potato flakes

[agmccall]

Hello All

I got some potato flakes from the bulk food store and tried to make instant mashed potatos. No luck. I got a box of instant potatos and followed the instructions and got soup, I have tried to adjust the ratios and still no luck.

Any help making instant mashed potatos would be great

Thank You

Al

[Mom5farmboys]

Are your potatoes too thick or too runny? When I make instant potatoes and don't get the desired consistency (I like thicker potatoes when eating them with gravy and runnier ones when using them for something else like Shephards Pie).

If they are too runny simply add a small handfull of flakes at a time, stir, and in just a minute or two you will be able to tell if your mashed potatoes are thick enough, if not, then add another handful.

Just the opposite for potatoes that are too thick, add a little milk or water and see if that thins them out enough, if not add a bit more at a time until they are "just right".

One thing I could suggest is start off with the directions from a box of instant and if they don't come out to your liking, put the extra flakes or the extra liquid in a measuring cup first, then when the potatoes are at the right consistency all you need to do is check your measuring cup to see how much extra potatoes or liquid was used and make a note of it. Next time you will know how much of everything you will need.

Good luck.

[Grizzy]

You know, I rarely make instant taters.. but when I do, I just pour buttermilk, regular 4% milk, or canned evaporated milk into the pot and eyeball the flakes am cooking with until it looks right.. adding a lil more like Mom said if they need thickening. Butter and (believe it or not) bottled ranch dressing helps the bland taste. Sometimes I add onion powder but always good fresh cracked black pepper makes something so simple a lil tastier. I think I posted mostly coz when I read this thread I had to laff.. I don't think I ever even thot to measure the liquid an flakes. Only when I bake do I measure an even then not always haha.

Keep trying an you'll find what works for you :)

~Grizzy~

[BonnyLake]

The recipes are different for different brands of flakes and then you have buds too! Here's my basic recipe that I use for any type and it rarely needs too much adjustment >> got this when I bought a 25# bag from the mormon food packing plant!

makes a pile big enough for 2 adults

1 1/3 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbls margarine / butter

put these into a saucepan and bring to a boil - then take off heat and add >>

1/2 cup cold milk - stir fast - then add

1 1/3 cups flakes

use a fork and barely get the flakes mixed into the liquid (don't overstir) - then cover the pan for 5 minutes off the burner - open the lid and whip with a fork!

[cuppajoe]

The recipes are different for different brands of flakes and then you have buds too! Here's my basic recipe that I use for any type and it rarely needs too much adjustment >> got this when I bought a 25# bag from the mormon food packing plant!

makes a pile big enough for 2 adults

1 1/3 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbls margarine / butter

put these into a saucepan and bring to a boil - then take off heat and add >>

1/2 cup cold milk - stir fast - then add

1 1/3 cups flakes

use a fork and barely get the flakes mixed into the liquid (don't overstir) - then cover the pan for 5 minutes off the burner - open the lid and whip with a fork!


where did you get #25 of flakes?????

I cant find it....

[BonnyLake]

where did you get #25 of flakes?????

I cant find it....

In WA state the mormon's have a big huge warehouse, packing plant and canning operation all-in-one. You can go there off the street (if you already know that they are there) but we went with one of their members and got lots of stuff. The flakes came in a heavy duty bag in a big box. We also got 25# boxes of long grain rice, 25# bags of pinto beans - the only down side was most are not packed to any standards and had some dust and bug parts but the quality was above average... very workable and good prices! Funny thing is, they only take checks :confused:

If you have an LDS friend or near a church you might be able to locate a place near you too.

[leera]

I never measure mine when I make them....I use a hot pot to boil the water,pour some of the potato flakes in a big stainless steel bowl,toss in some butter,add enough water to get them almost done,but still a little dry,and then add milk and stir(adding milk as needed)until I get the consistancy I want....

You can use them to make potato pancakes too,just put some in a blender and pulse until it gets to looking mostly like course flour.

I use them as a coating when I fry foods too.

[cuppajoe]

Thank you Bonny I will look around this area..........:yes2:

[annabella1]

I never measure when using instant flakes. I put flakes in serving bowl,(don't fill more than half full, they expand a lot) Then add hot water till the flakes start to float. Stir them up with a fork and add butter, salt, pepper to taste. Then add hot milk or chicken broth, a little at a time till the consistancy you want. A lot of times I will bake a couple of taters in the microwave, mash them in my stand mixer then add the flakes as above every body loves the "scratch" made mashed potatoes.

[NCLee]

Lots of great advice already!

The only additional thing I can think of to add is to be sure you're using dry and liquid measuring cups. It does make a difference in some cases. Maybe not here, as potato flakes are more forgiving than some things. Easy, as the others said, to adjust the consistancy to suit your needs/tastes.

BTW, if you stock instant nonfat dry milk and Butter Buds packets, mix those with your flakes, then water is the only thing you need to make them. Good for emergency situations where fresh milk and butter aren't available for some reason.

Another BTW.. Sam's Club 3.25 lb boxes of Idahoan potatoes are the best I've found around here. Each box makes 65 1/2-cup servings.

Lee

[karlamaria]

I use hash browns ( dehydrated) to make potatoe soup, use dehydrated onions to! then I add the flaked potatoes as a thicking agent to make the soup thicker. my soup is wonderful, potatoe flakes are a cooks friend for all kinds of great meals !

[Grendal]

When I use potato flakes, I use the following.

Mix 1 cup of potato flakes with 2 cups boiling water w. 1 t. salt added. Beat for 1-2 minutes. For creamier potatoes add 1-2 T OLIVE OIL and/or replace 1/4 c water with milk. For thinner, add more water; for thicker, add more flakes.

However there's some other things...instant potatoes get very boring for me after awhile....man can only live off of roasted garlic and onions with instant potatoes for just so long before they begin to eat their shoes instead....

1) Meatloaf thats right substitute the bread crumbs for potatoe flakes!

2) Mayo and potato flakes...makes a great oven fried chicken, not too slimming, but it's good.

3) can use them on fish too.

4) sour dough starter and bread!

5) potato pancakes

6) lefske (norwegian tortillas, think I mispelled it)

7) gnocchi

Can let me know if any interest you, I got TONS of recipes.