Question about potato ricer

[CWS4322]

I've used them in bread, CharlieD. I also have used them to feed a sick dog...but I personally would never dream of passing them off as mashed potatoes!

[Kayelle]

Instant potato flakes/buds can be very useful and I always have them on hand. They are great to thicken up a crock pot gravy for example. Since crock pots don't come to a boil, how else can it be done?

[Zhizara]

Originally Posted by Kayelle

Instant potato flakes/buds can be very useful and I always have them on hand. They are great to thicken up a crock pot gravy for example. Since crock pots don't come to a boil, how else can it be done?

I love that idea, Kayelle. I just bought a crock pot so I've been looking for ways to use it. Thanks for the tip.

[Kayelle]

You're very welcome Z !! Just add them a little at a time and wait a bit to see if you need more for the gravy consistency you're looking for. It works very well.

Actually instant potatoes have come a very long way since they were viewed as wallpaper paste years ago. I suspect that those who have a strong negative feeling about them, haven't tried them in a very long time..

[Andy M.]

I have used instant mashed potatoes in the distant past and found them decent. Not so decent that they replace the real thing but not so disgusting either.

[Zhizara]

Cooking for one, I don't mind instant, and always have some on hand. It's hard to use up even a 3# bag of potatoes before some go bad. I buy them only occasionally.

I know I could buy separate potatoes, but I don't like the kind they have for mashing.

I add minced (jar) garlic and cheese to dress up the instant potatoes. They really aren't bad at all.

[CWS4322]

I'm always surprised at how expensive potatoes are when I go down to NY. We grow our own potatoes, but when we run out, we do end up buying potatoes, but I don't buy them in NY. It might be because I'm partial to potatoes from PEI if not my own garden. I can see where instant potatoes could help stretch a food budget. I use tapioca as a thickening agent in stovetop stews...

I might try this next year if the potato harvest is good:

http://www.pickyourown.org/freezing_potatoes.htm

[spork]

I've used the instant mashed potato flakes also as breading, for frying and topping casseroles. Also, as fillers in croquettes and meat loafs. I prefer my mash chunky, so I don't have a ricer. For creamy mash, and turning potatoes into dough, a ricer might be a necessary utensil.