Instant Mashed Potatoes: Are They Really That Bad, or Are We Just Potato Snobs?

Okay, confession time: I used to think instant mashed potatoes were a crime against carbs. Like… an insult to real cooking. A betrayal of grandma’s legacy.

Then life happened.

Kids. Work. A kitchen full of dirty dishes and exactly zero motivation. And suddenly, that little box of instant mashed potatoes started looking a lot like a life raft.

So now I’m asking the question I never thought I’d ask:
Are they really that bad? Or have we just been a little… dramatic?

When You’re Just Trying to Get Dinner on the Table

Let’s start with the obvious: instant mashed potatoes are easy.

Like, weirdly easy. Boil water, stir powder, boom — potatoes.

And if you’ve had one of those days — you know the kind where everyone’s been asking you for snacks since 7 a.m., and you forgot to defrost the chicken — a side dish that takes 90 seconds? That’s a gift from the starch gods.

There’s no peeling. No boiling. No burnt hands from draining a giant pot of hot water while steam attacks your face. Just warm, buttery fluff. Ready when you are.

So yeah. I get the appeal.

“But What About the Vitamins?” (A Very Mom Question)

Okay, fine. Let’s talk nutrition for a second.

Real potatoes? Total rockstars. They’ve got vitamin C, potassium, fiber — the whole good-for-you package. Especially if you leave the skin on (which, by the way, I will always call “rustic” to make it sound intentional).

Instant potatoes? They’ve been processed. Dried. Powdered. Sometimes flavored and salted within an inch of their lives.

Some brands aren’t terrible — a few even keep ingredients simple — but a lot of them have additives and extra sodium, and let’s be honest, it’s not the same as a fresh spud.

But also? If you’re eating a mostly decent diet and just need a shortcut every once in a while, you’re gonna be fine. No one’s health was ruined by a box of Idahoan on a random Tuesday night.

Texture Wars: Smooth vs. Fluffy vs. Weirdly Gluey

Here’s where things get heated.

Because fresh mashed potatoes? When they’re done right?
They’re creamy but still a little lumpy, buttery but not greasy. They taste like warmth and holidays and someone who loves you.

Instant mashed potatoes can try to be that. But let’s be real — they’re a little… too smooth. Like, “did a robot make these?” smooth. And sometimes they’re pasty or have that weird artificial-butter aftertaste that hangs around like a guest who won’t leave.

That said — and I can’t believe I’m saying this — some of them are shockingly good these days. You add some garlic powder, a dollop of sour cream, maybe a bit of grated cheese, and they’re honestly… not bad.

Still not grandma-level. But not the worst thing you could eat either.

Fresh Potatoes: Love, Labor, and a Whole Lot of Scrubbing

Here’s the thing people forget: fresh mashed potatoes take time.

You’ve got to wash them. Peel them (unless you’re doing the rustic thing). Boil them. Mash them. Add just the right amount of butter and milk or risk ending up with soup. Or worse — dry, clumpy sadness.

And when it’s done? You still have a giant pot to clean.

But when they’re done right… they’re magic. You taste the effort. The patience. The actual potato.

So if it’s a holiday, or a dinner you’re making for someone you really care about, or you’re just in a “real food only” mood? Go fresh. Always.

Instant Potatoes Aren’t Useless — They’re Just Misunderstood

Let me tell you a secret: instant mashed potatoes are actually kind of brilliant in recipes.

Like, if you use them to:

• Thicken soups when you don’t want to deal with flour

• Add structure to potato pancakes (game-changer)

• Coat chicken or fish before frying for an extra crisp edge

• Make super quick shepherd’s pie when time is not on your side

…you suddenly realize these things are more than just a sad side dish.

They’re a tool. And like any kitchen shortcut, it’s how you use it that matters.

The Earthy Stuff: Fresh vs. Instant and the Planet

Want to go deeper? Let’s talk footprint.

Fresh potatoes are natural, but they can spoil. They take up space. They need to be stored, and if you forget about them long enough, they grow those creepy little sprouts that look like alien fingers. (You know the ones.)

Instant potatoes? Way less waste. They live quietly in your pantry for months. But their processing — the drying, the packaging — does come with a bigger carbon cost.

It’s not black and white. But if sustainability’s your thing, maybe the best move is buying local fresh potatoes and keeping a box of instant around for backup. It’s about balance, not perfection.

What Do Food People Say?

Chefs? Most of them will say fresh is king — and they’re not wrong. If you’re serving mashed potatoes with a filet mignon, yeah, use the real stuff.

But even some chefs admit they’ve leaned on instant in a pinch.

Nutritionists will say the usual: real food is better, processed food in moderation, read your labels, drink more water. You know the drill.

Basically, no one’s yelling “burn the box.” But no one’s throwing it a party either.

Can We Just Chill?

Here’s my take:

If you love fresh mashed potatoes and have the time and energy to make them? Amazing. Do it. Invite me over.

If you’re drowning in to-dos, forgot to grocery shop, and need something starchy to put next to a meatball? Instant potatoes are not going to ruin your life.

And if you’re somewhere in between — like most of us — maybe keep both in your kitchen. Use what makes sense that day.

Final Thoughts (a.k.a. Please Pass the Gravy)

Are instant mashed potatoes bad?

No. They’re just not the same. They’re a shortcut. A backup plan. A reminder that sometimes “good enough” is plenty good.

Would I serve them at Thanksgiving? Probably not.

Would I eat them in sweatpants on a Wednesday while watching reality TV and hiding from my responsibilities? Absolutely.

At the end of the day, potatoes — instant or not — are comfort food. And comfort food shouldn’t come with guilt.

So next time you’re holding that little box in the grocery store and wondering if you’re about to commit a food sin… just remember: it’s potatoes. It’s fine.

Now go eat your carbs.