# Think boxed mashed potatoes are nasty? Think again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 15, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690 "2005-03-15T19:43:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/41 "2005-03-17T01:49:29Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I cannot comprehend the people who go on about how much effort it takes to make real mashed potatos. For someone who considers themselves reasonably adept in the kitchen, mashed potatos are absolutely the freaking easiest things to make in the entire world and require almost no tending whatsoever. Just droppin’ by to offer my agreeance. What the hell effort is there in making them from scratch? Peeling them? Which takes all of, what, five minutes? I don’t mind boxed mashed potatoes from time to time, but that’s more for nostalgic reasons rather than as a time-saving tip. No offense for you that love 'em. I say go ahead and love 'em. It’s just saying they’re such an _effort_ to make from scratch sounds a bit silly to me. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/42 "2005-03-17T03:17:07Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Is the convenience really worth that much? Yes. I’m living in a dorm and my only means of cooking food is the microwave. Rice, grits, and boxed potatoes are therefore very much worth the price to me. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/43 "2005-03-17T03:51:54Z")
Well, I guess I’ve been a bit unintentionally presumptuous here. Whatever floats your boat, I reckon, is good. Personally, though, I think real beats instant in every respect. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/44 "2005-03-17T22:46:22Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Potatoes over rice? **lisacurl** , I’m guessing you weren’t born and bred in Baton Rogue, then. I was raised in New Orleans, but my people are mostly German and Irish. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/45 "2005-03-17T23:17:53Z")
I ate half a box of Hungry Man mashed potatoes, (10 servings) last year on a dare. (The daree ate the other half.) They sucked and there were a lot of them, apporx 2, 9 inch paper plates piled 3 inches high. Bleh. Real mashers for me, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![eveanyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@eveanyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eveanyn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690/46 "2005-03-18T00:13:47Z")
Usually, I make my mashed potatoes from scratch, but I do keep instant mashed on hand for when I make shephard’s pie or when I make creamed soups. Since I only buy 1% milk, a few big spoons full of instant mashed potatoes makes the soup thicken up nicely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-boxed-mashed-potatoes-are-nasty-think-again/294690.md?page=2)