Portions without the guesswork

These amounts suit an everyday main meal. Use a smaller amount for a side dish, or add an extra portion when you would rather have leftovers than run short.

How these portions are chosen

The portion guides are everyday main-meal starting amounts. A buffet, a meal with several side dishes, young children or a hungry group can all need a different amount. Add an extra portion when you want leftovers, or choose a smaller quantity when the food is a side.

Weighing dry pasta and rice before cooking gives the most consistent result.

Portion planning questions

How much dry rice is a serving?

A standard main-meal guide is about 75g dry rice per person. Use less when there are several sides, or add an extra portion when you want leftovers.

How much dried pasta per person?

About 100g is a common main-meal portion. Pasta with a rich sauce, vegetables and bread may need less, while a simple pasta meal can need more.

Planning a meal for a group

Count the people who are definitely eating first, then add an extra portion only if leftovers are useful or the meal is the main event. A buffet with several dishes usually needs less of each individual item than a one-pan meal. For a mixed group, keep a little of the main food separate before adding ingredients that some guests cannot eat. The calculator uses uncooked weights for rice and pasta because cooked weight changes with water absorption. Buy a little extra where pack sizes make that practical, but do not treat the result as a strict rule.

For children, start below an adult portion and let them ask for more. For a buffet, count how many other filling dishes are being served before multiplying every item by the full number of guests. Round shopping amounts to packs you can actually buy and use later.

A simple kitchen rule

A little spare is useful when appetites are uncertain; too much becomes waste. Think about the rest of the meal, the age of the guests and whether leftovers are welcome before rounding the shopping amount up.