings with a turkey roast!

Might as well cancel Christmas 😢

i usually cook 7.5-8kg of roast potatoes, this is for around 20 people and there’s usually enough left for the evening buffet.

Buy an extra expanding shelf for the oven (or one for each oven) This will give you so much extra capacity. Utilise your microwave/steamer basket for leafy veg. Precook carrots then put in ovenproof dish with butter, star anise and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Cover with foil and reheat when needed in bottom of oven.

No advice, that's a massive undertaking hope you will have helpers.👍