Expert: Kay Cole - 2/22/2011

Question
I wanted to know how to cook baked potatoes for 40 people, time/temp and how to keep them warm for an hour for lunch. This is my first time catering a baked potato bar and I need some help. I will be serving the large rusette brown potatoes in a buffet line. Please help

Answer
I wrap mine in foil - cook on 350 to 375 for an hour to hour and a half depended on size of potato and how many you have in the oven.  If using a home type oven, you can get quite a few in at one time.

A medium size ice cooler is the perfect place to store between cooking and serving...they will stay hot in there for hours...you will even need to use oven mitts to remove them later for serving.  Works well for transport if oven and buffet is not in same place. As they get done...put them in and keep lid closed between.

I would probably serve them in a large chafing dish - you can pile them fairly high, so you would not have to do much replenishment during serving since only 40 people.

A cute look - and, this depends on your theme for the event whether it would work or not is to build a chafing dish out of new bricks, just stack them two or three high in the rec shape the size of the insert pan - judge the height you need to see how much distance you need to keep the chafing dish inserts away from the sterno...use a traditional with water pan below the insert pan or use a small sterno - just one - keep an eye on it to keep from burning the bottom ones.
With the brick chafing dish you can create a cute look for the potato bar. the brick look gives the appearance that the potatoes are cooking on an old bbq grill...If it works with your theme, you could use something unique for the toppings...ie: small clay flower pots - perhaps you could find the size that a plastic drinking glass would slip down in perfectly. Get some greenery such as parsley etc. to slip between the lip of the pot and the plastic cup.....just a thought!  But, I would consider a theme - depending on the party purpose - if no purpose other than entertaining...you could consider matching the background of the event with unusual serving ideas.

I hope these thoughts have helped you.
Best,
K