Only 2 of 4 store-bought mashed potato brands were worth buying again

Typically, I prepare my own mashed potatoes, but in a rush, the prepackaged type is convenient.

I purchased four distinct brands of mashed potatoes at the grocery store.

Paige Bennett

Regarding mashed potatoes, I prefer to take a little more time to prepare them from scratch.

But occasionally, when I’m craving instant comfort food, I’ll get a prefabricated version from the grocery store – I believe they’re superior than instant variants.

Since I frequently buy at Ralph’s, a Kroger-owned supermarket, I am most familiar with Bob Evans and the Kroger brand mashed potatoes. Upon more investigation, I also discovered that Target’s Good & Gather brand and Lamb Weston produce frozen prepackaged varieties.

I decided to sample all four to see which brand of readymade mashed potatoes is superior.

The Bob Evans potatoes require a bit more time than other microwaveable options.

In the microwave, the mashed potatoes from Bob Evans took longer to cook.

Paige Bennett

A 24-ounce jar of Bob Evans potatoes was found for $4.49 ($0.19 per ounce).

The other microwaveable potatoes required three to four minutes to cook, but this one from a prominent restaurant chain required five minutes, plus an additional two minutes to cool.

The potatoes appeared thick when removed from the refrigerator, so it made obvious that they would require more time to heat fully.

I simply opened a corner of the container’s film, placed it in the microwave for three minutes, opened the film further and mixed, and then returned it to the microwave for two more minutes.

The mashed potatoes were really dense and silky.

The consistency was decent, but the flavor was lacking.

Paige Bennett

I was anticipating a stronger buttery odor from the potatoes, since they lacked a strong odor.

Additionally, they appeared to be incredibly thick. I observed a substantial amount of black pepper and a few potato peel fragments throughout.

I was apprehensive that the potato peel pieces might affect the texture, but this was not the case. They were as thick as they appeared, yet incredibly smooth and free of bumps.

The pepper flavor was robust, but not buttery, and it could have needed a touch more salt.

The Kroger brand’s heating instructions were somewhat intriguing.

The Kroger potatoes were more difficult to reheat.

Paige Bennett

Most microwavable items need that the plastic film be punctured or opened, but the directions on the Kroger mashed potatoes stated to leave the film intact.

The 24-ounce jar, which cost $2.50 ($0.10 per ounce), was the least expensive alternative.

I almost disregarded the recommendation to set the container of potatoes on a microwave-safe plate, but I’m glad I didn’t. Without the plate, the potatoes would have made a mess in the microwave and leaked onto the plate.

I microwaved them according to the instructions for three minutes, then removed the film, mixed the potatoes, and cooked them for an additional minute. However, I believe I could have skipped the extra minute (an optional step in the directions).

The potatoes had excellent flavor, but a slightly lumpy texture.

I did not enjoy the texture.

Paige Bennett

The Kroger potatoes had a buttery aroma and appeared creamy with black pepper flecks.

The majority of the texture was smooth, however there were a few little bumps throughout.

I enjoyed the overall flavor, which was peppery and little buttery – I could detect the milk.

The Good & Gather potatoes at Target appeared quite liquidy.

I was first wary of Target’s potatoes.

Paige Bennett

The most expensive of the group, the Target Good & Gather prepared potatoes came in a 24-ounce package for $4.89 ($0.20 per ounce).

The packaging indicated that the product is produced from Yukon Gold potatoes, which are my favorite for making mashed potatoes from scratch. When I opened the bottle to pierce the film, I observed that the contents were watery and runny.

I pierced the film, microwaved the potatoes for three minutes, removed the film, stirred the potatoes, and then microwaved them for an additional minute.

They were still really wet, so I had to whisk the liquid in further.

The flavor and texture of these mashed potatoes were disappointing.

I did not enjoy the flavor of the potatoes at Target.

Paige Bennett

The potatoes from Target lacked black pepper flakes and had a simple appearance, but they smelled buttery.

Unfortunately, this aroma did not convert to the taste, as I found these potatoes to be somewhat bland.

They might taste better with plenty of butter and salt, but the lumpy texture would remain.

The readymade potatoes from Lamb Weston are frozen.

Little frozen disks of Lamb Weston mashed potatoes were delivered.

Paige Bennett

The Lamb Weston potatoes were located in the freezer area. The 24-ounce bag was priced at $4.49 ($0.19 per ounce).

Similar to the Target version, this product’s label indicated the type of potato used, in this instance Idaho potatoes.

The frozen pucks of mashed potatoes can be cooked in the microwave or on the stove. The stove seemed simpler, so I followed the instructions and added half the bag to a pot with 1/4 cup of water.

The packaging stated it would take nine to eleven minutes, however it took longer than expected for the frozen pucks to melt in the kettle. I let them cook for 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat.

These potatoes had an oddly sweet taste and became lumpy.

Something about the Lamb Weston potatoes was sweet.

Paige Bennett

While the potatoes were boiling, they appeared quite fluid, yet when they were finished, they appeared quite lumpy.

Additionally, they seemed dazzling white with scant black pepper flakes.

When I took a bite, the disappointing final texture was verified. Despite cooking for longer than advised, I was startled by how runny and lumpy they were.

I also found their aroma and flavor to be somewhat sugary, which I found odd.

It was difficult for me to pick a favorite.

The mashed potatoes were not flawless.

Paige Bennett

I still prefer homemade mashed potatoes, but in a pinch, I wouldn’t mind purchasing Bob Evans or Kroger’s version.

I don’t believe I would purchase any of the other two brands again, primarily because both were somewhat lumpy and lacked flavor.

It was difficult to choose a favorite among the four brands of prepared potatoes because I preferred the texture of Bob Evans and the taste of Kroger.

If compelled, I would probably choose the Bob Evans potatoes because they would be simple to season with butter and salt.