How to Rehydrate Potato Pearls

If you have ever shopped at an outdoor outfitter store, you have probably seen potato pearls in the camping food aisle. Potato pearls are a dehydrated potato product, much like instant mashed potatoes, that you can buy at a grocery store. Like the instant variety, they are useful for making quick meals and must be rehydrated before you can eat them or use them in recipes. Rehydrating potato pearls is a simple process that can be accomplished in several minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cups
• Bowl

Instructions

1. Measure 1/4 cup of potato pearls into a bowl. This will make 2 to 3 servings of potatoes.

2. Add 1/2 cup of boiling water and allow the pearls to absorb the water for several minutes.

3. Mash and fluff the potatoes with a fork to serve as mashed potatoes. To use in other recipes, such as potato pancakes, add the remaining recipe ingredients and cook according to directions.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add potato pearls directly to soups and stews, without rehydrating. The liquid in the pan will rehydrate the potatoes.

• If you cannot find potato pearls in your area, look online. A number of retailers sell the product in a variety of package sizes.

• If you plan to take potato pearls camping or backpacking, create serving portions in zipped freezer bags for lighter packaging. You can reconstitute the portions as needed during your trip.

References

• Disaster Necessities: Potato Pearls with Traditional Recipe
• "NOLS Cookery (National Outdoor Leadership School)"; Claudia Pearson; 2004