Potluck parties can be surprising and spontaneous smorgasbords, taking a load off the host, creating community and shining a spotlight on an array of favorite recipes that you may otherwise never be privy to. But they can also bring out the worst in people, allowing selfishness, greed and laziness to prevail—and go seemingly undetected. So the best advice for potlucking is to act as if everyone is watching you. Here are our favorite dos and don’ts for nailing your potluck event every time.
Potluck Dos
Bring a dish
This is non-negotiable. Coming empty-handed to a potluck is a cardinal sin. If you arrive straight from work, prepare something in advance. (Don’t assume that there will be room for your dish in the oven however.) If there are extreme extenuating circumstances, consult with your host. Sometimes disposable plates, cutlery and napkins are acceptable alternatives, but don’t make a regular habit of not doing your “homework.” The meaning of potluck is "a meal or party to which each of the guests contributes a dish." You are part of a collective feast—it feels less potent if you don’t contribute.
Be helpful
A potluck party is a mindset as much as anything—it connotes a sense of all hands on deck. See what needs to be done and don’t be shy about jumping in the fray, offering to grill burgers (even if you are vegetarian), or help with set up or breakdown.
Adjust portion size to number of people
In other words, don’t bogart the potato salad. If you are in the front of the line, be thoughtful about the quantities of food you take so those in the back of the line actually also get something to eat. Don’t confuse a potluck with all-you-can eat. Take modest portions and hold back on seconds till it seems like almost everyone has had a chance to go through the line. (Keep in mind when you prepare your own dish to bring that doubling or tripling the recipe may be prudent.)
Come prepared
Bring everything you need to go from pot to plate. Don’t make the amateur mistake of forgetting serving utensils, trivets or whatever else your dish may require. Your host may not have oodles of trivets or serving tongs, and is already cray cray with other details to attend to. Along those same lines, if your dish needs a bowl, a potluck may not be the right venue. Think finger food or plate–friendly potluck recipes, not dishes like soup that require a whole other set of dishes that can double your host’s workload.
Potluck Don’ts
Don’t go rogue
Don’t go rogue by saying you will bring one thing and then at the last minute impulsively bringing something else. If you have agreed to a particular dish stay committed. The host may be depending on your contribution for the overall balance of the menu. If you do find yourself yearning to make something else, defer to your host.
Don’t jump the line
This goes without saying—almost. You’d be surprised by how many casual interlopers there are at buffet lines. Or people who make a bee-line for the food, instead of offering to help. Good manners and an abundance mentality are both essential for creating a convivial potluck atmosphere.
Don’t criticize other people’s dishes
Voicing your critical opinion of other people’s dishes is best kept a conversation you have with yourself, or with your near and dear. Proclaiming yourself as an arbiter of taste is pretty risky, especially since the person who made a dish you deem unpalatable may be sitting right next to you.
Don’t be lame
If you can’t cook, store bought is ok, especially if it’s awesome, like a gourmet take-out pizza. Cured meats, a cheese plate or a great nut mix are also delicious substitutes for homemade.
Crudité trays are a bit of a generic cliché. Better to shop for one of your favorite go-tos, so you can share something of yourself in your offering. That’s what a potluck is all about—nourishment as a collective endeavor.
