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Release date 10/05/2010
Consumer Reports trained panelists tasted 12 products and found six Recommended store-bought potatoes. Bob Evans Original ($0.67 per serving) scored Excellent and is creamy, flavorful, with a little black-pepper kick, like the best homemade mashed potatoes. Bob Evans also requires no additional ingredients, unlike some of the other brands tested.
Alexia Yukon Gold & Sea Salt was Very Good and also requires no added ingredients. It has onion and oil flavors that enhance the potatoes. Ore-Ida Steam n’ Mash Cut Russet and Pillsbury Idaho Granules were also Very Good but require added ingredients like milk and butter.
The lowest-scoring 365 Everyday Value Instant Original from Whole Foods was thin, soupy and bland, with a touch of cardboard like flavor.
But are they good for you?
All products scored Good for nutrition, based on calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium, sugars, iron, calcium, and fiber. Nutrition data is as prepared with 2 percent milk, unsalted butter, and salt when called for.
Calories ranged from 80-180 per serving, while fat content averaged around 6 grams per serving. Notably, Betty Crocker’s Homestyle Creamy Butter had just 80 calories and 1 gram of fat per serving, and scored Good in Consumer Reports taste tests.
Sodium content ranged from as little as 35 mg per serving in the 365 Everyday Value Instant Original to 470 mg in Shedd’s Country Crock Homestyle.
To complete the meal, Consumer Reports recommends Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix, which seems almost homemade, with a big roasted-turkey taste. The full Ratings on store-bought mashed potatoes are available in the November issue on newsstands October 5 and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2010 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2010 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.