Dehydrated potatoes are basically the same as instant potatoes, and this latter term is doubtless more familiar to you. If you are like thousands of other USA citizens, you buy dehydrated potatoes on a consistent basis and often use them in your cooking.
Think about how often you have gone to the local greengrocer 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 fave brand of dehydrated potatoes, you should try taking 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 types 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? Of course, it’s just instant potatoes, so what else should be in there?
Here is a catalogue of the ingredients that are really included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes:
– potato (you would actually be surprised if this was not included)
– monocerides ( these are fats )
– diglycerides (another kind 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 that has been quite controversial in the food-processing industry)
Out of all these listed ingredients, the only one that really 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 quantity of chemicals involved in making dehydrated potatoes will make you would like to think carefully about purchasing them again.
You do have the choice of making your own dehydrated potatoes. You can be sure that there are no dangerous chemicals added, and you can even have an excellent time making them. The process is reasonably straightforward, and you can make it into a fun activity for the whole family, especially if you have youngsters 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. Place them in a warm oven.
3. Keep turning them until they become crispy and dry.
4. Mash them into powder and store them in airtight containers.
You can ask your youngsters to help in this last part. Just make certain that everything is orderly so you won’t have to clean up too much afterwards.
To get more recipes and cooking ideas, visit cooking101.org and while you are at it, you might also want to have a look at recipe for potato wedges.
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