Potato flakes (or dry mashed potatoes) have become an integral part of modern mashed potato production. This ingredient significantly simplifies and accelerates the preparation process while maintaining the high quality of the final product.
Colour matters
Colour is the first thing that catches a consumer’s eye. For mashed potatoes, a beautiful yellow shade is considered ideal, associated with naturalness, quality, and appetising appeal. Achieving the right colour is one of the key challenges for mashed potato manufacturers.
But how to achieve this appetising hue? Key Food Support offers two perfect solutions:
1. Use potato flakes from fresh harvest potatoes. Fresh potatoes are rich in nutrients and natural pigments that give the purée a natural yellow colour. In this case, it is crucial to place a preliminary order in a timely manner before the start of the potato harvest season.
2. Choose potato flakes with added curcumin. This is a real jackpot for manufacturers! Such flakes can be purchased as needed throughout the year. Curcumin not only provides a stable yellow colour, but by adjusting the dosage, you can achieve the desired shade of yellow to meet your requirements.
Curcumin-enhanced flakes are not just an ingredient; they’re your ticket to the world of perfect mashed potatoes. Consider these facts:
- Colour intensity: 7-8 out of 10.
- Colour stability: 95% intensity retained for 48 hours at 2-6°C. The purée remains attractive even the next day.
- Colour uniformity: coefficient of variation no more than 3%.
But that’s not all. Using curcumin-enhanced flakes reduces production time by 15-20% compared to adding colourant separately. Imagine how many additional portions you could prepare!
Basic formulas for perfect mashed potatoes
Key Food Support offers two proven recipes that will form the basis of your production:
1. Potato flakes with hydrotation 1:4.5:
100g potato flakes 450ml hot water (55-75°C) or 400ml boiling water 200g cold milk
Preparation time: just 2 minutes!
2. Potato flakes with hydrotation 1:6:
100g potato flakes 600ml water (75°C)
Preparation time: 3-4 minutes.
Hydration of potato flakes: find your ideal balance
The hydration level can vary depending on your goals. Choosing the optimal water-to-flakes ratio depends on your company’s strategy, target market, and production capabilities.
Less water – thicker purée:
- rich flavour and dense consistency;
- texture close to freshly prepared mashed potatoes;
- fewer additional ingredients needed to achieve desired consistency;
- versatility in culinary applications.
However, consider:
- higher cost of the finished product;
- lower yield of purée from the same amount of flakes.
More water – more economical production:
- higher yield of finished product;
- lower production costs;
- ideal for mass production and economy segment.
But there are nuances:
- less intense flavour and more liquid consistency;
- may require the addition of stabilisers;
- limited culinary applications.
Choosing the hydration level is a balance between quality and economy. Experiment to find the optimal solution for your production!
Potato flakes are not just an ingredient; they’re the key to producing perfect mashed potatoes. With the right approach to colour, consistency, and taste, you can create a product that will please the eye and delight the taste buds of your customers.
Remember, in the world of mashed potatoes, there are no small details. Every gram, every degree of temperature matters. Experiment with potato flakes from Key Food Support, find your unique recipe, and let your mashed potatoes become the gold standard in the industry.