Ok, folks. This is the absolutely best instant potatos you can buy! I am not sure if they are 9 or 10 years old, but I only use them when I have to. The "BEST BEFORE DEC 2003" on the box might give you a clue. It is now July 2011 and I have just finished the box. They are still be best we have ever tasted, even after all these years! You can't go wrong with these, even if you are a survivalist stocking up for Armageddon.

Where do I begin? These are AWESOME!!! Easy to make, taste like real potatoes. Can make small or large quantities. I prefer to have these on my shelf, instead of real potatoes that simply rot, before I can use them up. These are NOT the same, as Idahoan potatoes in your grocery store. These are premium potatoes for restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, so on & so forth. The guide also shows how to make smaller batches of potatoes, for home use. Perfect for Shepard Pies or any other recipe calling for small quantities of mashed potatoes. Can be made with milk or without!!! They still tasted good. Milk is recommended, but I have made without it, when I simply didn't have any handy. No complaints from either me or anyone. I have found that I add about 1/4 to 1/3 cup more water & just a little under the recommend amount for the potatoes, to get the right consistency. Play around with the recommended measurements, until you get them exactly the way you like them.

These are some of the best instant mashed potatoes I've ever tasted, quick and easy to make. For years, no matter what brand of potatoes I buy, I've made it even quicker and easier by using this trick: I usually make about 4 servings at a time, so as soon as I get a new package I split it up into zip lock baggies of 4 servings, adding salt, pepper, butter powder and powdered milk or coffee creamer, to taste. Then, as I need them I take one or two and empty them into a bowl, add boiling water, and voilà, delicious mashed potatoes in just 2 minutes! Add garlic or cheese powder for a change of pace!

I adjusted the recipe for 4 servings, increasing the milk in place of water. 1 cup water 1 cup milk 1 cup potatoes 2 tbsp. butter It is so easy to adjust for additional servings. I heat the water to boiling, then add the milk, and mix in the flakes with a fork. I make them a 1/2 hour before dinner, and leave on the stove on low heat.

It is my fault for not reading carefully. I thought these were the individual packs I had bought before. I do not care for the loose potatoes that must be measured out. They taste the same, but they are not as convenient. This is more a product for restaurants.

Based on the reviews here, I purchased these from my local store and they did NOT disappoint! I have tried many other instant mashed potatoes, but none even come close to being as good as these. They are rich and creamy and almost as good as real homemade mashed potatoes. The best part is the price is great too. I highly recommend this product!

Before I purchased these mashed potatoes, I read the reviews. The reviews were good so I tried it for a large lunch I was serving (25 people.) At the luncheon everyone raved about how good the potatoes were. They tasted like very creamy, fresh mashed potatoes. People asked for the recipe it was so good. And on top of it, they were very easy to make.

mmmmmmmmmmm good! The Real Premium Idahoan potates are as good as the real thing. Better in fact, because they are instant! No other instant potatoe comes close to these for taste and texture. This is the top of the line of the Idahoan brand. I travel 20 miles to a Sam's on the other side of town to get them because my Sam's doesn't carry them. They are WELL worth the trip!

These used to be the best, but now the buds have gotten smaller, looks like bottom of the barrel stuff and more importantly there are so many black and brown chunks of rotten potato in them now. It's absolutely disgusting. I don't mean pieces of peel, which are gross, but harmless. I mean rotten chunks of potatoes in every single carton. I'm tired of getting used to something and then companies getting greedy and ruining it with subpar ingredients.

These must be a different formulation than the Idahoan you get at the grocery store. They were much better tasting, though in my estimation not quite as good as fresh. Maybe I need more milk, butter or flavorings. I will experiment next time. I recommend them for their ease in preparation and good flavor. I deducted one star because they are not quite as good as fresh and they are made with partially hydrogenated oil. Not something I'd want to eat everyday but I'd definitely want some in the pantry at all times for a quick dinner side dish after work. I plan to buy them again.