How many russet potatoes make a pound?

It is common for recipes not to specify the number of potatoes but rather the weight, or vice versa. That makes it difficult to know exactly the right amount to use, particularly if you don’t have a kitchen scale to measure them with.

That often leaves home cooks like us wondering how many potatoes are in a pound, so we know how many to use in the recipe.

How many russet potatoes make a pound?

I can say that for Russet or white potatoes, which are used most often in recipes, there are 2 average sized potatoes in a pound. But the number changes based on the type of potato you’re using.

Since this is something I’ve often wondered when cooking, I’ve created a guide to help you quickly choose how many potatoes to use in your recipe.

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Common Potatoes and Their Sizes

A lot of the mystery is dispelled by looking at the common types of potatoes and how much they each weigh on average.

You can categorize potatoes into seven types: Russet, Fingerling, Red, Blue/Purple, White, and Yellow. While there are many dozens of varieties of potatoes, they all fall into one of these similar types and mostly average out to the same size.

Depending on the type of potato you use, the number of potatoes varies in a pound. For example, you may only need two Russet potatoes, whereas you would need three or four Yukon Gold potatoes, and up to eight fingerlings.

How many russet potatoes make a pound?

Average Potatoes in a Pound by Type

Given that not all potatoes grow to the same size, unless you weight your potatoes you can never know for sure how many are in a pound. However, you can start to eyeball it by knowing what the average potato looks like.

For instance, two medium sized russet potatoes each weighing 1/2 pound, will both just barely fit into an adult’s hand. Thus it’s a pretty good estimation that a pound of potatoes – no matter the type – will fill your hand full.

  • Russet potatoes – 2
  • Red potatoes – 7 to 9
  • Baby potatoes – 12 to 15
  • Fingerling potatoes – 10-12
  • Blue/Purple potatoes – 15-18
  • Yellow or Yukon Gold – 5
  • White potatoes – 3 to 4
How many russet potatoes make a pound?

Approximately How Much Does A Potato Weigh?

Farmers and grocery store potatoes according to size and proportion and they display them this way to make it easier for shoppers. Potatoes are often available in three sizes: large, medium and small.

  • A large potato would be a baking potato or sweet potato, which are usually sold individually. A large potato can weight .75 to 1 pound all on its own.
  • A medium potato, like a Russet, Yukon Gold, or white potato, can be sold individually or in a bag, and often weight around .45-.55 pounds each.
  • A small potato, like a baby red, fingerling, or new purple potatoes are most often sold in a 1 pound or 5 pound bag. They each weigh and average of .2-.3 pounds each or 2-3 ounces.

How many russet potatoes make a pound?

Recipes Using Potatoes

There are so many ways to serve potatoes of every type. You can make mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, dozens of different side dishes, and even main dishes using potatoes.

  • Crispy Roast Potatoes
  • Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
  • 10 Unique Ways to Make Scalloped Potatoes
  • Easy Roasted Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Oven-Baked Crispy Smashed Potatoes

FAQ

How many Yukon potatoes are in a pound?

Yukon Gold potatoes can vary in weight, but only slightly. They are usually a very uniform size. So you can go with an estimate that 5 Yukon potatoes are in one pound.

How many baking potatoes are in a pound?

Baking potatoes can vary greatly in size, so it’s hard to say with certainty, but a typical baking potato will weigh about one pound on its own. So there is – in general – just one baking potato in a pound.

How many pounds of potatoes are needed to serve 4 people?

A typical serving of potatoes in 1/2 pound per person. So you will need approximately 2 pounds of potatoes to feed 4 people. This amount will vary depending on whether it’s a side dish or a main dish. If you’re serving baking potatoes (jacket potatoes), you’ll need one 1lb baking potato per person.

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Conclusion

Having a general knowledge of the number of potatoes in a pound will allow you to purchase the right amount of potatoes to cook various delicious dishes for your family! We hope it’s been helpful for you to know the perfect number potatoes to grab in the produce section of your supermarket using the information in this guide.

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How many russet potatoes make a pound?

How many russet potatoes make a pound?

Laura is a home cook who loves making new recipes and finding new favorite things to eat, whether at home or abroad. She also runs a popular travel blog and spends a lot of her time traveling for food.

How many russet potatoes is 1lb?

A medium potato, like a Russet, Yukon Gold, or white potato, can be sold individually or in a bag, and often weight around . 45-. 55 pounds each. A small potato, like a baby red, fingerling, or new purple potatoes are most often sold in a 1 pound or 5 pound bag.

How many russet potatoes Makes 2 pounds?

How Many Medium Potatoes In A Pound? You may need only two Russet potatoes to reach a pound, while you may need three or four Yukon Gold, and eight or ten fingerlings. The exact number of potatoes per pound relies heavily on the variety you select.

How many potatoes makes a pound?

The bags available at the grocery store can contain multiple sizes, from 2 ½ ounces and up. USDA specs are based on a 5.3-ounce potato, about 100 calories. Based on that, you'd need about 5 potatoes to make a pound. Hope that helps!

How many russet potatoes is 5 pounds?

Since the average russet potato weighs 6.15 oz, there would be approximately 13 russet potatoes in a 5 pound bag, but this ultimately depends on the size of your potatoes!