High specific gravity potatoes make the best french fries and dehydrated potato products. Russet potatoes are most often used in processing. In the 1990's market for processed potatoes, the single largest processor is Sunspiced's parent company Basic American Foods . With well-known products such as Golden Grill Hashbrowns and Potato Pearls , Basic American Foods is known as the largest potato dehydrator. The chief raw ingredient for dehydrated mashed potatoes are small, damaged, and misshapen potatoes sorted from field run potatoes in major producing areas.
Production is a five-step process.
First the potatoes are precooked and cooled. The peels are removed by various dry brushing methods, the tubers are cooked, mashed and the granules are dried. Sometimes the granules are combined with previously dried granules. Potatoes are also processed into flakes to make mashed potatoes for home use and fried potato snacks. Flakes are used as an ingredient in baked goods, ice cream, pet food, breading mixes and dried soups.