Quick Check: Not-so-hot potato

By Gwen Schoen -- Bee Food Writer

Published 12:01 am PDT Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Nobody enjoys a time-saving discovery more than I do, so I was quick to scoop up a package of ready-to-eat diced potatoes at Bel Air Market last week. The potatoes are made by Earth Exotics, which sells nine ready-to-eat products; the others are sliced carrots, green kidney beans, lentils, diced red beets, red kidney beans, sliced potatoes, sweet corn and white kidney beans. They come in 8-ounce vacuum packages and cost $2.89.

At the time, I thought the price was steep for what amounts to one peeled, diced and steamed potato. After doing the math, I thought the price was outrageous. One fresh potato costs about 20 cents. If you spend about three minutes scrubbing it, peeling it and dicing it up, you can cook it in a microwave for another three minutes and you have exactly the same thing as the Earth Exotics potato.

I thought it might be a good thing to take backpacking, but the package says it needs to be kept refrigerated.

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Quick Check: Not-so-hot potato

By Gwen Schoen -- Bee Food Writer

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