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Who doesn't love a potluck? It combines the best of bringing together people you love, delicious food, and best of all, less responsibility. Because with everyone tasked with contributing something to the table, no single person has to worry about the monumental job of feeding a massive group of people. But even though potlucks tend to be casual, there are a few basic etiquette rules you should know and follow, even if no one tells you.

Proper potluck etiquette mostly comes down to being considerate of the host and the other guests. It's about making the effort to show up with the right amount of food, communicating what you’re bringing, and cleaning up after yourself. You'd be surprised; this can all make a surprisingly big difference! So whether it’s a neighborhood gathering, office lunch, or family party, we've got the tips to help you prepare so everything runs much more smoothly.

Know What You’re Supposed To Bring

Before you decide on what you want to cook, it's a good idea to check with the host about how the potluck is being organized. It's not always the case, but some hosts do assign categories ahead of time, allowing different people to focus on appetizers, desserts, sides, and mains so that there's a good spread of everything. And even if the host is allowing everyone to choose freely, it can still be a good idea to ask to see if any category needs a bit more help. After all, who wants to end up with a table that features eight desserts and one side? We're not sure what's worse, that, or a table filled with eight bowls of potato salad. A little communication never hurt anybody.

After you've asked and confirmed that what you want to make is good to go, keep in mind you should also think about portion size. You need to bring enough food for several people to sample without running out right off the bat. Granted, you don't need to make massive amounts to offer a whole serving for everyone attending, but a casserole, platter, salad, or dessert that offers roughly eight to twelve servings is a pretty reasonable size for an average gathering.

Make Your Dish Easy For Everyone To Enjoy

Always opt for a potluck dish that allows you to show up with it completely prepared and ready to serve. The last thing any host wants to deal with is several people in their kitchen trying to finish up by using their oven, cutting boards, pans, and counter space. That's just unnecessary chaos! But if you need something simple done, like reheating, it also helps to ask ahead of time instead of automatically assuming it's yours for the using.

Don't forget the little details either! Make sure you bring your own serving utensils that your dish will require. Sure, the host might own plenty of spoons and spatulas, but not enough for all the people attending. Just think about it, who has 10 spatulas at home? So to avoid all that trouble, just bring your own serving spoon, tongs, cake server, ladle, whatever you need. Remember to take it home with you after too!

When creating a dish for a large group of people to enjoy, you can't forget that food allergies and dietary preferences deserve some thought as well. It's impossible to always accommodate every possible diet, but do your best! And if you do include any commmon allergen, like nuts, dairy, gluten, or shellfish, it's a smart idea to write out a small label identifying all the ingredients in your dish. It'll save you from answering questions, and it saves guests from uncomfortably having to guess.

Remember That You’re Still A Guest

Just because you're bringing food doesn't change the fact that you're still a guest! That comes with the usual etiquette you'd expect, like arriving around the agreed time instead of showing up late or too early. Especially because it's an event centered around food, you want to make sure you can serve your dish the same time as everyone else. No one wants cold food or to have to wait to fill up their plate just because you can't stick to schedule.

And once things are rolling and the food is served, remember that everyone should have an opportunity to try each dish. Taking an enormous first portion of something you particularly like can leave very little for guests farther down the line. You can always return for seconds after everyone has had a chance to fill their plate.

It's important to remember that everyone has different food preferences as well, so there's likely going to be some dishes you love, and some you don't. Compliments are always welcome, but criticism of other people's cooking generally isn't, especially if they spent a lot of time on it. Just remember to be respectful and you shouldn't have an issue here. If you're not going to insult your partner's, friend's, or mother's cooking, why would you now?

Last but not least, always offer to help with cleanup. Sure, it might not be your home, but it never hurts to help out the host, especially when they opened up their space for everyone. You don't need to go ahead and take care of everything, but offering to collect the plates, wipe off the tables, or pack leftovers is a simple but meaningful gesture that won't go unnoticed. And hey, if you want to be invited back, you definitely should do it.