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 purchase dehydrated potatoes on a constant basis and often use them in your cooking.

Think about how many times you have gone to the local greengrocer 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 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 Value Instant Potatoes.” You would expect the package to contain potatoes, and nothing else right? After all, it’s just instant potatoes, so what else should be in there?

Here is a catalogue of the ingredients that are basically included in the pack of dehydrated potatoes:

– potato (you would really be shocked if this wasn’t included )
– monocerides ( these are fats )
– diglycerides ( another sort of fats )
– sodium acid pyrophosphate (this is basically a chemical used 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 which has been quite questionable in the food-processing industry)

Out of all these listed ingredients, the only 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 quantity of chemicals involved in making dehydrated potatoes will make you would like to think twice about buying them again.

You do have the option of making your own dehydrated potatoes. You may be sure that there are no dangerous chemicals added, and you can have an excellent time making them. The method is reasonably easy, and you can make it into a fun activity for the family, 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. 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 you in this last part. Just make sure 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 potato wedge.