1. Preparing instant soups or dishes (e.g., “Tradition” or what is called “manah chamah” in Israel) may be halachically permissible on Shabbat in some cases with respect to the halachot of cooking (to be discussed further in future posts on the laws of bishul). With regard to losh, preparing instant soup with noodles is usually permissible, since the liquid does not bind the solid noodles together in one unified mass (R. Yosef Zvi Rimon, “Shabbat,” p. 767).

https://oukosher.org/halacha-yomis/on-shabbos-may-i-prepare-a-cup-of-noodles-from-an-instant-soup-by-pouring-hot-water-from-an-urn-onto-them/

https://www.star-k.org/articles/articles/1186/meein-olam-haboh-instant-style-instant-foods-in-the-kosher-home/

2. Preparing instant mashed potatoes is problematic with respect to losh, since it usually creates a thick mixture, which, as we have learned, is often prohibited. Moreover, since simply pouring liquid into the instant potato mix often creates a mixture even before one mixes it, its status is more strict than a regular thick mixture (see Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 340:12). Accordingly, one may not prepare it in the form of a thick mixture even for a young child or where it will not taste good when made the day before (Ibid.; Igrot Moshe, O.C. 4:74). According to those poskim discussed previously who allow preparing instant pudding or jello on Shabbat as a thin mixture and with a shinui in the order of pouring and manner of mixing, preparing mashed potatoes in this manner would also be permitted.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.