Instant mashed potatoes: Do you like them?
@celestialbloom (204)
United States
December 22, 2009 6:25pm CST
I know several people who absolutely refuse to eat instant mashed potatoes. They will only eat mashed potatoes made from fresh potatoes. I've even seen a couple of these people make a scene in a buffet-style restruant because the potatoes were "fake!"
I used to be the sort who would eat the instant potatoes if that's all there was at a place, but I would never buy them to make at home. However, now I live alone, and it's just too much hassle to make a whole pot of mashed potatoes for just myself. I've started buying instant ones on occassion, and they're not that bad! These are flavored and sometimes I doctor them up a bit. No, they're not as tasty as the "real" thing, and the texture is different, but for the price and the effort, they seem worth it to me. (Instant gravy, however, is an entirely different story!)
So what about you? Do you like instant mashed potatoes, or will you not even touch them? Do you make them at home, and does it bother you when they are served in public places?
2 people like this
12 responses
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
23 Dec 09
I only make mashed potatoes from scratch at home. I like them with whole milk, plenty of butter and well beaten. I live alone and I don´t mind making just a couple of medium or big potatoes. If I have some leftover, I either make a sort of potato soup (adding more milk and water and pouring the boiling soup over diced cheese)or I turn it into a sort of potato pizza (make patties and put cheese, a slice of tomato ,dry oregano leaves and plenty of parmesan cheese).
As for mashed potatoes in restaurants, it seems that the restaurants I go to are always the kind that make mashed potatoes from scratch. I never eat at fast food restaurants as it doesn´t agree with my stomach. So I go to restaurants only when I´m invited and then they are good ones.
@celestialbloom (204)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Mmm... that is how I prefer to make my mashed potatoes too! Lots of whole milk, butter, salt and pepper - yum! I guess maybe it's the peeling and boiling that I dislike so much, seems like a lot of hassle just to feed myself. Then again, I used to help my ex's mom with family meals sometimes, and that was the mashed-potato-eatingest family I've ever seen! We would peel an entire 10 pound bag of potatoes to mash, and even then, there were rarely leftovers! (I'm afraid if I were her, I would have had to try slipping them some instant to see if they could tell the difference, maybe mix half instant with half fresh.)
I've never considered making little pizzas out of leftovers... how do you cook them? In the oven like regular pizza? Or in a skillet like potato pancakes? Making soup out of them is a great idea too! Sometimes I will use them as a casserole layer, sort of shepard's pie style.
@marguicha (215405)
• Chile
31 Dec 09
I have a little electric oven that I love because it´s big enough for a whole chicken and I don´t have to bend to cook. I make the potato patties (pizza-like) over an aluminumfoil (disposable, less work
) and put over them the various ingredients. The potatoes are cooked so the only thing you have to do is wait for everything to heat and the cheese to melt. YUMMY!!!
I peel the potatoes with a very sharp knife instead of a potato peeler and it´s quicker. I buy 2 kinds of potatoes: small to cook unpeeled ans big ones for mashed potatoes aqnd soups.
Happy New Year!
) and put over them the various ingredients. The potatoes are cooked so the only thing you have to do is wait for everything to heat and the cheese to melt. YUMMY!!!
I peel the potatoes with a very sharp knife instead of a potato peeler and it´s quicker. I buy 2 kinds of potatoes: small to cook unpeeled ans big ones for mashed potatoes aqnd soups.
Happy New Year!
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I eat almost all natural foods, mashed potatoes included. But I have to admit that I do like instant mashed ones, and they're really handy on a busy day. It never bothers me when they serve them at public places, I like any mashed potatoes, real or instant.
@celestialbloom (204)
• United States
9 Jan 10
I'm the same way, JoyfulOne, eating mostly natural foods that I make from scratch, don't usually buy processed food. When I do buy processed food, dehydrated (like instant potatoes) is my first choice. Usually (though not always) deydrated foods are closer to their natural form (nutrionally) than other types of processed food, plus they're easy to prepare, keep forever, and take up little space in the pantry. I understand why some restaurants, like fast food and all-you-can-eat buffets, use instant potatoes. They make great camper/backpacker food for all of the same reasons, plus they weigh next to nothing in a pack. :)
@celestialbloom (204)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Yes, the Idaho brand you mentioned is the best I've tried so far as well. Betty Crocker wasn't bad, either, but the dollar store brand was horrible. I don't guess I've had frozen mashed potatoes, other than the little blob that comes in cheap frozen TV dinners - those are pretty pitiful, watery and taste like nothing. I've seen the tubs of frozen potatoes in the store but assumed they'd be like those in the TV dinners... may have to give them a try on your recommendation next time they're on sale! :)
@renee22093 (94)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I've been cooking for 25 years. I had my own restaurant and have been the head cook in medical facilities and to tell you the truth, when they told me I had to make the mashed potatoes for the residents, out of a box, I was not enthused. I was always one who wanted everything totally fresh and as good as it could be and didn't believe in making anything from a box. Then one day, I decided to try instant potatoes, I think because I was just SO tired of peeling all those spuds, boiling them, mashing them etc. I was very surprised! I used some Betty Crocker butter-flavor mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner and got raves on how good they were, I couldn't believe it! So I've never gone back LOL. I use them all the time and I think they are delicious. I do think however, that if you are going to use them, they need to be a good brand and not just a box of potato flakes, it makes a huge difference. Now it doesn't bother me if places like KFC uses them, because I understand how difficult it is to make them fresh.
@ishme4nowz (679)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Haha, I love mashed potatoes and really, the only way I have ever eaten it was the instant kind so I can't really tell the difference in texture yet between instant and fresh. One day, I would definitely like to try making mashed potatoes from fresh potatoes to compare the quality and texture. Hopefully, after that, I won't dislike instant mashed potatoes because they're just so convenient to make. I don't think it would bother me (much) that public places would serve instant mashed potatoes. I actually probably wouldn't even notice xD
@celestialbloom (204)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Really (I think) it's pretty tough for most people to tell the difference, unless they eat a whole lot of mashed potatoes on a regular basis, and provided that the instant ones are a good brand/quality. I just love potatoes, in pretty much any form! You really should try making them from scratch sometime though! Homemade is better for you and cheaper, and of course, the taste/texture is (arguably) better. :) Some of the responders toward the end of this discussion have some great suggestions for making the process quicker and easier using the microwave, so you don't have to spend forever peeling and boiling them before you mash them. I bet is they won't spoil instant for you, but you may find yourself making them from fresh more often. Happy mashing! :D
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
24 Dec 09
I am not picky about those sorts of things, I think that a lot of mashed potatoes that come from a box are very good, just as good as made ones made from scratch. I think it is very rude for people to make a scene at a restaurant, if they have a problem then they should quietly speak to the waitress or staff.
@hisxshorty (124)
• United States
23 Dec 09
My mom buys the frozen mashed potatoes from Kroger but she goes home & fixes it up a little more. Like she'll add a little milk and butter to it & cook it really really well. So I guess instant mashed potatoes are alright to me lol
@xannebull (1793)
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
I never liked mashed potato no matter how delicious it is cooked, i never tried eating it. i just like french fries.
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
24 Dec 09
Come to think of it, it probably has been over 45 years since I have had the real thing--unless I was served the real thing and did not know it. I've been eating the instant for years and don't mind it a bit. I doctor them up too. There's all sorts of things you can do like adding spices or a tad of ketchup.
Hey, I'm about to eat a microwaved potato soon, :-).
@ladymetal80 (191)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Well My step son and I actually like instant mashed potatoes, because they are smooth, they are fast to make and they fill you up like real potatoes. We don't really care for real potatoes because even if you peel the skin, the flavor from the skin is still there. So my family and I, prefer instant over real potatoes.
