20 Best Substitutes For Potato Flakes (Similar Taste!)

Potato flakes are an incredibly convenient and versatile ingredient used in many dishes, from mashed potatoes to soups, stews, and baking recipes.

However, they may not always be readily available at your local grocery store or pantry, and there are many alternative options on the market that may be a healthier or more appealing choice for you.

Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious alternatives to potato flakes that offer a similar taste and texture. Whether you need gluten-free options, low-carb alternatives, or just a new flavor profile in your dish, there’s sure to be an alternative for potato flakes that meets all your requirements.

Some of the most popular alternatives for potato flakes include sweet potatoes, parsnips, and turnips – all of which offer a similar starchy texture.

In this article, we’ll look at 15 of the best substitutes for potato flakes that you can use when cooking and baking for delicious meals that have a similar fluffiness and consistency to potato flakes.

Best Substitutes For Potato Flakes

1. Potato Starch

Potato starch is a fine, white powder made from potato tubers. It is typically used as a thickener in a variety of dishes, including soups and sauces like gravy.

If you are looking for the best alternative to potato flakes, then this should be one of your first options. Potato starch has a neutral taste that will not overpower the other ingredients in your soup.

It is also gluten-free and has similar amounts of calories as potato flakes, so you will not ruin your diet when using it in your dishes.

Use potato starch as a 1-to-1 substitute for potato flakes.

2. Fresh Potatoes

fresh potatoes

Potato flakes are often used to quickly make mashed potatoes, but if they aren’t available, you can just use your fresh potatoes at home instead.

3. Mashed potatoes

Freshly mashed potatoes can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in many recipes. Instant mashed potatoes would work just fine as well if you do not have any fresh potatoes on hand.

Often used as a thickener for soups and baking recipes, mashed potatoes are a great substitute for potato flakes because they are more nutritious and have fewer calories. Aside from that, they are also quick and easy to prepare.

For best results, you should use ½ cup of mashed potatoes for every ⅓ cup of potato flakes in your recipe.

4. Sweet potato flakes

If you are looking for a sweeter alternative to potato flakes, you can try using sweet potato flakes for your dish. They are made from dehydrated sweet potatoes and are typically used in a variety of snacks.

You can put an equal amount of sweet potato flakes in place of regular potato flakes in most recipes.

5. Rice flour

Rice flour can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in recipes that require frying. It has a mild flavor and is commonly used in Asian cuisine, so it’s perfect for fried chicken, fish, or pork.

Use twice the amount mentioned in the recipe if you are going to use rice flour instead of potato flakes.

6. Tapioca starch

Tapioca starch is a gluten-free option made from cassava roots that can be used in place of potato flakes. It has a slightly nutty flavor and smooth texture that make it the perfect thickener in soups and sauces.

Tapioca starch can be used as a 1-to-1 substitute for potato flakes.

7. Cornstarch

cornstarch

Cornstarch is a fine, white powder made from corn kernels. It is commonly used as a thickener in soups, sauces, and gravies in all kinds of cuisines around the world. So it is only natural that it can be substituted for potato flakes.

Use equal amounts of cornstarch for the number of potato flakes mentioned in the recipe.

8. Wheat Flour

Wheat flour is a powdery substance made by grinding wheat kernels. Even though it is not gluten-free, it is commonly used in baking and cooking to make bread, cakes, pasta, and other food items.

Using it as a substitute for potato flakes would mean that your dish would lack the flavor of potatoes, but it will work just fine when properly seasoned. Like cornstarch, the ratio is also 1:1.

9. Arrowroot powder

Arrowroot is a fine, white powder made from the roots of the arrowroot plant. It is a great thickener in soups and sauces, but it contains more calories and carbohydrates than potato flakes.

Arrowroot powder can be used as a 1-to-1 substitute, but it has no flavor, so proper seasoning is needed.

10. Quinoa flakes

Quinoa flakes are made from flattened quinoa seeds and can be used in place of potato flakes for a healthier option. They have a nutty flavor and are high in protein and fiber.

The amount of quinoa flakes needed per dish varies because they typically retain a lot less moisture than regular potato flakes.

11. Plantain flour

Plantain flour can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in many recipes. It is made from ground plantains and has a similar texture to potato flakes. You can use it just like rice or wheat flour as a coating for many fried dishes.

12. Panko bread crumbs

Bread crumbs can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in some recipes. They have a similar texture and can be used in dishes like meatballs and casseroles.

You can use the same amount of bread crumbs as you would with potato flakes, but it needs to be seasoned, or it wouldn’t have any flavor.

13. Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum is a thickener made from the fermentation of corn sugar that is commonly used in a wide range of food products, including salad dressings, sauces, and gluten-free baked goods.

You can use it to thicken your sauces if you want to limit the calories in your dish. But you have to use it sparingly, or you might exceed your desired thickness.

Typically, you should use ¼ cup of xanthan gum for every 1 cup of potato flakes in your recipe. But the amount could still vary depending on the dish.

14. Cornmeal

Cornmeal can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in some recipes. It can be used interchangeably with corn flour in dishes like casseroles and bread, but the food will typically have a grittier texture as a result.

15. Chickpea flour

Chickpea flour can be used in place of potato flakes in recipes that require a gluten-free option. It has a nutty flavor and is commonly used in Indian cuisine. Use a 1:1 ratio.

16. Coconut flour

Coconut flour can be used as a substitute for potato flakes in recipes that require a gluten-free option. It has a slightly sweet flavor and is commonly used in baking.

Since it absorbs more water than typical flour, only use ½ cup of coconut flour for every cup of potato flakes in your recipe.

17. Cauliflower

baked cauliflower

Cooked and mashed cauliflower can be used as a low-carb substitute for potato flakes. When blended, it has a similar texture to potato flakes, but it has a milder flavor.

Cauliflower absorbs flavor very easily, so you can get creative and use a variety of seasonings with it. It can also be used as a thickener in different soups and sauces.

Use an equal amount of cauliflower in place of regular potato flakes.

18. Carrots

If you are trying to make mashed potatoes but do not have enough potato flakes at home, you can use carrots instead. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, fiber, and potassium, making them a nutritious and flavorful substitute for potato flakes in many recipes.

19. Turnips

Turnips can also be used as a substitute for potato flakes in many recipes. Aside from having a spicy, earthy flavor, they also have fewer carbs than regular potatoes, making them healthier alternatives in soups.

20. Parsnips

Like turnips, parsnips can also be used as a substitute for fresh potatoes and potato flakes in many recipes. The only difference is that they have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

Final Thoughts

Potato flakes are an easy ingredient to have on hand, but there are many suitable substitutes that can be used instead if you don’t have them at home. From mashed cauliflower to quinoa flakes, these alternatives provide unique flavors and nutritional benefits that can enhance your recipes.

By experimenting with different substitutes for potato flakes, you can discover new flavors and textures to add to your favorite dishes while still getting the desired outcome. So don’t be afraid to get creative in the kitchen— try some of these potato flake alternatives in your next recipe!


Chris Green

Chris has always had an adventurous soul, and his love for the outdoors eventually led him to become a professional life skills advisor. He explains a multitude of different topics ranging from disaster preparedness and wilderness survival to self-sufficiency.

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