Kitchen

[Jannyg]

Trader Joe's has wonderful frozen mashed potatoes. They are buds and you can make a single serving or the whole bag makes about 6-8 servings.

[IControlMyHappiness]

I have not tried many brands but it is pretty easy to make mashed potatoes for a small group...and I'm not a ""GOOD"" cook. But I'm surely going to try some of the recommendations mentioned above.

[Flika13]

To any mashed potatoes I add some sour cream and cream cheese. If I need to make mashed potatoes for a large group I use some real potatoes and some of either the Idahoan brand or the frozen ones. There are never any leftovers.

[gailcoco]

On 11/19/2014 Skylands said:

On 11/19/2014 violann said: Open to anythng I don't have to peel!

Frozen mashed potatoes This is a special holiday & freshly mashed potatoes are a welcome & integral part of this holiday. Definitely not frozen.

Peel in advance. Soak in H20 until it's time to mash. This is so easy to do. I hate to think what other short cuts U take. Just saying.................

There is not a darn thing wrong with short cuts - at any time. I'm usually in charge of doing the mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and pies. This means I'm stuck at my house until the meal, getting my stuff completed while everyone is at my sister's - working in her kitchen (there's not enough room to cook everything needed) and watching football, playing cards and socializing. Heck, I'll get the frozen and be able to spend more time with everyone else. Gail

[pupwhipped]

On 11/19/2014 misspammie said:

my very 'good cook' family turned me onto Country Crock mashed potatoes,,,in the deli dept. in a brownish crock container. I hope this is the name,,,,Jimmy Dean maybe???? you'll know it when you see it. and it's deliciousd

The Country Crock mashed potatoes are very, very good. They even have three different flavors, original, garlic, and loaded. It's just my husband and me so I've gotten lazy and no longer make homemade mashed taters. Now, to feed 12-14 is gonna cost you. But, for a special dinner where your frazzled and just don't want to fool with peeling and mashing spuds, this is the brand I would suggest.

I'll also add, one year I made the make ahead mashed potato casserole and put it in the freezer. It worked fine. There was some reason I needed to freeze it instead of just making it a day or two ahead. Course, this one has to go into the oven to cook so it does take up oven space.

[LeaLeander]

We tried the Bob Evans potatoes -- one forkful apiece. Wallpaper paste, even with lots of added butter.

However the Simply Potatoes brand of pre-made mashed potatoes (not frozen, come in a tub in the refrigerated section) were pretty good. Only one store near me carries them but it's worth the special trip once in a while.

I had Steam n Mash once and the taste was OK but I had some unmashable clumps of fibrous potato tissue in mine and it was a turnoff from a texture point of view; I can't bear the thought of them now because I still can feel that stringy clump when I think about them. Most people do like them, however.

[Lotus]

By far,the best I've ever had....and they are usually on sale. (in the refrigerated section)

I add butter and heat on low heat on the stove top, till heated thru.

Delicious....and no one will know the difference.

[pupwhipped]

On 11/19/2014 Lotus~ said:

By far,the best I've ever had....and they are usually on sale. (in the refrigerated section)

I add butter and heat on low heat on the stove top, till heated thru.

Delicious....and no one will know the difference.

I've never even seen these. Where do you buy them? I only have a Kroger or Walmart to shop at. Maybe I've seen them but didn't pay any attention as I do really like the Country Crock ones. I agree with the poster a post or two up, I didn't really care for the Bob Evans brand. But that's just me.

[McGraw Fan]

The Steam & Mash are really very good. I make them all the time and I am always the one to make the homemade mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. I can't tell a difference at all. Just FYI, I have never been able to stomach the boxed potatoes like Potato Buds or whatever they were called. Don't even know if they still make them but they were nasty. I have not problem at all recommending the frozen potatoes. I think that is what I am going to use this year. Saves a great deal of time. I have never had a problem like Cinder did but I can sympathize with her as if that had happened to me, I probably would not be able to eat them anymore either. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

[KJPA]

Get your husband/SO to do the peeling and mashing! In our house my hubby almost always makes the mashed and does a great job. I like the red potatoes, cooked with skin on and then hand-mashed with some of the cooking water, garlic, salt, pepper, butter and lots of milk. We use the old time hand masher and love the lumps and all.

We don't make "real" for just the two of us; we like those different refrigerated versions such as the ones pictured above. Our stores typically have them in the meat case or near it. We usually get the Garlic version; Bob Evans or Simply Potatoes.

Question about peeling ahead of time: I was told that letting them sit in water for a long time will leech all the "good stuff" out of them. Is that an old wives' tale? I'm sure for a special occasion it's no big deal but if you do it all the time and lose all vitamins and minerals it would be bad. Anyone have info on that?