What Size Catering Pot for a Funeral? — South African Guide
Funeral catering — South Africa
What size catering pot for a funeral? — South African guide
For funerals of 50 mourners, the after-tears meal, 7-day Setshele, 30-day Setlametlo, or a 200-person community unveiling — what size pot, what kind of cooking, and what you actually need to buy once instead of rent every time. Used by funeral caterers across South Africa since 1977, direct from the Big5 Cookware factory in Thaba Nchu.
Quick answer: For 100 mourners, plan one NW40 (40 L stew, R 839) + one NW21 (21 L pap) + an NC3 catering set (8/13/21 L for sides, R 899). Always add a 20% buffer — South African community arrives uninvited to pay respects, and the pot that runs short is the family's embarrassment.
Pot Size by Mourner Count
| Mourner count | Day-of meal (pap + stew) | After-tears (next day) | Recommended pots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 (family-only) | NW21 + NW8 | NW13 | NW21 + NW8 (R 718) |
| 50–80 (close community) | NW40 + NW13 | NW21 + NW8 | NC3 set + NW40 (R 1,738) |
| 80–100 (medium funeral) | NW40 + NW21 (pap) | NW40 + NW13 | NW40 + NW21 + NC3 set (R 2,167) |
| 100–150 (community feast) | NW55 + NW40 + NW21 | NW40 + NW21 | NW55 + NW40 + NW21 (R 2,267) |
| 150–200 (large unveiling) | NW70 + NW40 + NW21 | NW55 + NW21 | NW70 + NW40 + NW21 (R 2,467) |
| 200+ (full community) | NW100 + NW40 (split-cook) | NW70 + NW40 | NW100 + NW40 + NC3 (R 3,537) |
Formulas verified: stew 0.4–0.5 L per person; pap 0.3 L per person; rice 0.2–0.25 L dry per person (3× expansion). Always fill catering pots to 70–80% capacity (never the brim — boiling room + stirring room). Add a 20% buffer for community walk-ins (South African funeral norm — uninvited community arrives to pay respects).
The 4 Pots a Funeral Caterer Actually Needs
Buy Once, or Rent Every Time?
South African funeral catering is rarely a single event. A normal grieving cycle includes the day-of burial meal, the after-tears the next day, the 7-day Setshele, the 30-day Setlametlo, and the 1-year unveiling. That is five ceremonies over twelve months — five trips to the rental shop, five hauls of pots in and out of someone else's storage, five times the pot you wanted was already booked.
| Path | 12-month cost (one funeral cycle) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Rent pots (~R 200/day each × 5 ceremonies × 2 pots) | ~R 2,000 | No pot to store. No deposit risk. Only pay when you cook. |
| Buy NW40 once | R 839 (one-time) | Pot pays back by the second ceremony. Yours forever — used at every future family event, daily catering, stokvel cookup. |
If you cater 1–2 funerals a month as a side business (a common South African income stream), buying always wins. The Big5 NW range has been the standard SA caterer pot since 1977 — the BV NW100 in someone's kitchen has typically cooked for at least 60 funerals before it shows wear.
From real funeral caterers and church kitchens (verified Takealot reviews)
"Every Sunday we do a charity cookup to feed about 20 families (55 people) in our community, which has become so much easier since we received this 55L pot. We can fit a 7kg pocket of potatoes, onions, carrots plus 5kg meat in comfortably, not even reaching half capacity!"
★★★★★ Memory — 30 Jul 2023, verified Takealot buyer, NW55
"Very good to cook with on the fire for wedding or Funeral even family gathering. The pots are big and very strong. Easy to wash also."
★★★★★ Beatriz — 28 Nov 2023, verified Takealot buyer, NC3 set
"I am pleased with the size and strength of these pots, especially for large celebrations or parties. They can feed a significant number of people, eliminating the need to cook multiple times. I definitely recommend buying this brand; I purchased two different sizes: 50 liters and 70 liters."
★★★★★ Patience — 3 Jul 2025, verified Takealot buyer, NW50 + NW70
"Love these pots, value for money. Bought them for church, we are happy. Would recommend 100%."
★★★★★ Gontse — 6 Oct 2023, verified Takealot buyer, NW
"Yes because its a strong material, you can use it for catering n funeral they are to big am happy with this product. It doesn't burn the food every is good."
★★★★★ Dlamini — 18 Oct 2025, verified Takealot buyer, NC3 set
Frequently Asked Questions
How many catering pots do I need to feed 100 mourners at a funeral?
For a meat stew with pap, you need one NW40 (40 L, serves 80–100 for stew, R 839) plus one NW21 (21 L, pap for ~80, R 429) plus an NC3 set (8/13/21 L, R 899) for sides such as rice or vegetables. Total: about R 2,167. With a 20% walk-in buffer (community pays respects uninvited per South African cultural norm), this comfortably feeds 110–120 actual attendees.
What size pot for cooking pap for a 50-person funeral?
An NW13 (13 L) or NW21 (21 L) is sufficient. Pap needs about 0.3 litres per person — so 50 people = 15 litres of capacity. Start with about 7.5–10 litres of water (pap swells as it cooks), add stiff maize meal gradually, stir continuously to prevent burning at the bottom. See our dedicated pap pot size guide for the cutting technique that avoids burning.
Do I cook salt-free stew in a different pot than regular stew?
No. The same BV NW catering pot works for salt-free funeral stew (a South African mourning tradition — silent expression of grief). 99.9% pure aluminium does not react with salt or its absence; the pot performs identically. After cooking, wash thoroughly so the next batch can use salt freely.
What's the difference between cooking for the day-of meal vs the after-tears meal?
Day-of meal serves the family + funeral attendees, typically 50–100 people, usually pap + stew. After-tears (the day-after gathering, similar to a modern funeral celebration) is usually 30–50 family, more relaxed menu (sometimes rice + gravy + bread rolls + chicken pieces). One NW21 + an NC3 set covers both meals for an 80-person funeral.
Should I rent pots from a funeral home, or buy them?
Math: rental ~R 200/day per pot × 4–5 ceremonies in 12 months (day-of, after-tears, 7-day Setshele, 30-day Setlametlo, 1-year unveiling) = R 2,000+. Buying one NW40 = R 839. The pot pays for itself by the second ceremony. If you cater 1–2 funerals a month as a side business, buying is always cheaper — and the pot moonlights as a stokvel cookup vessel between ceremonies.
Can the Bon Voyage NW pots handle gas burners at outdoor community kitchens?
Yes. The BV NW aluminium catering pots work on gas, electric coil, wood/coal fire, and open-flame stoves — the standard SA community kitchen heat sources. They are NOT induction-compatible (aluminium is not magnetic). For a township community kitchen with gas burners, the NW range is the standard SA caterer choice.
How heavy is a 70 L pot full of stew? Can I carry it from the kitchen to the marquee?
A full 70 L pot weighs ~80 kg (water + meat + vegetables). Standard practice is to cook in-place (community kitchen near the marquee) and not transport hot. If you must move it, drain to about 40 litres first using a ladle. The BV NW handles are SS-riveted and rated for full-load lifting, but practical unaided handling is up to about 30 L.
Does the pot need to be washed differently for funeral catering?
No special hygiene difference. Aluminium washes with warm soapy water; rinse, dry. For salt-free stew, soaking briefly removes residual flavour before the next batch. Most funeral caterers wash their pots overnight, ready for the next ceremony.
What's the best pot for cooking begrafnisrys (Cape Malay funeral rice) for 100 guests?
For wet begrafnisrys ("paprys" style), an NW25 (25 L) cooked twice, or an NW40 (40 L) cooked once. Rice swells about 3× from dry to cooked, so 100 guests × 0.2 L dry rice = 20 L dry → expands to ~60 L cooked → cook in a 40 L pot at 70% fill = 28 L per batch.
Where do I buy Bon Voyage catering pots in bulk for a funeral catering business?
Direct from the Big5 Cookware factory at big5cookware.co.za. Free delivery on orders over R 800 across South Africa. For 5+ pots or repeat ordering, contact supplier@big5cookware.co.za or WhatsApp +27 60 6999 888 for bulk pricing. Most funeral caterers start with the NW21 + NW40 + NC3 combination (R 2,167) and add NW55 + NW70 as their book grows.
Related reading
📏 SA people-to-litres catering pot size guide — the brand-neutral parent guide for any large-group cooking.
🍲 Pap pot size guide — the cutting technique that stops pap burning at the bottom.
📘 How to cook with aluminium pots — preheating, heat levels, cleaning the dark grey film, hot-handle technique.
⚖️ Bon Voyage vs Hart pots — an honest comparison — side-by-side specs and verified reviews.
Made by Big5 Cookware (Pty) Ltd
Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Thaba Nchu, Free State 9785 · Since 1977 · 400+ employees · ~1 M pieces/year
Wholesale 5+ pots: supplier@big5cookware.co.za · WhatsApp +27 60 6999 888 · Free delivery over R 800
