Have you ever wondered how much popcorn you need per person? Countless years of owning a popcorn shop have taught me three important tips to help.
Popcorn Serving Sizes: The Basics
A typical serving size of popcorn usually ranges between 2 and 4 cups, depending on the type of event and what else will be served alongside the popcorn. There are several clues that can help you narrow down this range.
How Event Type Affects Popcorn Amounts
For events like watching a movie or sports, lots of popcorn is needed. People enjoy snacking while entertained. Consider that a solid black popcorn bowl might encourage more snacking too! For a reception, less popcorn is likely necessary if guests have other food choices.
Savory vs. Sweet Popcorn: What to Know
People tend to eat more savory popcorn than sweet, so keep that in mind when deciding how much to serve. If you're serving buttery or cheesy popcorn, people might eat more than they would a caramel with chocolate and sea salt. The satisfying, salty crunch of savory popcorn often encourages larger portions.
After that, it comes down to a little math.
Let's say you're hosting a party for 10 people, and you want to serve popcorn as a snack. If you go with the minimum serving size of 2 cups per person, you will need a total of 20 cups of popcorn. If you go with the maximum serving size of 4 cups per person, you will need a total of 40 cups of popcorn.
When it comes to how much popcorn you need per person for a party, the answer is not set in stone.
It depends on the number of people you're hosting, what else will be served with it, and what type of popcorn you're serving. The beauty of popcorn is its versatility and the fact that you really can't go wrong with having a little extra. As long as you keep the extra popcorn sealed in a closed bag, it won't go bad, maintaining its freshness for your next snack attack. So instead of trying to avoid having extra, embrace the delightful possibility of leftovers. It's a convenient snack to have on hand, ready for movie nights or unexpected cravings. Happy hosting!