Are Mashed Potatoes (Instant) Acidic or Alkaline?
Mashed potatoes (instant) (prepared) are alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Instant mashed potatoes come to −2.2 when prepared, which is less low than freshly mashed potatoes. Drying and processing cost some of the potassium, and milk powder adds a little protein. They are still alkaline, so as a side they do better than pasta. What the value doesn't show is the salt and additives from the packet.
In the Meals & Fast Food category, mashed potatoes (instant) (prepared) rank #18 of 118, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Potato dumplings (half and half) (−2.6), Chili sin carne (−2.8), Frozen potato pancakes (−2.8). More acid-forming are Pea stew (−1.8), Vegetable soup (−1.4), Tzatziki (−1.2).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mashed potatoes (instant) acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Mashed potatoes (instant) (prepared) have a PRAL of −2.2 per 100 g, so they count as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much mashed potatoes (instant) do I need for a noticeable effect?
A meal (300 g) of mashed potatoes (instant) adds −6.5 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of mashed potatoes (instant) roughly offsets one of them.
Why are mashed potatoes (instant) alkaline even though they are not typical alkaline foods?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Mashed potatoes (instant) provide more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−2.2).
Mashed Potatoes (Instant) logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Meals & Fast Food: Meals & Fast Food table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.