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The Daily Insight

How many potatoes make a cup of mashed potatoes?

Author

Rachel Ross

Updated on April 28, 2026

How many potatoes make a cup of mashed potatoes?

We found that it took 1 medium white potato to obtain 1 cup of either sliced or shredded potato. When dicing we needed 1.25 potatoes to reach the 1 cup mark. When preparing French fries, it took 1.3 potatoes to result in about 1 cup. However, when measuring for 1 cup of mashed, 2 whole potatoes did the trick.

How many potatoes to cook for mashed potatoes?

That means if you are planning on 10 people, use 5 pounds of potatoes. 4 people, use 2 pounds of potatoes. How many potatoes mashed 1 cup? When dicing we needed 1.25 potatoes to reach the 1 cup mark.

How big is a cup of mashed potatoes?

The USDA’s National Nutrient Database assumes a portion size of 1 cup for mashed potatoes, which checks in at 210 grams or just under a 1/2 pound.

How many pounds of Potatoes do you need per person for dinner?

Use the guidelines below to make sure you have enough potatoes for everyone at your dinner. Potatoes can weigh anywhere from 1/10 pound to 1/2 pound, depending on their size. If you’re making mashed potatoes, figure you will need 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person.

How big of a potato do you need to make 1 Cup?

We decided to use a medium potato for our experiments. We found that it took 1 medium white potato to obtain 1 cup of either sliced or shredded potato. When dicing we needed 1.25 potatoes to reach the 1 cup mark.

How many pounds of mashed potatoes per person?

If you’re making mashed potatoes, figure you will need 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person. You may want to add a bit extra, however, as most people tend to pile on the mashed potatoes. With that in mind, here’s a general guide for how many potatoes you’ll need, if everyone consumes 3/4 pound:

How to make ahead mashed potatoes for 12?

MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATOES FOR 12 5 lb. potatoes 2 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 1 c. sour cream 2 tsp. onion salt 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 tbsp. butter Cook potatoes in salted water; drain and mash. Add other ingredients. Beat until light. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 weeks. To bake, dot with butter and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

How many diced potatoes are in a cup of mashed potatoes?

Many recipes will call for “1 cup of diced potatoes” or “1 cup of sliced potatoes” or even “1 cup of mashed potatoes” but it is not always straight forward to decipher actually how many potatoes are in a cup. In order to help make cooking easier we did some experiments to help tell you exactly how many potatoes you need to buy.

How many pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes to make mashed potatoes for two?

Making mashed potatoes for two is even easier than making a big batch for a crowd. Here’s how I do it. Take a look and add your own tips and suggestions for fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes. This recipe calls for 1 1/2 pound of Yukon Gold potatoes to serve two generously.