How many pounds of au gratin potatoes to feed 200 people?

It's impossible to give you an exact number of pounds of au gratin potatoes needed for 200 people without more information. Here's why:

* Portion size: How much au gratin potatoes do you plan to serve each person? A standard side dish portion might be 1/2 cup, but some people might want more.

* Appetizer or side dish: Is this the main dish, or just a side? If it's a side, people will likely eat less.

* Other foods served: Will there be other starchy sides? If so, you can reduce the amount of au gratin potatoes.

Here's how to estimate:

1. Decide on a portion size: Let's say you want to serve a 1/2 cup portion per person.

2. Calculate the total volume: 200 people x 1/2 cup = 100 cups of au gratin potatoes needed.

3. Convert cups to pounds: This is tricky, as it depends on the recipe's density. A rough estimate is that 1 cup of cooked au gratin potatoes weighs about 6 ounces.

4. Calculate total weight: 100 cups x 6 ounces/cup = 600 ounces. Convert ounces to pounds (16 ounces per pound): 600 ounces / 16 ounces/pound = 37.5 pounds

This is just an estimate. You may need more or less, depending on the factors mentioned above. It's always a good idea to overestimate slightly rather than run out.