Real Potatoes vs. Potato Flakes

**AmyBoz** · 12-26-2004, 09:14 AM

Okay, here's my question:

A few weeks ago, I bought 5 lbs of mashed potatoes for .99. Great deal. However, I only got 3 nights of mashed potatoes out of those 5 lbs.

The ShopRite instant potatoes are about $1.99 for a big box, but I'm able to get 6-7 nights of potatoes out of those.

Oh, I forgot to add that when I make real potatoes, I use 1/2 a stick of butter. With the flakes, none.

Sometimes, is prepackaged actually more frugal?

**QuilterMom** · 12-26-2004, 09:24 AM

Sometimes more frugal........... yes.

The healthier choice........... no.

That's where every individual making a choice based on her/his family's needs, budget, health choices, etc. comes into play.

**cau** · 12-26-2004, 02:42 PM

I think you have to count the time element as well as personal taste. I use the flakes for 2 reasons. During the week I'm tired after working and can quickly put those on the table and I hate lumpy mashed potatoes. Using some convience foods helps me not to order out and still get a decent meal on the table in under a hour. I usually doctor them up some,cau

**simplemom** · 12-26-2004, 03:35 PM

mmm...that's interesting. I wonder what else is more frugal and prepackaged....

**Telephus44** · 12-26-2004, 08:26 PM

I think that the big thing you hit on is number of servings - I started to notice this recently because often times the "serving suggestion" is not what I actually eat - sometimes its more and sometimes its less - so I try and calculate how many meals I get out of something. For a bad example, where I work if I decided to eat out (I said that this was a bad example) I can get McDonalds, a small pizza, or Chinese. They all cost $6. The McDonalds is one meal, the pizza two, and the Chinese I eat three times. Or I'll use half a pound of turkey in spaghetti but a whole pound in chile - so a lot of times it pays to look more at the number of servings you get.

Also on a side note to the above - since DH and I both work full-time - I strongly agree with using convenience foods to get food on the table. This was we don't spend money eating out and have quality time eating together, even if it isn't the most healthy. I don't use potato flakes, but I do use a lot of instant rice packets.

**pita1213** · 12-26-2004, 08:27 PM

i use the instant because we don't eat a lot of mashed potatoes so they don't go bad on me. every once in a blue moon i'll buy a bag of potatoes but only when i know we'll be having company over and i can make baked potoates to use them up.

**auntiali** · 12-26-2004, 11:01 PM

I use instant because I like them better for mashies. I buy baking potatoes when the 5 lb bag is .99. Just got 2/2lb boxes of Shop Rite instant mashies for 4.00. I use Shop Rite margarine in the potatoes.

**Mom23boys** · 12-27-2004, 12:23 PM

I usually buy instant unless I can get a bag of potatoes cheaper.

I found your investigation to be interesting. I think I may go the convience route....quicker and cheaper!

**justmeD** · 12-27-2004, 12:57 PM

very interesting!
i do happen to like real better, plus no MSG, etc...but for every now and then i'll keep flakes on hand.

**momof42003** · 12-27-2004, 09:34 PM

It just depends on the mood I am in.. We keep both on hand. My DH likes to use the instant to thicken up certain dishes, like some soups, and casseroles... I like the real ones more though.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-27-2004, 10:05 PM

I get bagged potatoes for 10 lbs/.99 on a loss leader every six weeks or so, so they are a better deal than instant. I keep the instant on hand for thickenings and to make potato bread. I love real mashed potatoes and can take or leave the instant stuff.

**BlessedMommy** · 12-27-2004, 10:33 PM

Last week I was able to get 15 lbs of potatoes for 1.49. They keep well in my cool, dark basement (storing them in an unused cooler works well, too.) My family refuses to eat the instant kind from a box, so I never buy them.

**AmyMCGS** · 12-27-2004, 10:45 PM

Originally posted by QuilterMom
Sometimes more frugal........... yes.

The healthier choice........... no.

That's where every individual making a choice based on her/his family's needs, budget, health choices, etc. comes into play.

  I was going to say basically the same thing. 

That said, I keep both on hand and we eat whichever one I have time to make.  Instant potatoes may not be health food, but, I doctor up my real ones with a lot of butter and whole milk, so, calorie-wise, they're probably not too healthy, either.   I serve whichever variety I have time to cook for any given meal.

**beeba** · 12-28-2004, 05:16 PM

I don't use the instant kind because my family doesn't like them. But if it makes things easier for you then by all means get them. Maybe when you make homemade potatoes, don't use a whole stick of butter in them. Try making them with chicken stock or nonfat milk. Just a thought.