how much chili?

jbelson · 05-08-2019, 03:07 PM

I cooking chili for a school fundraiser, my award winning chili I might add, and I'm not sure how much to make.
The recipe I use is for 1.5 gallons. At the last contest I made 3 gallons which was gone in about 2.5 hours serving "tastings" for the peoples choice category (couple hundred).
This event will be much larger, probably 3000. It'll be running 11am to 6pm.
Anyone do events like this? any thoughts on amount would be great

InThePitBBQ · 05-08-2019, 03:22 PM

If that chili is the main entree you'll serve 150 gallons with nothing in reserve.

16Adams · 05-08-2019, 03:23 PM

Let’s see. A cup is 8 ounces and a bowl is 12ounces and 128 ounces per gallon

Tasting is how many ounces??

Number of people times ounces per person. Divide that number by 128 and get an approximate gallon amount.

Then again I’ve been in the sun Cooking all day

KClandcruiser · 05-08-2019, 03:24 PM

Wow, that sounds like an exciting, huge undertaking. If you figure a 12oz serving for 3000 people, you're looking at roughly 280 gallons of chili. I'd probably figure 300 gallons or so should be a safe number. I'm definitely no catering expert though

edit: 16Adams beat me on the math

food4thot · 05-08-2019, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KClandcruiser

Wow, that sounds like an exciting, huge undertaking. If you figure a 12oz serving for 3000 people, you're looking at roughly 280 gallons of chili. I'd probably figure 300 gallons or so should be a safe number. I'm definitely no catering expert though

edit: 16Adams beat me on the math

The math looks correct. I'm near 60 and pretty sure I haven't made 300 gallons of chili in my entire life. And the other considerations...

Cost: My recipe is roughly $10/gallon to make...$3000 in this example.

Time: My recipe takes roughly one hour per gallon to make in 3 gallon batches...300 hours in this example. Close to two weeks of prepping/cooking non-stop.

Of course my numbers are for funsies based on 3 gallons at-a-time, neglecting economies of scale, and figuring one average 4-burner range to cook on.

Still, that's a helluvalot of chili to volunteer to make

EyeBurnEverything · 05-08-2019, 04:51 PM

I love making chili......but not that much. I think i would never want to make chili ever again if i tried to make that much.

You might want to contact Hormel.

BobBrisket · 05-08-2019, 04:53 PM

So it's a fundraiser.....will you sell it by the cup? Will there be other vendors there? I am assuming everyone sells their item/s then money goes to the school?

Others posed a good question, is your chili the only food item being served and are they asking you to make enough for that many people or make how ever much you can afford to make and then sell till you run out? I've done many school fundraisers. Normally, a group of parents pitch in to buy something like burgers. Parents absorb the cost, time, etc and donate all the profit to the school. Sometimes, schools will deduct the cost of ingredients and pay people back at least for that. Most times, they don't. So parents, etc already know going in they are "donating" out of their own pockets a little bit too in order to help the school make more profit.

Bob

SonnyE · 05-08-2019, 05:00 PM

You are going to need to go to China Town to get some of their Giant stock pots. (I love looking at China Town restaurant supply stores! Heck, I love looking at any restaurant supply stores.)

But then, how in the world would you move 50 gallon pots of hot chili? An engine lift? Or a Hoyer Hoist?

You got a turkey fryer, or a Boiler Pot?
I got a Propane turkey fryer, but put a Natural Gas burner on it. That thing will boil the boogers out of 5 gallons of crab!

I think I would make enough for 2,000. Then put up a sign saying SOLD OUT if I ran out.
And you are going to need one of those flat carts for your supplies at Sam's Club or Costco.

Lastly, I'm sure glad I'm not you.
Check the local Party Rental Stores for big equipment.
Get help. LOTS of HELP!

EyeBurnEverything · 05-08-2019, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonnyE

Holy Crap!

Oh! We are havin too much fun!

Can you imagine how many bottles of beer he would need for that much chili.( atleast i use 1 bottle per 4 pounds of meat.

mchar69 · 05-08-2019, 06:02 PM

I'm sure there are others providing food, so I hope the OP is off the hook.
On the Other hand, it would be fun to cook 100 gallons of chili.
Just dump it in a huge, clean cooler, and ladle it out!

WilliamKY · 05-08-2019, 06:04 PM

I prefer Texas style chili with no noodles but if it were me and 3000 people were projected, I would add spaghetti noodles for volume and to cut cost.

mchar69 · 05-08-2019, 06:07 PM

Sorry, never heard of noodles in chili???

EyeBurnEverything · 05-08-2019, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchar69

Sorry, never heard of noodles in chili???

He must have lived or spent time in Cinci. They like to add perfectly good chili to their spaghetti instead of hamburger and tomato sauce.

WilliamKY · 05-08-2019, 06:13 PM

Grew up poor. My mom didn't have the money for lots of ground beef or diced chuck so she substituted spaghetti noodles. I've never researched it but I'm willing to bet that's where the noodles originated from. Probably Depression Era habits passed on.

WilliamKY · 05-08-2019, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EyeBurnEverything

Oh, i've had it......once.........

I've had it many times. Pasta is for volume, not flavor. I prefer chili without noodles but I'm not offended if it has them. It is what it is.

05-08-2019, 03:07 PM	#1
jbelson Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-17-17 Location: Valley Village	how much chili? I cooking chili for a school fundraiser, my award winning chili I might add, and I'm not sure how much to make. The recipe I use is for 1.5 gallons. At the last contest I made 3 gallons which was gone in about 2.5 hours serving "tastings" for the peoples choice category (couple hundred). This event will be much larger, probably 3000. It'll be running 11am to 6pm. Anyone do events like this? any thoughts on amount would be great __________________ Instagram @carnivorekingdom

05-08-2019, 03:22 PM	#2
InThePitBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-31-19 Location: South Bend, IN Name/Nickname : Bob	If that chili is the main entree you'll serve 150 gallons with nothing in reserve. __________________ Shirley Fabrication 24 X 70 elevated straight back "Fire for Effect"

05-08-2019, 03:23 PM	#3
16Adams somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-16-13 Location: USA	Let’s see. A cup is 8 ounces and a bowl is 12ounces and 128 ounces per gallon Tasting is how many ounces?? Number of people times ounces per person. Divide that number by 128 and get an approximate gallon amount. Then again I’ve been in the sun Cooking all day __________________ Tiernan SOB34, Primo Oval XL, Oklahoma Joe's Bronco, Oklahoma Joe's Highland, Pit Boss Austin XL, Pit Boss Table Top

05-08-2019, 03:24 PM	#4
KClandcruiser is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-28-18 Location: KCMO Name/Nickname : Erik	Wow, that sounds like an exciting, huge undertaking. If you figure a 12oz serving for 3000 people, you're looking at roughly 280 gallons of chili. I'd probably figure 300 gallons or so should be a safe number. I'm definitely no catering expert though edit: 16Adams beat me on the math __________________ UDS, Weber 22", 500 gallon offset

05-08-2019, 04:51 PM	#6
EyeBurnEverything is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-04-18 Location: In the Matrix Name/Nickname : Candice	I love making chili......but not that much. I think i would never want to make chili ever again if i tried to make that much. You might want to contact Hormel. __________________ Timberline 1300, Rec Tec Controlled Pit Boss 820D, Weber Master touch, MES30, Fireboard Extreme

05-08-2019, 04:53 PM	#7
BobBrisket Moderator Join Date: 12-11-07 Location: El Paso, TX Name/Nickname : Bob	So it's a fundraiser.....will you sell it by the cup? Will there be other vendors there? I am assuming everyone sells their item/s then money goes to the school? Others posed a good question, is your chili the only food item being served and are they asking you to make enough for that many people or make how ever much you can afford to make and then sell till you run out? I've done many school fundraisers. Normally, a group of parents pitch in to buy something like burgers. Parents absorb the cost, time, etc and donate all the profit to the school. Sometimes, schools will deduct the cost of ingredients and pay people back at least for that. Most times, they don't. So parents, etc already know going in they are "donating" out of their own pockets a little bit too in order to help the school make more profit. Bob __________________ PBC-Courtesy of Poobah, 22.5 Weber Kettles-A, K, DR Stamped, 18.5 Weber Bar-B-Kettle Black and Red, Weber 18.5 Smokey Joe Platinum, Weber Genesis Silver, Lil' Chief Smoker, Discada Set Up,OKJ Highland Offset. BobBrisket Jr.-MUDS, WSJ Silver My BEST Compliment....."You're a good cooker, Dad!"--My Son :) Miss You, Marty and Bull! RIP Last edited by BobBrisket; 05-08-2019 at 05:10 PM..
	1 members found this post helpful.

05-08-2019, 05:00 PM	#8
SonnyE is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-06-19 Location: Saugus, California Name/Nickname : Sonny	You are going to need to go to China Town to get some of their Giant stock pots. (I love looking at China Town restaurant supply stores! Heck, I love looking at any restaurant supply stores.) But then, how in the world would you move 50 gallon pots of hot chili? An engine lift? Or a Hoyer Hoist? You got a turkey fryer, or a Boiler Pot? I got a Propane turkey fryer, but put a Natural Gas burner on it. That thing will boil the boogers out of 5 gallons of crab! I think I would make enough for 2,000. Then put up a sign saying SOLD OUT if I ran out. And you are going to need one of those flat carts for your supplies at Sam's Club or Costco. Lastly, I'm sure glad I'm not you. Check the local Party Rental Stores for big equipment. Get help. LOTS of HELP! __________________ SonnyE, Grillin, Chillin, Beer Swillin, Grandpa's Ribs a specialty. Farking good BBQ is a learned skill, low and slow. :becky:

05-08-2019, 06:02 PM	#10
mchar69 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-14 Location: Kensington, MD	I'm sure there are others providing food, so I hope the OP is off the hook. On the Other hand, it would be fun to cook 100 gallons of chili. Just dump it in a huge, clean cooler, and ladle it out!

05-08-2019, 06:04 PM	#11
WilliamKY is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-18-18 Location: Louisville,KY Name/Nickname : William	I prefer Texas style chili with no noodles but if it were me and 3000 people were projected, I would add spaghetti noodles for volume and to cut cost. __________________ Shirley Vertical + Fire Pit Pit Boss 700 Weber 28 griddle Weber 26 WGA Old Smokey Electric. Go Cards!

05-08-2019, 06:07 PM	#12
mchar69 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-14 Location: Kensington, MD	Sorry, never heard of noodles in chili???

05-08-2019, 06:13 PM	#14
WilliamKY is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-18-18 Location: Louisville,KY Name/Nickname : William	Grew up poor. My mom didn't have the money for lots of ground beef or diced chuck so she substituted spaghetti noodles. I've never researched it but I'm willing to bet that's where the noodles originated from. Probably Depression Era habits passed on. __________________ Shirley Vertical + Fire Pit Pit Boss 700 Weber 28 griddle Weber 26 WGA Old Smokey Electric. Go Cards!