Portion Calculator — How Much Per Person?
No more cooking too much (or too little). Pick a food and how many people you're feeding.
Per-person serving guide (main dish)
| Food | Per person |
|---|---|
| White Rice (uncooked) | 75 g |
| Pasta (dried) | 100 g |
| Potatoes (raw) | 200 g |
| Couscous (dry) | 80 g |
| Quinoa (dry) | 75 g |
| Bulgur (dry) | 75 g |
| Dried Lentils | 100 g |
| Egg Noodles (dry) | 100 g |
| Mashed Potatoes | 250 g |
| Polenta / Cornmeal (dry) | 80 g |
Main-dish portions based on standard meal-planning guidance (WRAP / Love Food Hate Waste). Side dishes are roughly half. Adjust for big appetites or leftovers. All grain and pasta portions are dry weights — the dry to cooked converter shows what they turn into on the plate (75 g of dry rice ≈ 210 g cooked).
Frequently asked questions
How much rice per person?
About 75 g of uncooked rice per person for a main dish, or roughly 50 g as a side. Cooked, that 75 g roughly triples in volume and comes out at about 210 g on the plate (rice is about 2.8 times its dry weight once cooked) — a generous cup of cooked rice.
How much dried pasta per person?
About 100 g of dried pasta per person for a main course, or 50–75 g as a starter or side. Fresh pasta is heavier and wetter, so use around 115–125 g per person for a main.
How much mashed potato per person?
Around 200–250 g of raw, peeled potato per person makes a generous main-dish serving of mash once you add butter and milk. For a lighter side, 150 g is plenty.
How much couscous or quinoa per person?
About 75–80 g dry per person as a main, or half that as a side. Both roughly triple in volume when cooked, so a little goes a long way — measure dry to avoid over-catering.
Are these portions for a main or a side dish?
The calculator and table show main-dish portions, based on standard meal-planning guidance (WRAP / Love Food Hate Waste). For a side dish alongside meat or other components, use about half. Scale up for big appetites or planned leftovers.