How many potatoes are needed to make mashed for 400 people?

It's impossible to give you an exact number of potatoes without more information. Here's why:

* Potato Size: Potatoes come in different sizes. A tiny "new potato" will yield much less mashed potato than a large russet.

* Desired Consistency: Do you want thick, creamy mashed potatoes, or something looser? The amount of potato needed will change depending on your preference.

* Serving Size: How much mashed potato do you anticipate serving each person? A small scoop will need fewer potatoes than a generous portion.

To estimate, you'll need to:

1. Decide on your potato variety: Russet potatoes are often used for mashed potatoes due to their starch content.

2. Estimate the average potato size: Measure a few potatoes to get an average weight.

3. Determine your desired serving size: Think about how much mashed potato you'd typically serve yourself.

4. Account for loss: Some potato will be lost to peels and in cooking.

General guidelines:

* A medium-sized russet potato yields about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes.

* Most people eat around 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes as a side dish.

Example:

* If you want to serve 1/4 cup of mashed potato per person, you'll need about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes per person.

* If you use medium-sized russets, you'll need 1 potato per person.

* For 400 people, you would need approximately 400 potatoes.

Remember: This is a rough estimate! It's always better to overestimate than to run out of mashed potatoes. You can always adjust the recipe based on your preference and the actual potato size.