The number of dinner rolls that come in a pack can vary greatly depending on the brand, type of roll, and where they are purchased. Rolls are a popular dinner bread side that can be served with meals or used to make sandwiches. Determining how many come in a pack is useful for meal planning and ensuring you buy enough for your gathering. In this article, we will explore the typical dinner roll pack sizes from various stores and brands.
Typical Dinner Roll Pack Sizes
Dinner rolls are often sold in packs of 6, 8, 12 or 24 at grocery stores. Here are some common pack sizes you can expect:
Grocery Store Bakery Rolls
Grocery store bakeries tend to offer dinner rolls in half dozen (6 count) or full dozen (12 count) packs. Popular options include:
- Kings Hawaiian Rolls – 6 per pack
- Sara Lee Dinner Rolls – 6 or 12 per pack
- Pillsbury Crescents – 8 per can
- Rhodes Yeast Rolls – 6 or 12 per pack
- Sweet Hawaiian Rolls – 6 or 12 per pack
Grocery bakery rolls typically come in packs of 6 or 12. Half dozen packs are convenient for smaller meals for 2-4 people. Getting a full dozen allows for more rolls with leftovers.
Refrigerated Pre-Made Rolls
Refrigerated dough rolls that you bake at home often come in larger packs. Common sizes include:
- Pillsbury Grands – 8 or 16 per pack
- Rhodes Refrigerated Rolls – 12 or 24 per pack
- Sister Schubert’s Rolls – 12 or 18 per pack
- Alexia Refrigerated Rolls – 12 per pack
Pre-made break-and-bake refrigerated rolls usually contain 8-24 rolls per package. The larger counts allow you to bake fresh rolls for big dinners, parties or holidays.
Frozen Dinner Rolls
Frozen dinner rolls typically come in bigger bulk packs. You thaw them before cooking or baking. Common frozen roll pack sizes include:
- Rhodes Frozen Rolls – 24 or 36 per pack
- Pillsbury Frozen Dinner Rolls – 60 per pack
- Pepperidge Farm Frozen Rolls – 20 to 40 per pack
- Texas Toast Frozen Rolls – 20 per pack
Frozen dinner rolls often come in packs of 20 or more. Their larger counts make them convenient for feeding big groups and stocking the freezer.
Average Number of Rolls per Package
On average, the typical dinner roll package contains:
- Bakery Fresh Rolls: 6-12 rolls
- Refrigerated Dough Rolls: 12-24 rolls
- Frozen Rolls: 20-40 rolls
Bakery rolls from the grocery store offer smaller counts around 6-12 per package. Pre-made refrigerated dough rolls typically provide 12-24 rolls. And frozen dinner rolls usually come in bulk packs of 20-40.
Dinner Roll Pack Size Comparison
Here is a comparison of the average pack sizes across different dinner roll types:
| Roll Type | Average Pack Size |
|---|---|
| Bakery Fresh Rolls | 6-12 rolls |
| Refrigerated Dough Rolls | 12-24 rolls |
| Frozen Rolls | 20-40 rolls |
This illustrates that frozen rolls typically come in the largest packs, followed by refrigerated dough and fresh bakery rolls in the smaller counts.
Factors Affecting Dinner Roll Pack Sizes
There are a few key factors that determine the number of dinner rolls contained in a package:
Intended Use Case
Rolls made for individual meals or smaller gatherings tend to come in 6 or 12 count packs. Larger rolls packs cater to feeding big groups, parties, or holidays when more rolls are needed.
Preparation Method
Rolls that require baking from scratch at home are often sold in bigger packs since you control portioning. Fully baked rolls come in smaller counts.
Shelf Life
Fresher rolls with shorter shelf lives usually have lower counts around 6-12. Frozen and refrigerated roll dough with longer shelf lives can be sold in larger packs.
Brand & Type
Each brand produces rolls in different standard pack sizes they’ve determined work best for their customers. Pack counts can also vary between roll recipes like Hawaiian, yeast, whole wheat, etc.
Common Dinner Roll Uses By Pack Size
The typical uses for different dinner roll pack sizes include:
6-12 Packs
Great for smaller families, couples, or individual meals. Provides just enough fresh rolls for a single dinner or a few meals without waste. Easy to portion out exact needs.
12-24 Packs
Perfect for larger families, holiday meals, potlucks or entertaining 4-8 guests. Provides rolls for everyone without running out. Leftovers can be enjoyed the next day.
20-40 Packs
Ideal for large gatherings, big family dinners, backyard BBQs, or special occasions. Enough rolls on hand to abundantly serve 10-20+ guests. Excellent freezer convenience.
Factors to Consider When Buying Dinner Rolls
Here are some tips for deciding what size dinner roll pack to purchase:
- Consider how many people you plan to serve. Allow for 1-3 rolls per person.
- Factor in possible leftovers to have rolls for another meal.
- Think about your storage space if freezing extra rolls.
- Larger packs tend to offer the best unit pricing per roll.
- Only thaw or bake the number of rolls needed to avoid waste.
Buying bigger bulk packs can provide convenience and cost savings. But take care not to over-purchase if rolls may go to waste beyond their freshness window. The right pack size comes down to your specific dinner needs.
The Best Pack Size for an Average Family
For an average family of 4, the ideal dinner roll pack size is often a dozen rolls. Here’s why:
- 12 rolls gives each family member 2-3 rolls per meal.
- It’s a manageable amount that can be finished fresh before staling.
- Avoids the waste of buying too large a pack.
- Still gives a few extra rolls just in case.
- Fits most family budgets versus jumbo packs.
- Found easily in grocery store bakeries.
A 12 pack of dinner rolls hits the sweet spot for an average family. It provides enough fresh rolls for a meal without too many leftovers going to waste. Buying this moderate pack size strikes the right balance for both convenience and value.
Tips for Storing Leftover Dinner Rolls
Once opened, dinner rolls will eventually stale if not eaten in time. Here are some storage tips for enjoying leftovers:
- Keep rolls wrapped airtight at room temperature for 2-3 days max.
- Refrigerate rolls in a sealed bag or container to extend freshness for 5-7 days.
- Freeze unused rolls for 3-6 months; thaw at room temp or reheat.
- Transform staling rolls into breadcrumbs, croutons or Strata casserole.
- Microwave 10 seconds to refresh leftover refrigerated rolls before eating.
Proper storage using bags, foil and freezer containers can more than double the shelf life of fresh rolls. Get creative repurposing any rolls that do end up going stale.
Conclusion
Dinner roll pack sizes vary greatly ranging from 6-count bakery packs up to 40-count frozen mega-packs. While family needs differ, 12 rolls hits the sweet spot for many average families without too much waste. Be sure to store leftovers properly to enjoy fresh rolls for several days. Check rolls packs when meal planning for the perfect amount of this tasty dinner side.