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 US people, you buy dehydrated potatoes on a regular basis and frequently 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 caught a pack that claims “Instant Potatoes,” have you ever checked the package for the list of ingredients contained in the pack? Next time you go out to buy your fave 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 cheaper brands 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 essentially included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes:
- potato (you would truly be surprised if this wasn’t included )
- monocerides (these are fats)
- diglycerides (another kind of fats )
- sodium acid pyrophosphate (this is really a chemical employed in electroplating )
- sodium metabisulfate ( this chemical is used 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 sole one that actually 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 want to think carefully about buying them again.
You do have the choice of making your own dehydrated potatoes. You may be certain that there are no harmful chemicals added, and you can have an excellent time making them. The method is reasonably straightforward, and you can make it into a fun activity for everybody, particularly if you have kids around. For more data see http://www.dehydratedfoodguide.com/Articles/Dehydrated_Mushroom.php on Dehydrated Mushroom.
When making dehydrated potatoes at home, just follow these straightforward 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 store them in airtight containers.
You can ask your youngsters to help you in this last part. Just ensure that everything is orderly so you will not have to clean up too much afterwards.
Do you enjoy cooking and learning more about food? If yes, you may also visit cooking101.org to learn more about the many different kinds of recipes and cooking ideas that will be useful next time you are in the kitchen. Also, you might want to check out how to roast potatoes.
Tags: dehydrated potatoes, potatoes
