Classic Mashed Potatoes Recipes

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, cut in half, and place in a pan, then cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil and continue cooking until the potatoes fall off the fork when pierced, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes. Gently press the potatoes through a sieve (or potato ricer) into a large bowl, using a rubber spatula.
• Mix in the butter, milk, sour cream, salt and pepper and stir to blend. Add a tablespoon or 2 more of warm milk, if necessary to obtain the desired consistency. Salt and pepper liberally and serve.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water by 2 inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat cream, milk, and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter melts.
• Drain potatoes, and press through a ricer into a large saucepan. (Alternatively, mash the potatoes with a potato masher until smooth.) Pour warmed cream mixture over potatoes in a slow, steady stream, and stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a covered bowl over simmering water for up to 2 hours.

CLASSIC MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain., In a large bowl, mash potatoes with cream cheese. Combine the egg whites, sour cream, onion powder, salt and pepper; stir into potatoes until blended. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Drizzle with butter. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Cover and bake 50 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 160°.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes; drain.
• In a small saucepan heat butter and milk over low heat until butter is melted. Using a potato masher or electric beater, slowly blend milk mixture into potatoes until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and rinse under cold water. Cut each into quarters and place in a 3-to 4-quart saucepan. Cover with cold water, partially cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Uncover, add the 1 teaspoon of salt, and reduce the heat so the water boils gently. Cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter together until the butter has melted and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
• Drain the potatoes and return them to the warm pan over low heat for 1 minute to evaporate any excess water. Use a potato masher, ricer, or food mill to mash the potatoes. Stir the milk and butter mixture into the potatoes, a little at a time, until the potatoes are as soft and moist as you like. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or keep warm in the top of a double boiler, or cover and rewarm in a microwave oven.

MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Peel and quarter potatoes and keep in cold water until ready to cook. (This can be done up to 4 hours in advance.) Add potatoes to boiling water and boil about 15 to 20 minutes, until soft; a knife should go in with almost no resistance. (It is better to overcook than to undercook.)
• In a saucepan or a microwave oven, heat butter and milk together until butter melts and mixture steams. Drain potatoes well and return to pot. Shake them around in the hot pan or over very low heat for a minute (you want dry potatoes). Using an extruding masher or a ricer, mash hot potatoes until smooth, about 2 minutes. Lightly mix in about half of hot butter mixture, just until blended. Taste for salt and add more butter mixture until seasoned to your liking.
• Stop here for fluffy potatoes. For creamy potatoes, keep stirring potato mixture, using a sturdy spoon to press it against sides and bottom of pot. Mix until dense and thick. For whipped potatoes, use a stand mixer to mash hot potatoes just until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add all the butter mixture and salt to taste, pulsing machine in short bursts at medium speed. When light and creamy, stop mixing immediately. (Potatoes can quickly become sticky.)
• To keep hot until ready to serve, transfer to serving bowl, dot top with butter, cover tightly and keep in a warm place, like the back of the stove. Potatoes will stay hot for at least 30 minutes. To keep longer, place covered bowl in a pan holding about an inch of gently simmering water. Before serving, mix well.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water by 1 inch; season with salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
• Return the pot to low heat. Add the butter and half-and-half. Using a ricer or food mill, press the potatoes into the pot. (You can also use a potato masher, though the potatoes will be slightly chunkier.) Season with 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper and stir until smooth.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan over low heat; cook until any remaining water evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add all but 1 tablespoon butter; mash with a potato masher until smooth. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, then gradually mash in the milk until creamy. Transfer to a serving dish; top with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and chopped parsley.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water by 1 inch and season generously with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain well.
• Press the potatoes through a ricer or food mill back into the pot. (Alternatively, return the potatoes to the pot and mash with a potato masher.)
• Fold in all but 2 tablespoons of the butter until melted. Gradually stir in 3/4 cup milk until smooth. If the potatoes still seem thick, gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup milk as needed. Season with salt.
• Transfer the potatoes to a serving dish. Top with the reserved 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with chives.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, cut them into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large pot of boiling salted water. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return them to the pot.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until the butter is melted.
• Using a hand held mixer, break the potatoes up and at low speed slowly add the hot milk/butter mixture to make the potatoes very creamy. Add the sour cream, 2 teaspoons of salt and the pepper and whisk to combine. Serve hot.