rt49 - I know what you mean - after my accident I just couldn't get my hands back to normal - if you can scrub your taters you can make smashed potatoes without peeling them - some people don't like potato skins - but I do - and I would rather have smashed than fake

When I was in the Navy about 25 years ago, they had these huge potato peeling machines in the galley, and would always make mashed potatoes frm scratch. I wonder if they still do that or it they've moved to dried instant potatoes.

yeah freeze dries, they dont taste nice if you eat it days on end

I thought peeling potatoes was part of being in the military. LOL And at this point in my life I understand why it would be a good punishment. I had one of those potato peelers and it just never worked good enough for me.

I'm not into eating potato skins in the mashed taters. That just doesn't sound good at all! But, Mama Mangia, you're probably right about it being better than the fake ones.

I am one who does eat potato skins - baked potato skins are great! Some people wouldn't touch a potato skin - but it has to be a GOOD potato skin - I'm very fussy! I can tell by the feel of the potato skin if I would like to eat it or not - and there are potatoes out there that I would not eat there skins! I won't eat the skins from a baked potato in a restaurant - don't know if they washed them first!