Instant Mash - thoughts?

KittyKate

My dad buys the huge bags of 'smash' (Tesco's own) for 33p when he does his 'big shop' - he can't carry huge bags of potatoes on the bus, and if he had a huge bag of them they'd go off anyway and waste him money.

He makes it with a bit of milk, a pinch of salt and a knob of butter. I am no fan of smash (after trying it in the 80s as a kid!) but I can honestly say, this is actually quite nice and a perfectly good potato substitute.

Does anyone else use it? It seems a good bet for those who can't use up potatoes, or is always in a hurry (not sure if you can actually cook with it, but I've had it on top of a shepherd's pie and it was very nice!)

You can also buy the same sort of thing in most supermarkets and each bag lasts my dad over a month!

(I have just noticed this is the most un OS thing ever but it is a real moneysaver for him ) And he does eat a lot of veggies so I'm sure he is healthy!!

FRUGAL_4

KittyKate wrote: »

My dad buys the huge bags of 'smash' (Tesco's own) for 33p when he does his 'big shop' - he can't carry huge bags of potatoes on the bus, and if he had a huge bag of them they'd go off anyway and waste him money.

He makes it with a bit of milk, a pinch of salt and a knob of butter. I am no fan of smash (after trying it in the 80s as a kid!) but I can honestly say, this is actually quite nice and a perfectly good potato substitute.

Does anyone else use it? It seems a good bet for those who can't use up potatoes, or is always in a hurry (not sure if you can actually cook with it, but I've had it on top of a shepherd's pie and it was very nice!)

You can also buy the same sort of thing in most supermarkets and each bag lasts my dad over a month!


Dare I admit this on the OS board, but my OH loves the stuff, I'm personally not keen, but when I make mince for dinner and the OH is usually home late, I pop some mince in a dish, place some "smash" on top, an instant shepherds pie, cause I will not waste money/gas on cooking potatoes for one, my children don't eat potatoes, so this works for me, just don't tell anyone:D I didn't know that Tesco had their own brand of "Smash" so I will buy this next time...and thats moneysaving so I can now justify using "Instant potato".;)

FRUGAL

Agutka

I like the Sainsbury's one. And I hate peeling potatoes. The only thing is I have no idea what that stuff is made of. Is there any potato in it? Maybe I'll read the packet one day...

Mariel

I just tried to reply but my computer lost it so I'll try again.
As far as I can see there aren't too many nasties in the one I get and I think it probably works out cheaper than mashing your own. I think it is something like 99 point something percent potato which is ok by me. Just a shame I'm the only one in our house that will eat it. I went to france when my youngest was a baby and bought her some dried food - it was just instant potato - very odd!

newlywed

I keep a tub of smash in as a stanby. I find the potatoes sprout too quickly so this is my emergency. Also great if you need a quick meal as you can make it faster than a pork chop takes to grill

boo81

as a student with no cooker this was great for me, I had it with salad cream for lunch when I couldnt be bothered or couldnt afford to go to the canteen!

dianadors

I use a similar thing from Asda when we are camping.

Stephen_Leak

I suppose the truly MSE/OS alternative would have to be a 35 Kg sack of potatoes from your local farm shop!

mrs_mix

I keep some in the cupboard for emergencies mainly for the boy's dd won't eat mash at all and we are not big potato eaters

fizzel81

ohh have not had instant mash for years, after reading some comments i may buy some of this next time im shopping, my boys are not the hugest potato eaters and this may just come in really handy, i have a similer problem with the weight of a bag of potatos to be honest i forgot this stuff exsisted

KittyKate

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

I suppose the truly MSE/OS alternative would have to be a 35 Kg sack of potatoes from your local farm shop!

Oh absolutely, but I'm sure there are loads of people like my dad who can't carry these and can't use them before they become a root monster!

Does anyone know of any recipies using this instant mash - other than as regular mash on the side or as a shepherd's pie topping? I saw a guy on the TV mix it with corned beef and supermarket's own sage&onion stuffing but I can't remember the whole recipe.

For 33p a (big) bag I think I will be converted myself, as I work city centre, don't have a car and am always on the go. Similarly me and the OH have started using UHT milk - we go to Tenerife a lot and that's all they use due to the heat, so we're used to it. Saves money and time - sometimes longlife/instant isn't quite OS but it certainly is MS!