Dehydrated potatoes are actually the same as instant potatoes, and this latter term is doubtless more familiar to you. If you are like thousands of other US people, you buy dehydrated potatoes on a constant basis and often use them in your cooking.
Think about how many times you have gone to the local grocery store to buy dehydrated potatoes. Once a week? Twice a month? In those times that you have picked up a pack that asserts “Instant Potatoes,” have you checked the package for the list of ingredients contained in the pack? The next time you go out to buy your favorite brand of dehydrated potatoes, you should try having a look at the list of ingredients. You may be in for a shock.
Actually, we have done that to one of the less expensive makes of dehydrated products - check out its ingredients, that is. We went to our local Aldi’s and grabbed a box of “Great Worth Instant Potatoes.” You would expect the package to contain potatoes, and nothing else right? After all, it’s just instant potatoes, so what else should be in there?
Here is a list of the ingredients that are really included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes:
- potato (you would truly be surprised if this wasn’t included )
- monocerides (these are fats )
- diglycerides ( another sort of fats)
- sodium acid pyrophosphate ( this is basically a chemical employed in electroplating )
- sodium metabisulfate (this chemical is employed with antioxidants )
- citric acid ( a weak acid used for flavoring )
- BHT or butylated hydroxytoluene ( a fat and oil antioxidant which has been quite questionable in the food-processing industry )
Out of all these listed ingredients, the sole one that basically has business being in a pack of dehydrated potatoes is the potato itself. So what are all the other stuff doing in there? Just seeing the amount of chemicals concerned in making dehydrated potatoes will make you wish to think carefully about purchasing them again.
You do have the option of making your own dehydrated potatoes. You may be sure that there are no harmful chemicals added, and you can have a good time making them. The process is reasonably easy, and you can make it into a fun activity for the family, particularly if you have kids around. For more info see http://www.dehydratedfoodguide.com/Articles/Dehydrated_Mushroom.php on Dehydrated Mushroom.
When making dehydrated potatoes at home, just follow these simple steps:
1. Cut your potatoes into thin slices.
2. Put them in a warm oven.
3. Keep turning them till they become crispy and dry.
4. Mash them into powder and put them in airtight containers.
You can ask your children to help you in this last part. Just make sure that everything is orderly so you will not have to clean up too much afterwards.
For more information about food and useful cooking tips, check out cooking101.org and also have a look at roasted potatoes.