Pre-made or Instant Mashed Potatoes?

I'll admit I do use the boxed instant mashed potatoes often, anniepa, but for special dinners I prefer the old-fashioned kind made from scratch. I have never tried the Country Crock or Bob Evans but I would think they should be better than the box type.

In the words of Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell, "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Baby." Now if you lived where I do,(in a board and care)where they fixed Potato Spuds or my personal favorite, Potato like products, 99.99% of the time, you would not only be able to tell the difference, but you would hate them with a passion and intensity that is undescribable. In fact, we had them tonight. You learn to eat them and love them, to get full. But, you sware to never buy another box again in life. Oh yes, I felt like you, before I moved here two years ago. I liked them all. Sour Cream and Chives, Cheddar, you name it. I was game for all that stuff. It was really good to give to babies who were not yet on solid foods. Now, I must re-think my entire position on the spuds.

Instant potatoes aren't too bad and they are much easier, with less mess. I only buy the plain though, no added unhealthy ingredients like hydrogenated oils, butter, large amounts of salt or preservatives. I do love mashed potatoes from scratch, especially when someone else makes them. ;)

Old fashioned way, definitely. Instant...it takes like the powder to me, and not really like potatos..*wrinkles nose* oh, I can eat them in a pinch...but I really like eating REAL potatos.

I guess I'm a tad old-fashioned. It doesn't bother me in the least to make nice homemade mashed potatoes from scratch. I find that the pre-made ones or instant have a weird taste to them. I'll even go out of my way to make homemade Potatoes AuGratin from scratch rather than the Betty Crocker type..those always taste rubbery to me..LOL

I prefer making it myself, 'coz I'm on a tight shopping budget. Plus I've never tried any instant mashed potatoes sold in supermarkets, so I'm a bit wary he he he he he...

I prefer to make them from scratch. The bob evans ones are good, but nothing taste like making it from scratch. I used to never eat instant ones from a box, but hungry jack brand actually isn't terrible.

There are a few brands of instant that are not too bad, But I prefer to do the work and have the real thing there is still nothing like them. I love mashef potatoes and gravy. I will eat that as a meal alone. One of my fav foods.

Real potatoes are the best! Especially if company is coming. Instant potatoes will do in a pinch. I usually use more milk than water in the instant potatoes, they come out better.

i still love the real potatoes nad not the mixed ones.. the taste is still different.

I prepare to have a pre-made or homemade mashed potato,'coz you know it is fresh & no preservatives unlike Instant mashed potatoes... :-)

I prefer the old fashion way theres nothing else better than a big pot of whipped up potatos.

well, I love mashed potatoes but I don't cook it myself at home.. However, I'll say I prefer pre-made mashed potatoes. I think pre-made will be always better than instant one bcox sometimes instant mashed potatoes just made me feel like eating some fake stuff..=p But I don't know how izzit for the brands that you'd mentioned because I never see them in my country~(well, I'm a Malaysian.) Jean

I don't really care for instant potatoes they have a funny taste to them I would rather cook them myself I don't mind peeling potatos my 4 year old is always wantting to help me peel them. Mashed potatoes from scratch for me please.

To me the boxed or instant potatoes taste like paste. I much prefer making them from real potatoes and it's not really that hard to peel and cook a potato. I think it's worth it for the flavor.

All my life, I always preferred the peeling and old fashioned way of making mashed potato's until this year when I ran across Betty Crocker's Instant (not the buds). Doesn't come in a box, but rather in a package. Best instant I ever ate. You can find them at Dollar General. You can't even tell it's instant. They also come in Garlic flavored which I haven't tried yet, but have purchased to try later.

They've gotta be home made for me. I have to admit though, I have made the instant ones for weeknight meals every now and again. I would never make instant for people coming over or anything.

They still have to be real potatoes for me. Potatoes, peeled and boiled. Mashed with cream and butter. With real lumps in them. I guess that it is part of the tradition of our holidays (like potato salad is to the summer holidays).

I prefer the ones from scratch..I don't know if I have ever eaten the instant ones..We are having mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving..

I have had instant- though I've never made them myself. I prefer Real potatoes, skinned or not, boiled and mashed with a little milk and butter. It is really not that hard to make them, and so worth the effort. They are so much heartier and full of flavor. I usually add roasted garlic to mine. They are so delicious.