Ways to Use Excess Potatoes: Recipes and More

Yesterday I went to the store and found a 10-pound bag of potatoes for only $2. How could I pass that up?

The problem is that I usually end up wasting potatoes when I buy this many. If I only buy what I need, I would end up paying three times as much so I go for the big bag anyway. I hate wasting food, and I really like potatoes, so I racked my brain for solutions on how to use them all. Since I figure I'm not the only one who has this problem, I thought I would share with you my ideas:

Baked Potatoes as a Snack
Sometimes it is nice to have a snack in the afternoon or in the evening. Microwaving a potato in the microwave for 10 minutes is a quick and easy way to make a healthy snack.

Hash Browns for Breakfast
Peel a few potatoes and use a cheese grater or potato peeler to grate the potatoes for hash browns. Put a bit of oil or butter in a frying pan and let them cook until done.

Potato Fries at Lunch
Do you like JoJos from the supermarket? You can make your own! Wash the potato well. Cut it in half, and then cut into eights. Dip them in olive oil or spray with Pam. Lightly season with salt, pepper, and whatever other seasoning you like. I really enjoy using different varieties of Mrs. Dash and my daughter really likes Season All. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Dip in ranch dressing or ketchup and enjoy!

Fried Potatoes for Anytime
Wash the potato well. Cut into thin, round slices. The thinner they are, the faster they cook. Put some oil or butter in the frying pan and fry until lightly browned and/or done. Serve with butter, sour cream, and don't forget to salt them. This is a fairly high fat option that I only fix occasionally. If you prefer a low-fat version, use Pam spray to cook it and top with light margarine and fat-free sour cream.

Potato Salad your Kids will Eat
Peel your potatoes and cut into medium size chunks. Boil until soft but not falling apart. Drain the water and let the taters cool. Mix potatoes with mayonnaise, mustard, a bit of vinegar, and chopped pickles. This is good either warm or cold.

Potatoes with Roast
Put a beef roast in the crock-pot and let it cook. When you have around 2 hours left to go, add chopped potatoes. The flavor of the roast gravy will help flavor your potatoes, and this makes an easy no fuss meal.

Potatoes for Dinner
Potatoes make a great dinner companion to most meats. I enjoy mashed potatoes with chicken, oven-baked potatoes with salmon, any kind of potatoes with steak, and hash-browned potatoes with ham and eggs.

Potato Stamps
This is a non-edible potato idea. Cut the potato in half and carve a shape into it. Use paints and your potato stamp to create unique and fun artwork.

Potato Pancakes
All you need is 1 cup of grated potatoes, a pinch of salt, one egg (beaten), 1 tablespoon of flour, and 1/4 cup of milk. Mix the above ingredients in the order given. Use beaters or wire wisk and mix well. Pan fry in oil. To lower fat, bake on a griddle.

Give-away
This last idea is great too. If you have more potatoes than your family can use, even with my great ideas, you can give some to a neighbor, friend, or family member. Some food pantries can also use them. If you decide to give to a food pantry, just be sure to give them when there are several weeks yet to use them.

I hope you enjoy your big bag of potatoes, and can use some of these ideas to reduce food waste. You can also always search online for more potato recipes. All of the above are what I use for my family and there are many variations on these recipes online that you may want to try.