MASHED POTATOES - CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated November 2024

For many of us, Mashed Potatoes are our favorite accompaniment to the holiday meal. The homemade recipe is simple: Potatoes, Dairy, Butter, Salt and Pepper:

HOMEMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: We are all so busy and it can be difficult to make items from scratch. Holidays, however, may allow us the opportunity to try our hand at homemade, especially when it comes to Mashed Potatoes.

When you see what’s in some of these manufactured Mashed Potatoes, you will see that it is more economical, healthier and more delicious to make them from scratch.

POST HOLDINGS BOB EVANS MASHED POTATOES ARE BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS. Bob Evans refrigerated Mashed Potatoes contain Potassium Sorbate which Whole Foods cites as “Unacceptable in food”. (Sources: Post Holdings Bob Evans Web site 11/24: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 11/24)

Potassium Sorbate is an FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

Bob Evans’ package states,

“America’s #1 Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes”.

Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes contain Soybean Oil. Ingredients are always listed in descending order of amount. According to the U.S. FDA 2024, 94% of U.S. Soybeans are Genetically Modified Organisms.

Q: Do you want Soybean Oil in your Mashed Potatoes? It’s in Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes and others.

POST HOLDINGS ALSO MANUFACTURES SIMPLY POTATOES WHICH ARE ALSO BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS: The following Simply Potatoes are more than just Potatoes . . . they contain two ingredients which are banned at Whole Foods: Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Bisulfite, plus other ingredients Not In Kitchen™ >> ingredients we would never have at home to make Mashed Potatoes >> Disodium Pyrophosphate and Dextrose (which is a sugar from which candies like Smarties are made).

Shown below, in 2020, Simply Potatoes Mashed Potatoes contained Half and Half as the second ingredient and no Margarine. By November 2021, the Half and Half was eliminated and Soybean Oil-based Margarine was added and those are still there in November 2024.

HORMEL’S HOMESTYLE MASHED POTATOES ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE™: These Mashed Potatoes are called “Homestyle”, yet they contain six ingredients we would never have at home: Cultured Dextrose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Diacetate, Titanium Dioxide — added for color — Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate and Nisin Preparation — a preservative. (Source for ingredients: Hormel Web site 11/24)

Below is a comparison of Bob Evans prepared Mashed Potatoes vs. Kevin’s Natural Foods which are Closest To Homemade:

SEVERAL BRANDS AND STORE BRANDS ALSO CONTAIN INGREDIENTS WHICH WHOLE FOODS CITES AS “UNACCEPTABLE” PLUS OTHER INGREDIENTS WHICH ARE NOT IN KITCHEN: (Sources: Brand and Store Web sites 11/24)

Ore-Ida’s Homestyle Steam ‘n’ Mash contains the Not In Kitchen ingredient, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate. (Source: Kraft Heinz Ore-Ida Web site 11/24)

THE LEADING BRANDS OF INSTANT MASHED POTATOES ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE: We are paying for multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen with these popular U.S. brands of Mashed Potatoes which are both banned at Whole Foods:. General Mills Betty Crocker and R.D. Offutt Farms-owned Idahoan. (Sources: Brand Web sites 11/24)

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE® MASHED POTATOES: These Mashed Potatoes have no Chemical Preservatives, Added Oils, Sweeteners, Flavors, Colors, Emulsifiers or Gums. They include Edward & Sons Organic Mashed Potatoes, Honest Earth Creamy Mash, plus Whole Foods 365 and Bob’s Red Mill which are simply Dehydrated Potatoes which are Non-GMO Project Verified. (Sources: Brand Web sites 11/24)

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

Follow us at:

And we leave you with a look back at the early days of instant mashed potatoes when French’s was the leading brand . . .