Buying boxed potato flakes for quick and easy mashed potatoes may seem like a great idea most of the time, right?
There are some weird ingredients in the most popular brand that I want to avoid and I like giving my family wholesome foods. Of course, you can easily store potatoes in a root cellar to last all winter long. So why would I bother making my own potato flakes? For several reasons,1. Because I can, 2. I grow my own potatoes and this is another great way to preserve the harvest,I will often can my potatoes for longer storage, since I don’t have a root cellar, but want another way to store them without taking up so much room, and have you tried putting a 50lb. sack of potatoes in a bug out bag? That same amount can fit into a 1/2 gallon sized mason jar, or a gallon sized ziploc bag with room to push out the air and save space and weight. If I had to bug out, I certainly wouldn’t want to lug a huge sack of ‘taters with me.
Dehdyrating your own potato flakes isnt’ hard at all.
It just requires a bit of time and effort up front to get going. You start by washing and peeling your potatoes. You could leave the skins on, but the end result may be on the bitter side. Once the potatoes are peeled, bring to a boil in a large pot with enough water to cover. Cook until the potatoes are done, with a fork or knife going thru them easily. You want them a bit on the mushier side. (continue reading)