Instant Potatoes?!

[DonL]

One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)
Thanks! Don L.

[Bill-182]

I've tried many different brands and they all taste the same to me.  So
now I just buy the store brand.

I don't put any milk in it, which is what the directions suggest.  I've
tried it and I prefer the stuff without the milk.  I just add boiling
water, mix thoroughly, then slather the hot mush with butter, pepper,
and salt.

If you prefer it with milk, you can premix whole milk powder in with the
potato flakes, then just add water on the trail.

Bill

DonL wrote:

>  
>
> One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
> Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really
> great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)
> Thanks! Don L.
>
> _
>
>
>

[Jerry Goller]

Absolutely. Excel potato pearls. I can't tell the difference between them
and fresh potatoes. They are incredible. They are commercial for caterers
and restaurants. Beprepared.com carries them as does Costco. If the exact
proportion of water is used they are perfect.

I stopped looking after I found them.

Jerry


http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the most comprehensive interactive gear
reviews and tests on the planet.

-----Original Message-----
From: BackpackingLight@...
[mailto:BackpackingLight@...] On Behalf Of DonL
Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 3:55 PM
To: BackpackingLight@...
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Instant Potatoes?!

One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great,
or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o) Thanks! Don L.



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[Tenacious Tanasi]

It really doesn't matter which instant taters you use as long as you put a double shot of Nido in it along with some salt and powdered butter flakes.  :)
Tenacious Tanasi


     

[Ralph Oborn]

On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 6:03 PM, Bill <bpl@...> wrote:

> I've tried many different brands and they all taste the same to me.  So
> now I just buy the store brand.



As long as they are from Idaho....



Ralph  (Pocatello)   :]

[Paul Truslow]

Oh Yeah
Try Idahoan brand Original with condensed milk or their Loaded baked has butter, sour cream, cheese,bacon,onion and chives, toss in some cooked dried ground beef and Just Veggies freeze dried vegetables. Fix a little tea to wash out your pot and relax.
Paul

--- On Sun, 11/8/09, DonL <dladigin@...> wrote:

From: DonL <dladigin@...>
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Instant Potatoes?!
To: BackpackingLight@...
Date: Sunday, November 8, 2009, 5:55 PM







 



 


   
     
     
      One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.

Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)

Thanks! Don L.





   
     

   
   


 



 






     

[e_l_green]

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "DonL" <dladigin@...> wrote:
>
> One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
> Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)

Butter buds and a sprinkle of Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning makes pretty much any mash potatoes taste great. Instant gravy mix does a great job of that too, along with some freeze-dried meat to add some protein and a tiny bit of olive oil to add fat to things.

And yeah, I'm using the Costco mash potatoes, good stuff.

[Jon Belcher]

I like and use "Idahoan" brand found in most stores around here - Safeway, Albertson's, Winco, QFCs .......
Just add water and they come in many varieties, the package I have in front of me is Roasted Garlic.

'til later,
jon

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "DonL" <dladigin@...> wrote:
>
> One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
> Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)
> Thanks! Don L.
>

[James D. Marco-2]

I use these too, quick and easy, with a pinhole to reduce the volume
inside. Lots of butter and in stews, pancakes, biscuits, etc. Butter can
be a problem. Melt it first and pour it into a small, leak-proof bottle.
(Mostly the oil portion, my daughter calls it parafied-sp?)  
jdm
At 02:53 AM 11/9/2009, you wrote:
>I like and use "Idahoan" brand found in most stores around here - Safeway, Albertson's, Winco, QFCs .......
>Just add water and they come in many varieties, the package I have in front of me is Roasted Garlic.
>
>'til later,
>jon

[Ralph Oborn]

On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 12:53 AM, JonB <BelcherJD@...> wrote:

> I like and use "Idahoan" brand found in most stores around here - Safeway,
> Albertson's, Winco, QFCs .......
> Just add water and they come in many varieties, the package I have in front
> of me is Roasted Garlic.
>
> 'til later,
> jon




A wonderful company, I've done environmental work with them over the years.
  :]


Ralph

Idahoan brand are very good.  "Butter and Herb" are my favorite flavor.

Keith

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "JonB" <BelcherJD@...> wrote:

>
> I like and use "Idahoan" brand found in most stores around here - Safeway, Albertson's, Winco, QFCs .......
> Just add water and they come in many varieties, the package I have in front of me is Roasted Garlic.
>
> 'til later,
> jon
>
> --- In BackpackingLight@..., "DonL" <dladigin@> wrote:
> >
> > One staple for many of us seems to be Instant Mashed Potatoes.
> > Does anyone use a brand of instant potato flakes that tastes really great, or at least pretty close to real mashed potatoes? :o)
> > Thanks! Don L.
> >
>

[James D. Marco-2]

Hi All,
        My snow shoes have finally bit the dust, I think.
The bindings are going bad. They were a bit of an over
kill for around here at 30".  (I usually just hike the Finger
Lakes Trail, aka North Country Trail...not like Boonville,
NY in the ADK's.) Looking to replace the older Quicksilver
30's with another set. I really like the looks of the
Quicksilver 25's. I really don't need the floatation. Any
thoughts?  
        Also, I think we sorta missed Don's discussion opener
for snow camping...sort'a appropriate as it is getting there.
Unfortunately, my trips to the ADK's are somewhat curtailed
without my usual partners, soo I will be sticking to the FLT,
mostly...rare to get enough snow to really dig into down here.
(I love my ADK's, though....) Drifts, are another story...
I have used snow caves (military style), and snow walls
around the tent, dug with my snow shoes. (Just piled
up around and over the tent.) Any other styles I can try this
year?
        TIA!
                jdm  

[Ralph Oborn]

....) Drifts, are another story...
I have used snow caves (military style), and snow walls
around the tent, dug with my snow shoes. (Just piled
up around and over the tent.) Any other styles I can try this
year?
       TIA!
               jdm


Slit trench, like a grave and then covered over,

Fast, easy, you stay dry while digging.
Hook headspace together with your companions.


Ralph

[James D. Marco-2]

Thanks, Ralph! I was thinking I would try that, too.
Sort'a forgot to mention it, though...we don't get
enough snow for these mostly, temps vary too
much. It's rare we get 14" on the lawn...I was
thinking about dropping the tent.
        jdm
At 02:37 PM 11/9/2009, you wrote:

>....) Drifts, are another story...
>I have used snow caves (military style), and snow walls
>around the tent, dug with my snow shoes. (Just piled
>up around and over the tent.) Any other styles I can try this
>year?
>       TIA!
>               jdm
>
>
>Slit trench, like a grave and then covered over,
>
>Fast, easy, you stay dry while digging.
>Hook headspace together with your companions.
>
>
>Ralph

[Michael Tamada]

>Posted by: "James D. Marco" jdm27@...
>Mon Nov 9, 2009 1:45 am (PST)



>I use these too, quick and easy, with a pinhole to reduce the volume
>inside. Lots of butter and in stews, pancakes, biscuits, etc. Butter
can
>be a problem. Melt it first and pour it into a small, leak-proof
bottle.

Butter is huge, I've found instant potatoes to be inedible (and I'm not
a choosy eater), unless lots of butter (or gravy, or etc.) is added.
However I haven't tried the Excel Potato Pearls that JerryG mentioned.
Or the olive oil that EricG mentioned.

One reason why I like taking cous-cous while backpacking is that it
needs just a touch of oil to taste right.  


>(Mostly the oil portion, my daughter calls it parafied-sp?)

Heh!  "Clarified" is what she's saying, I think.  One benefit is that
it's basically pure fat, and will keep a long long time without
spoiling.  

I usually don't take butter on backpacking trips, where the temperature
range is often such that the butter doesn't work in a bottle or jar
(because it can get too solid), but doesn't work in a tub either
(because it can get too liquid, and leak).

I guess a wide-mouth plastic bottle or jar is the answer?  I have
squeeze tubes, but I'm usually taking only a small amount of oil/butter,
so small that it'd be hard to squeeze that small amount out.  Plus I'm
not sure how leakyproof they are.


--MKT

[trailyogi]

I've used squeeze Parkay margerine transferred to a smaller, lighter squeeze bottle.  No problems with leaks, especially compared to stuff like olive oil, and it keeps fine for days at a time, but it's not butter.

Jim

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Michael Tamada" <tamada@...> wrote:
>
> >Posted by: "James D. Marco" jdm27@...
> >Mon Nov 9, 2009 1:45 am (PST)
>
>

>
> I usually don't take butter on backpacking trips, where the temperature
> range is often such that the butter doesn't work in a bottle or jar
> (because it can get too solid), but doesn't work in a tub either
> (because it can get too liquid, and leak).
>
> I guess a wide-mouth plastic bottle or jar is the answer?  I have
> squeeze tubes, but I'm usually taking only a small amount of oil/butter,
> so small that it'd be hard to squeeze that small amount out.  Plus I'm
> not sure how leakyproof they are.
>
>
> --MKT
>

[Bill-182]

I use a 12 ounce Skippy peanut butter jar for carrying butter.  Also
worth trying is the Billy Bee (no relation) Spreadable Honey jar.  Both
are vulnerable to slumping in the dishwasher, so use top rack only.

Amazingly, REI offers a similar, heavier Nalgene jar for $3.50.  The
Skippy jar is only $2.99 and it comes filled with free peanut butter.

I've never had a leak, but I've never been out with it so hot that the
butter liquefied.

If you want smaller, try a common brown prescription medicine bottle.
For really small, I would use the half-size spice jars.  You can see some at

http://www.spicebarn.com/1_ounce_spice_jars.htm

Your supermarket spice section may have a few spices in these jars.
Unfortunately they don't offer the screw-top version around here
anymore, they only offer a flip-cap.

For carrying oil, I use the smallest water bottle I can find.

Bill

Michael Tamada wrote:

>  
>
> <...>
>
> I usually don't take butter on backpacking trips, where the temperature
> range is often such that the butter doesn't work in a bottle or jar
> (because it can get too solid), but doesn't work in a tub either
> (because it can get too liquid, and leak).
>
> I guess a wide-mouth plastic bottle or jar is the answer? I have
> squeeze tubes, but I'm usually taking only a small amount of oil/butter,
> so small that it'd be hard to squeeze that small amount out. Plus I'm
> not sure how leakyproof they are.
>
> --MKT
>
> __
>
>
>

[Ralph Oborn]

On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 12:54 PM, James D. Marco <jdm27@...> wrote:

> Thanks, Ralph! I was thinking I would try that, too.
> Sort'a forgot to mention it, though...we don't get
> enough snow for these mostly, temps vary too
> much. It's rare we get 14" on the lawn...I was
> thinking about dropping the tent.



find a drift if you can or head for the hills



Ralph

[Mark Verber]

> I have used snow caves (military style), and snow walls
> around the tent, dug with my snow shoes. (Just piled
> up around and over the tent.) Any other styles I can try this

I am lazy... so my snow shelters have typically been a snow trench
which has been covered by a flat tarp which  goes up (or is that down)
quickly but isn't as cozy as some of the more elaborate structures.
Hmm...  it's better suited to generally deep snow rather than just
snow banks so skip that as a suggestion.  On the other hand, snow
banks would be good for harvesting bricks.  If you have the time you
could go for an igloo.  These can be fun to make if the trip is more
about snow fun than covering miles.

I haven't used it, but http://www.grandshelters.com/ looks like it
would make the process a bit easier than the typical hack blocks out
of compressed snow using shovels.

The most comfortable option would be a tipi/pyramid tarp with a small
wood stove like those sold by  http://www.kifaru.net/  I have never
owned one, but boy, on some of the more brutal trips it would sure
have been nice.

--Mark

[ed_rodriguez52]

I just started to carry butter in the package that you can get in KFC. Before carried it in a wide open container (never had a problem of licking). Was using butter buds didn't care for the after tast.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "trailyogi" <naphas@...>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:58:22
To: <BackpackingLight@...>
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Re: Instant Potatoes?!

I've used squeeze Parkay margerine transferred to a smaller, lighter squeeze bottle.  No problems with leaks, especially compared to stuff like olive oil, and it keeps fine for days at a time, but it's not butter.

Jim

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "Michael Tamada" <tamada@...> wrote:
>
> >Posted by: "James D. Marco" jdm27@...
> >Mon Nov 9, 2009 1:45 am (PST)
>
>

>
> I usually don't take butter on backpacking trips, where the temperature
> range is often such that the butter doesn't work in a bottle or jar
> (because it can get too solid), but doesn't work in a tub either
> (because it can get too liquid, and leak).
>
> I guess a wide-mouth plastic bottle or jar is the answer?  I have
> squeeze tubes, but I'm usually taking only a small amount of oil/butter,
> so small that it'd be hard to squeeze that small amount out.  Plus I'm
> not sure how leakyproof they are.
>
>
> --MKT
>