I was wondering if anyone knew how long potato flakes would be good for. I have a bag of flakes in the cupboard and I think they are 2 years old. I could make instant potaoes for the dogs if need be, I suppose, to use them up. Any suggestions for using them besides thickening stews and soups?
Valleyrimgirl
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I would do a visual inspection of the potatoes and if they look good use them. I have personally stored them for close to 2 years with out any problems. Mine were in a can instead of a bag but they should still be good. Below is a recipe that my family really likes.
Brown hamburger with garlic (quite a bit) and place in a caserole dish. In the mean time boil the water to make up the potatoe flakes add to the water one packet of onion soup mix. Mix in the potatoe flakes as directed. Spread the potatoes over top of your hamburger and top with sprinkled cheese. Bake in the oven just to melt the cheese. There is something about the powdered onion soup added to the potatoes that makes them better than just normal potatoes.
How about making potato pancakes or using them for breading chicken (pork chops) in the oven (roll in potato flakes, season and place on a rack and bake). I would also try freezing them so they last longer. Check out recipe sites for other ideas. allrecipes.com and recipezaar.com is a good place to start.
if they don't have weavels
maybe try a mashed potatoe salad this summer !
i saw a recipe for it a number of years ago - but not sure where -- you put in it what you would a regular potatoe salad - but watch the consistency or it will be too runny !
i always mash my poatoe salad with a fork anyway - because that way the flavors aren't just on the outside of the cubes
instant mashed potatoes spoil quicker than real whole ones
& i just remembered refried mashed potatoe patties
my mom used to make them -
stiff them up & form patties & brown in lots of butter - or egg yoke
I would make sheperd's pie and use the instant potatoes as the topping. If you don't have a recipe, you can search for one. Basically it's browned hamburger (cooked with onion and some garlic) and a couple cans of diced tomatoes in a casserole dish, season to taste, top with mashed potatoes and cheese, then baked to melt cheese.
The flakes look good , have no bugs in them and do not have any bad odor to them. Mine are in a bag because I got the flakes at a fundraiser and I am assuming that a restaurant bought a large bag, donated the whole thing and then someone divided it into smaller bags. They were sold in bags...about 20 - 30 cups worth for $1. I figured that I couldn't go wrong. I just haven't used them as much as I thought I would. I like the suggestion of freezing them for future use. I am in the process of emptying the freezer and so there will be room later. Thanks.
wow with out there being an expiration date the only thing you can do is try them, i guess.that sounds like it was a good deal. but I recently made some instant from a box we have had so long I couldnt remember buying them, they turned an orangish color. we threw them out and i looked and they were outdated by about a year!...lol. so if they don't turn orange when fixed and smell normal i would say go for it.
I have heard of ppl using them to coat chicken or other meats for frying. and there are bread recipes that call for instant potatoes. and potato candy too..might be an option.
hth' brenda-ohio
If you find they are still good, I wouid definately freeze them until until you use them up...at least then they will stay fresh!
I use them alll the time...but when I make them, I add either a dollop of Mayo, or a small chunk of cream cheese or a dollop of sour cream....changes the flavor enuf so most people don't realize they are instant!!
If they have no bugs in the box and there's no musty odor then they're ok. Just as a precaution, I'd transfer them to ziplock bags and store them that way and do that for future purchases.
I use instant potatoes to make gravy instead of a fat and flour/cornstarch base. So much lower in fat and cholesterol, just as tasty and more nutritious. And the best part.....never a lump to be found!!!
I really don't know how long they are good for and it really depends on how you've stored them.
I buy a box at a time and go through a box fairly quickly because I make 6 servings when I make....I don't mind if we have a little left because I can always heat up for the kids the next day or turn into potato pancakes.
I know I could buy in a larger amount but I just don't want to store a ton of it and then be wondering if we'll use up quick enough.
I have this plastic canister thing with a very tight fitting lid that flips open. I just cut off the instructions from the box & keep somewhere handy. I was keeping in the box and then setting that down inside a big ziploc bag. Once you've opened the box is when I think it can go bad quicker or get bugs. Some people keep stuff like that in the frig too I have heard. I don't buy so much at a time and therefore just keep in the pantry.
Our kids really seem to like mashed potatoes and now I find I am making more often since starting to use the instant flakes. I have been cooking many years and never thought I'd be making instant mashed potatoes but hey, they ain't half bad and sure are fast and easy! I generally buy the 15.3 oz size box which = 20 servings. A box of Hungry Jack mashed potatoes I just purchased a few days ago has a "best by" date of June 30, '07.
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How long can you store instant potato flakes that are vaccuum sealed?
By Cheryl W
I once had a package that I lost for a few years way in the back of my cabinet. When I finally found them, they were still good and tasted the same, but their color had darkened somewhat. I just mixed them with newer instant potatoes, and no one knew the difference.
