Today’s foodservice operators are being asked to do more with less. In the back of house, smaller teams, limited storage, and fewer ingredients mean efficiency takes center stage. That’s where versatile ingredients come in handy (literally). The right products can help cut food waste, simplify training, and unlock new levels of menu creativity.

With consumer preferences always changing and demand for unique dining experiences on the rise, ingredients that perform across dayparts and formats are essential.

What Does Versatility Look Like in the Back of House?
Not all ingredients are created equal when it comes to versatility. A truly flexible product should:

• Work across multiple menu items and dayparts (breakfast, lunch, dinner—you name it).
• Be easy to prep, portion, and customize.
• Fit a variety of uses, whether it’s a star ingredient or a snackable side.

This kind of flexibility lets your kitchen staff pivot quickly when trends shift or orders spike, without adding extra labor or food costs.

Think about an ingredient you can serve as a breakfast main, tuck into a lunch wrap, and use in a hearty dinner stew. That’s versatility in action, and it’s a game-changer for any restaurant operator looking to keep costs in check.

Potatoes: Your Kitchen’s Workhorse
Potatoes are a versatile favorite, with a solid 95 on Datassential’s Food Versatility Score.² Loved for their flexibility, potatoes can easily swing between savory and sweet. On the savory side, they’re perfect for breakfast hashes, frittatas, casseroles, and grain bowls. For a sweet twist, they can be used in dishes like sweet potato mousse cups or muffins.

Michael Foods’ potato recipes and speed-scratch solutions make it easy to create indulgent or wholesome dishes with minimal effort. From diced to mashed, potatoes meet a huge range of culinary needs.

Michael Foods Top Trending Recipes Featuring Potatoes:

• Bourbon Bacon Mashed Potatoes: Red Skin Mashed Potatoes are smothered in a tangy bourbon and mustard glaze, topped with candied maple bacon.
• Breakfast Potato Egg Bowl: A filling breakfast bowl with scrambled eggs, refrigerated diced potatoes, and steak with a side of pesto basil.
• Adobo Pork Loin Breakfast Hash: A bold and hearty dish with diced potatoes, tender adobo pork loin, peppers, onions, and eggs.

Sources:
¹ SNAP! Eggs, Datassential
² SNAP! Potatoes, Datassential