Can bad potato salad be made into something good?
I was lazy the other day at the grocery store and bought potato salad from the deli instead of ingredients to make my own. That was a mistake. Now I have a big tub of bad potato salad.
It is apparent that the water used to boil the potatoes was under seasoned - severely underseasoned, perhaps not salted at all. The potatoes are slightly undercooked, and the dressing is bland.
I can't afford to be throwing away food, so I want to try to turn this potato salad into something I might actually eat. It doesn't need to continue to be potato salad; I'm open to ideas that might completely transform it into something else. Of course I would also be interested in ideas to turn bland, undercooked potato salad into good potato salad.
A quick online search brought me to a recipe that is probably pretty close to what this was supposed to be (had it been prepared correctly): http://paleoleap.com/dill-potato-salad/. I'm pretty sure that the potatoes in my salad are russet, not Yukon Gold.
Best Answer
Microwave it (or bake in the normal oven in a casserole dish), add salt to taste, perhaps some butter or cream, weird mashed potatoes? Will depend rather on what, exactly is in this "deli potato salad" (which varies IME from potatoes and dressing to potatoes, many crunchy veggies, sometimes eggs, etc., etc. and dressing.) I've had quite decent versions that fit the former description, and some of the latter were terrible...
If the potatoes are adequately undercooked and you want some serious self-penance for buying it, you could possibly scrape the dressing off them and reboil to finish cooking, with salt, while adjusting the dressing (or pitching it, but mustard might save it if you like mustard, and garlic is always an option at my house.)
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How do you fix bad potato salad?
Use pickle juice, buttermilk, and additional vinegar to freshen up a heavy dressing. A squeeze of lemon never hurt, either. If you have fresh herbs or scallion greens around, chop and toss them into the potato salad for some additional crunch and call it a green goddess potato salad.What happens if you eat spoiled potato salad?
Unfortunately, spoilage from the staph bacteria cannot be seen. There is no mold, no odor; a deadly mouthful can taste just fine. Symptoms usually start within three to six hours after eating and include severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.Is it OK to eat expired potato salad?
If the salad starts to separate or looks slimy, you need to make a decision. If it still seems okayish, feel free to finish it today. But if it doesn't look appetizing at all, it's best to discard it. It's a few days past its date or sits open for more than five days.Can you eat week old potato salad?
According to StillTasty.com, prepared potato salad\u2014whether it's homemade or store-bought, dressed with vinegar and oil or mayonnaise\u2014will stay fresh in the refrigerator up to five days, if stored properly.How to Make Potato Salad with Carrots and Pineapple
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Answer 2
It's laudable you don't want to throw away your food, and I've been in the same situation with store bought potato salad - it's usually awful. In so many cases I would be saying there's not much that can be done, but in this case you may be able to make it more tasty. I would keep it very simple to start and simply add salt. Just mix in some until it tastes salty enough for you and then add just a little bit more - the potatoes will soak up some of the salt over time.
A more complex solution would be to mix some flavors in with a bit of Miracle Whip (store brand imitations are just as good) and add it to the salad. Which flavors you add depends on what the salad is missing. A little mustard powder and lemon juice will give some bite, sugar for sweetness. My grandmother used Durkees Famous Sauce in her potato salad and now so do I.
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