Hilda Baci Explains Cooking 200 Bags, Not 250, in Jollof Record Attempt

Celebrity chef Hilda Baci has shed light on why she reduced her initial plan of cooking 250 bags of rice to 200 during her bid to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice.

Speaking at the venue, Baci explained that the decision was driven by technical constraints, particularly the 20,000-kilogram weight limit of the measuring crane and scale used for the attempt, including the custom-made pot.

She noted that the 200 bags of rice, weighing 4,000 kilograms, would still be sufficient to feed over 20,000 people.

“The goal was that by the time I was done making 5,000 kilograms, I was hoping to achieve about 17,000 to 18,000 kilograms. But with the pot included, that’s already around 20,000. The average crane and measuring device can only weigh 20,000 kilograms. So it was safer for me to cut down slightly,” she said.

Baci emphasized that despite the adjustment, the feat remained monumental. “This 4,000 kilograms of rice will still feed 20,000 people, so we’re still up there,” she added.

The event, which kicked off Friday morning, quickly turned into a carnival-like celebration with music, dancing, and appearances by public figures, including actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun.

Describing it as the most ambitious project of her career, Baci revealed that it took nearly a year of planning and nine hours of actual cooking to complete.

“Figuring out how to fabricate the pots alone took two months. Then it took us nine months to plan the event and nine hours to cook the meal,” she explained.

Baci stressed that the initiative was primarily about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible. “When I came up with this idea, I didn’t think of it as a world record. I just wanted to create a food experience for Nigerians. Look around—some people came with coolers. We’re feeding the nation,” she said.

The attempt has drawn global attention, with Guinness World Records sending a message of support on X, writing: “What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice today.”

The recognition comes two years after Baci’s 2023 cook-a-thon, which earned her a Guinness World Record and international acclaim, inspiring many young Nigerians to pursue culinary careers.