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Instant mashed potatoes are potatoes that have been through an industrial process of cooking, mashing, and drying to yield a packaged convenience food that can be reconstituted in the home in seconds by adding hot water or milk, producing a close approximation of mashed potatoes with very little expenditure of time and effort. They come in many different flavours, e.g., onion, chive, garlic, and butter. Instant mashed potatoes are occasionally packaged with instant gravy.
Mashed potatoes can be reconstituted from potato flour, but the process is made more difficult by lumping; a key characteristic of instant mashed potatoes is that it is in the form of flakes or granules, eliminating the chunkyness. Analogous to instant mashed potatoes are instant poi made from taro and instant fufu made from yams or yam substitutes including cereals. Poha, an instant rice mush, is also much in the same spirit, as more broadly are other instant porridges, formed from flakes, granules, or pearls to avoid lumping. Brands include Smash and Idahoan mashed potatoes.
Flaked instant mashed potatoes are the most common found in the local US/Canadian stores. Granulated or Potato Pearls are generally reserved more for institutional or restaurant use. Granulated mashed potatoes can be found in some wholesale clubs or are available through those that carry dehydrated or survival foods. Unlike the flaked mashed potatoes, both of the granulated and pearls will be more hygroscopic when it mixes with water. They will generally have an improved flavor, higher yields, and a firmer mix, in that regard.
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