Dehydrated potatoes are really the same as instant potatoes, and this latter term is probably more familiar to you. If you are like thousands of other USA citizens, you purchase dehydrated potatoes on a consistent 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? The next time you go out to purchase your favourite brand of dehydrated potatoes, you should try having a look at the list of ingredients. You might be in for a shock.

Actually, we have done that to one of the less expensive makes 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? In fact, 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 shocked if this wasn’t included )
- monocerides (these are fats )
- diglycerides (another kind of fats )
- sodium acid pyrophosphate (this is actually 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 debatable in the food-processing industry)

Out of all these listed ingredients, the sole one that basically 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 wish to think carefully about purchasing them again.

You do have the choice of making your own dehydrated potatoes. You can be sure that there are no harmful chemicals added, and you can also have an excellent time making them. The method is reasonably easy, and you can make it into a fun activity for everybody, particularly if you have children 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 till they become crispy and dry.
4. Mash them into powder and store them in airtight containers.

You can ask your kids to help in this last part. Simply make sure that everything is orderly so you won’t have to clean up too much afterwards.

For more easy to make recipes, visit cooking101.org and also read about roast potatoes.

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