Dried instant potatoes

[barfife]

That big box does not store as well as and really does not taste the same as those foil and sealed packets.

Agreed, but i take them out of the boxes and mylar them for LTS.

[kappydell]

be sure to get those that take only water to reconstitute - idahoan makes some but you have to read the boxes or pouches. the pouches work for me, i only prep for two. my favorite emergency potato soup: 1 c hot water, with 1 tsp chicken bouillon dissolved in it, add spuds to thicken to taste.

i have lots in my mylar & pail storage.

[monkeybird]

The last time I tried instant potatoes was the 70's. I hated them and have made all my potato dishes with the real thing. You guys have convinced me to try these. Is the foil pouch in a box?

[MustangGal]

Monkeybird, I hear you! I bought some to try. DH and the Man Cub seemed to think they were pretty good, but I thought they were nasty. I suppose they would beat the heck out of starvation though!

[goatlady]

The one in the small packets do require milk which I think makes all the difference in taste. Since the plasticey packets may break down over time, how about just packing the original packets in mylar rather than opening them and then repacking? Saves time and you will have the directions still so even a kid to mix them up. Mgal which kind did you try? I'm surprised you did not like them.

[MustangGal]

One was the Idahoan, not sure about the other. I did an internet search and picked the two that had fared the best in taste tests.

[goatlady]

Just did a bit of searching and found the Idahoan brand is good for 2 years past the "exp" date on the package - depending of storage. Just received an email from a friend in NMex who was having some for lunch today that were dated 2009 and she swears they taste fresh. Also found out the Idahoan brand IS dehydrated, not just dried, which may make a flavor difference or it may be a matter of semantics.

[MJC]

if bought in #10 cans they will last practically forever. vac packed in a mason jar 10-15 years

[JUSTIFIED]

Good to know these things. Soon as we're settled we'll be buying more things like this that we can portion out in mylar bags and store.

[PerryJeff]

I bought a box of the Idaho Way brand said microwaveable. I put some bacon bits, a bit of bullion powder in with them in about half styrafoam 16 oz coffee cup then fill with hot water for lunch at work. Very good stuff. I will have to try some of the dry gravy mix also sounds even better.

[JUSTIFIED]

I bought a box of the Idaho Way brand said microwaveable. I put some bacon bits, a bit of bullion powder in with them in about half styrafoam 16 oz coffee cup then fill with hot water for lunch at work. Very good stuff. I will have to try some of the dry gravy mix also sounds even better.

I don't much of anything that isn't good with bacon and gravy! LOL

[Irish-Tech]

Find your local Mormon and get #10 cans of flakes that are good for 30 years or packets of pearls that are good for 5 years. I like the pearls and think they taste great. i once saw #10 cans of pearls at Sam's club, but they were more expensive then the LDS cannery.

[kappydell]

In my bug out food I store instant potatoes that are in small mylar packets of 4 svgs and DO NOT REQUIRE ANYTHING BUT WATER TO MAKE. That part to me is the critical one. Milk could be hard to come by, if you are on the move. Idahoan does make good tasty ones. but some of the other store brands are starting to copy their idea. For bug-in use, I have mylar in pails containing several kinds of dehydrated potatoes in each one. I buy the mashed kind in that has a mylar pouch inside the box, then put just the pouch in the larger mylar liner with directions written on a card. My pails contain some mashed spuds, some scalloped ones, and some hash browns, all dry types. Then I add oxygen absorbers and seal them up. For this longer term storage pantry, I consider it OK to use instant milk to make them up. In my home it would be more feasible.

Also remember, you can dehydrate your own potatoes, too, adding what you like. Dry hash browns make nice additions to many vegetable soups and cook up quickly.