How many potatoes make a pound?

When it comes to potatoes, one of the most common questions is “how many potatoes make a pound?” The answer depends on the size and variety of the potato. On average, 3-5 medium-sized potatoes make up one pound. Let’s take a closer look at estimating potato pounds:

Table of Contents

Factors That Affect Potato Weight

There are a few key factors that affect how many potatoes it takes to make a pound:

Potato variety – Some potato types are naturally larger or smaller. Russet potatoes, for example, are typically larger and heavier than red or yellow potatoes.

Potato size – Larger potatoes weigh more individually than smaller potatoes. You would need fewer large potatoes than small potatoes to make a pound.
Moisture content – The amount of moisture in a potato can affect its weight slightly.

Therefore, when estimating potato pounds you need to take the specific potato variety and size into account.

Average Potato Sizes

Here are some common potato size classifications:

Small – 1-3 oz
Medium – 4-7 oz

Large – 8-10 oz
Extra Large – 11+ oz

As you can see, potato sizes can range quite a bit. Small potatoes weigh only a few ounces each, while extra large potatoes can be over half a pound individually!

How Many Medium Potatoes in a Pound

Medium potatoes are a good benchmark potato size for estimating pounds. Here’s how many medium potatoes make a pound:

3-4 medium russet potatoes = 1 pound
4-5 medium red potatoes = 1 pound

4-6 medium yellow potatoes = 1 pound

On average across varieties, 4-5 medium potatoes make up one pound. When in doubt, you can use this range for estimating potato pounds regardless of variety.

Estimating Based on Potato Size

You can also estimate potato pounds based on the individual size of the potatoes:

Small potatoes (1-3 oz) – It takes 5-8 small potatoes to make one pound
Medium potatoes (4-7 oz) – It takes 3-5 medium potatoes to make one pound
Large potatoes (8-10 oz) – It takes 2-3 large potatoes to make one pound

Extra large potatoes (11+ oz) – It takes 1-2 extra large potatoes to make one pound

The exact number needed depends on where in the size range the individual potatoes fall. But in general:

The smaller the potato, the more potatoes it takes to make a pound

The larger the potato, the fewer potatoes needed for a pound

Weighing Whole Potatoes vs. Cut Potatoes

When estimating potato pounds, keep in mind whether you will be weighing whole uncut potatoes or cut potato pieces. If weighing cut potatoes, it will take more potato pieces to make a pound compared to whole potatoes. Here’s a quick guide:

Potato Type	Whole Potatoes Per Pound	Cut Potato Pieces Per Pound
Small	5-8 potatoes	10-15 pieces
Medium	3-5 potatoes	8-12 pieces
Large	2-3 potatoes	5-8 pieces

As shown, cut potato pieces take about twice as many to make a pound compared to whole potatoes. Keep this in mind when meal prepping or following recipes.

Examples of Potato Pound Estimates

Here are some examples of how many potatoes it would take to make a pound in different scenarios:

2 large russet potatoes (10 oz each) = 1 pound
3 medium red potatoes (5 oz each) = 1 pound

4 small yellow potatoes (3 oz each) = 1 pound
10 small cut russet potato pieces (2 oz each) = 1 pound
8 medium cut sweet potato cubes (2 oz each) = 1 pound

These examples illustrate how potato size, variety, and cut versus whole form all factor into the potatoes per pound estimate. Keep these things in mind when estimating for recipes or other uses.

Tips for Estimating Potato Pounds

Here are some useful tips for easily estimating how many potatoes make up a pound:

Medium potatoes are a good default size – when in doubt, assume 4-5 potatoes per pound

The bigger the potato, the fewer needed per pound
Cut potatoes take about twice as many pieces per pound compared to whole
Weigh a sample potato to get a more precise estimate

Err on the side of having extra potatoes rather than not enough

With experience over time, you will get better at visually estimating potato pounds. But when in doubt, weigh a sample potato to get a more accurate idea.

Measuring Potato Pounds Accurately

For maximum accuracy, the best way to measure potato pounds is to simply use a food scale:

Place a bowl or plate on the food scale and press tare to zero it out
Add whole potatoes or cut potato pieces until the scale reads 1 pound
Count the number of potatoes or pieces added

Record the potato count for that specific variety and size

This will give you an exact potatoes per pound measurement for future use and recipes. Since potato size varies, getting an exact weight-based measurement is ideal for precision.

Common Uses and Recipes

Knowing approximately how many potatoes make up a pound is useful for a variety of cooking and baking applications. Here are some of the most common uses for measured potato pounds:

Mashed potatoes – Recipes often call for 1-2 pounds of potatoes to yield 4-6 servings
Home fries – 1 pound of cut potato pieces typically makes 2-3 servings
Potato salad – Plan on about 1 pound of cut potato pieces per 3-4 servings

Scalloped or au gratin potatoes – Allow 1-1.5 pounds to serve 4-6 people
Potato soup – 1 pound of cut potatoes generally makes 4-6 servings
Potato pancakes or fritters – 1 pound russets or shredding potatoes yields around 12 average sized pancakes

When making double or triple batches, simply scale up the pound measurements as needed. Measuring potatoes by pound rather than individual pieces helps standardize recipes.

Storing Potatoes

When storing potatoes:

Keep potatoes in a cool, dark place like a pantry or cellar. Avoid exposure to sunlight.

Store potatoes in a well ventilated container, like a wire basket or paper bag. Avoid plastic bags.
Keep potatoes away from onions, which release gases that can spoil potatoes prematurely.
If potatoes sprout, simply trim off sprouts before cooking.

Properly stored, potatoes can last 2-3 months.

Following proper potato storage will help maximize shelf life and prevent premature spoiling.

Key Takeaways

Here’s a quick summary of the key tips for estimating potato pounds:

On average, 4-5 medium potatoes make 1 pound
Larger potatoes require fewer per pound; smaller take more
Cut potatoes take about twice as many pieces per pound

Weigh samples on a food scale for maximum precision
Store potatoes properly in a cool, dark place to maximize shelf life

Understanding the relationship between potato size and weight allows you to estimate pounds for recipes and meal planning. With some experience, visually estimating potatoes per pound becomes quick and easy.