Fresh mashed potatoes are healthier and somewhat better than the processed flakes. Growing up, my mother used to buy mashed potato flakes; sold in large tubs slightly bigger than a toaster.
Buying mashed potatoes recently, the only option were small packets that max out at eight servings or 2/3 of a pound. I presume there is more profit in selling tiny quantities.
Yet mashed potato flakes probably stay good for a long time. Can you still buy big ass tubs with pounds of mashed potato flakes where you live?
Apocryphally, beef tartare is tenderized by putting it under your saddle, and might be called ass mashed. I can’t imagine doing that with a potato, but humans are endlessly creative when it comes to food.
As much as I’m a fan of convenience, I’ve not ever made mashed potatoes from flakes. I’ve either made them from scratch or bought them pre-made. But potato flakes do have a use in certain recipes – my favourite is potato-flake pickerel. A delicious fried-fish recipe that also works with other kinds of fish like haddock and cod.
I think @Beckdawrek is referring to the Idahoan or Hungry Jack 3.25 lb carton, available through Sam’s club along with other locations. Probably the first, since it’s a perfect match for the 65 servings.
(Here’s where I lose any credibility I might have stored up): Walmart has these 4oz packets of instant potatoes (buttery flavored and four cheese) that are not even flakes; they’re powdered. Not only that, they’re microwaveable. Two cups cold water, mix in the taters, three minutes in the microwave, serves four. They shouldn’t be as tasty as they are. And excellent consistency. I’m shocked!
@burpo_the_wonder_mutt, we know you like your “instants”. Aren’t you the instant oatmeal guy(with peaches). ETA: the Knorr brand instant noodles and macaroni cups are pretty dang good.
I know you can buy already made mashed potatoes in a tub in the cooler section(end of the meat counter,at my store) I’ve never eaten them.
Son-of-a-wrek grows taters. If we used flakes or powders he’d implode.
They’re definitely still around, since that’s what my mom uses for mass-producing pierogis for the church fish frys. I’m not sure offhand where she gets them from, though: Maybe Gordon Food Service?
Huh? This struck me odd when I first read it a couple days ago. So I’m just back from my weekly-ish grocery run having looked at/for potato flakes.
My potato flakes report: My local midmarket Publix has Idahoan brand potato flakes in cardboard boxes the same general size and shape as are used for breakfast cereal. They’re in 14 and 26 oz packages allegedly making 32 or 65 servings. Doubtless those are shrink-flated versions of what long ago had been 1 and 2 pound (16 & 32 oz) packages.
I recall flakes in those sorts of boxes going back to me being a kid. I’ve never heard of tubs of potato flakes.
Then again my Mom shopped at a conventional grocery store, not at a food service company. If somebody was part of a very large family, that’d have been about the only place to get bulk packs back in the day.
Nowadays of course, Costco et al specialize in bulk packs of everything. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the 3.5# overgrown milk carton packs cited upthread somewhere IRL in recent years. Probably at a Gordon Foods, a regional restaurant supply place.
While we’re sorta on the subject: my wife has gotten hooked on frozen potato skins. We had been using the name-brand version (“Friday’s”) but we had to use Walmart’s version and they turned out to be head and shoulders better than the name-brand. I’m even more shocked!
FWIW I’m in Canada. I guess our grocers like stocking the small envelopes of potatoes instead of bulky boxes. Costco did not seem to have anything either, but maybe I didn’t look hard enough. Gordon’s probably does.
