Ore-Ida’s mashed potatoes worth a try
Everybody’s busy. So, shortcuts that can produce tasty just-like-homemade side dishes in a hurry are welcome in many kitchens.
Ore-Ida’s latest time-saving dish is worth a try, members of The Spokesman-Review reader food panel said recently. Tasters both young and grown liked the Ore-Ida Steam and Mash potatoes. They gave a solid four-star rating to the cut russet potatoes. The garlic seasoned and three-cheese varieties eked out three-star flavor on our five-star scale.
The spuds are peeled, cut and seasoned, and sealed in a microwave steaming bag. Pop the unopened bag into the microwave to cook until the potatoes are soft. Then, add milk and butter before mashing the potatoes to a desired consistency.
That means the household chef can leave lumps, if your family likes it. Or not. Cooks can also customize the dish by adding more or less milk and butter.
“It must have come down from heaven,” said 11-year-old Benjamin Alford, of the plain mashed spuds.
His buddy Carter Martin agreed. “It sent my taste buds to a heaven for the summer. Gravy would make it perfect.”
Carter’s grandfather Larry Inman liked them, too. “Very good. You could fool everybody. Say you peeled, cooked and mashed them. They’ll never know.”
Gabe Kohler loved the spuds, giving the original and garlic flavored varieties the panel’s highest rating. “The potato flavor and the texture were great, and the garlic flavor takes these spuds over the top.”
Marcia Oranen added the potatoes to her grocery list after our tasting session. “Delicious. Tastes like homemade. I loved these. I will buy these.”
But after samples of the three-cheese flavor, Oranen said she’ll stick with the original cut russets. “The cheese is too overpowering for the potatoes and too orange as well.”
“Terrible is far too kind of a word to describe these,” added Skip Hubbard.
Andrew Setzer was not a fan at all. The 12 year old said, “These tasted horrible. They had the most disgusting smell and looked inedible.”
Eight-year-old Drew Kazanis was particularly put off by the Ore-Ida potatoes, especially the three-cheese flavor. He’ll stick with the company’s frozen fries. “I wouldn’t feed it to my dog,” he said.
Ore-Ida Steam n’ Mash, Cut Russet Potatoes
Price: $4.19 for 24 ounces (7 servings)
Nutrition per serving, without added milk and butter: 80 calories, no fat, 2 grams protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, no cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, 260 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • • •
Value: • • •
Comments: “So good I ate the rest of my Dad’s, too.” – Sam Hubbard, 5
“I love these potatoes.” – Katie Kazanis, 7
“Great potato flavor and texture. So creamy and delicious. Just like mom makes.” – Gabe Kohler
Ore-Ida Steam n’ Mash, Garlic Seasoned Potatoes
Price: $4.19 for 24 ounces (7 servings)
Nutrition per serving, without added milk and butter: 110 calories, 4 grams fat (2.5 grams saturated, 24 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 10 milligrams cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, 330 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • •
Value: • • •
Comments: “Perfect hint of garlic. Love ’em.” – Larry Inman
“Really good. Tastes like pepper and garlic.” – Grace Kohler, 9
“More misses than hits with the flavoring.” – Skip Hubbard
Ore-Ida Steam n’ Mash, Three-Cheese Potatoes
Price: $4.19 for 24 ounces (7 servings)
Nutrition per serving, without added milk and butter: 80 calories, .5 grams fat (no saturated fat, 6 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 16 grams carbohydrate, less than 5 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram dietary fiber, 290 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • •
Value: • • •
Comments: “It is orange and gross.” – Pierce Hubbard, 8
“Excellent! Has tons of flavor.” – Lauren Setzer, 13