Instant mashed potatoes were invented by Canadian Edward Asselbergs in 1962.

The story behind the answer

True. Canadian food scientist Edward A. Asselbergs, working for Agriculture Canada, developed and patented the modern potato‑flake process in the early 1960s (work in 1962; U.S. patent issued in 1966). His method precooked potatoes and drum‑dried them into flakes that rehydrate into smooth, flavorful mash—what we now call instant mashed potatoes.

Earlier wartime dehydrated potatoes existed, but they were coarse granules and unpopular. Asselbergs’ controlled drying preserved texture and taste, making instant mash a pantry staple and enabling major brands to take off in the 1960s. Memory tip: “Sixties, Canada made spuds instant—Asselbergs sells bags (of flakes).”