I love eating potatoes on the trail, but I’m tired of the same old mashed potato packets. Any suggestions for other ways to prepare/pack/use potatoes on long-distance hikes?
John Galt
Potatoes on the Trail
system
#2
IF you have a small fry pan you can make potato cakes.Prepare the potatoes,dip in a little flour,shake off excess,fry in butter untill brown on both sides.I some times add raw onions.
Following is a recipe i prepare before leaving for the trail:POTATOES AND GRAVEY.pack in qt size zip lock.2/3 cupmashed potatoes [dry]/1/2 cup mushroom gravy/1 tbls powered milk/1 tsp parsley flakes/1 tsp minced onion flakes/1 tsp butter buds.In camp just add 1 and 1/2 cups boiling water,stir and eat.
I add tuna or salmon from a pouch directly to the prepared potatoes
You can add real bacon bits or BACOS.I carry them in a zip lock.
I carry butter buds, cilantro flakes, and onion flakes in a zip lock.
Try vegetable flakes or add Chicken Bouillon[Herb Ox]make a cup with hot water and pour over the potatoes.
Hope those are helpful!
OLD & IN THE WAY
system
#3
Betty Crocker Potatoes Au Gratin are not too bad, especially if you add some ham, salami, or bacon bits. The stove-top cook method does not take much longer than Lipton Noodles.
Turtle Walking
system
#4
I like to mix potato flakes, bacon bits, instant milk, and ranch dressing powder. I put all the stuff in a ziploc at home, then on the trail I just put some of the mix in a cup and add hot water. If you don’t like ranch, any type of instant soup mix or powerded flavoring can be used to get a lot more variety than the pre packaged mashed potatoes.
Bill
system
#5
Sorry, couldn’t resist that…
Like Bill said, bacon bits, powdered ranch dressing, etc…
Dried onion soup mix, dried cream of any-type-of-soup-you-like mix, etc…
Go to a bulk food store, the kind where you can buy scoopfuls of spices or candy or pretzels, etc. You’ll find numerous things to add to potato flakes, put your desired amount in a ziploc snack size bag, add spices or mix, seal, write on outside of bag what it is (or don’t and suprise yourself)… Great place to make your own trailmix as well, and much cheaper place to buy all that stuff…
-xtn :boy
airferret
system
#6
This recipe is out of “Lipsmackin’ Vegetarian Backpackin’” cookbook:
For 1 serving, mix:
2/3 cup potato flakes
2 Tbsp powdered milk
1 tsp butter buds
1 tsp onion flakes
2 Tbsp powdered Alfredo sauce mix
2 Tbsp (vegetarian) bacon bits
pinch of pepper
Add one cup hot water and stir. (you can mix all of the ingredients into a ziplock and add the water to the ziplock if you like)
There are a lot of awesome recipes in this book…even if your not a veggie. The cheese coins are especially tasty!
Bramble '01
system
#7
Incidentally, whole fresh potatoes mail very well in resupply packages, and will keep for some time. Just get rid of the buds if any start to grow. I like to put a red or a new potato in my boxes for potato soup. Personally, I prefer lots of food on the trail that was actually alive at some point in the past.
Cyclops
system
#8
My snickers bar were alive at some point… cocoa plants, sugar cane plants, peanuts, etc… and some of it wasn’t alive, but, ehhhh… close enough 
-xtn, or as some person recently called me, the crazy-arse ferret
airferret