Day Before Mashed Potatoes Recipes

CREAMY MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F and adjust an oven rack to the middle position.
• Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack (alternatively, you can place them on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet). Bake until very soft, 50 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. (Err on the side of overcooking rather than undercooking them.)
• Remove the potatoes from the oven. While they are still hot, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Using an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, scoop out all of the flesh from each potato half into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (*see note below on using a potato ricer, food mill or hand-held electric mixer). The flesh near the skin gets a little tough, so be sure to leave it behind. Break the cooked potato flesh down into small pieces using a potato masher, fork, or rubber spatula. Beat on low speed until completely smooth and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. (Note: it's important to mash the potatoes while they are still hot, otherwise you'll end up with lumps.)
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream and 6 tablespoons of the butter to a simmer.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer stand and, using a large rubber spatula, gradually fold in the hot cream and butter mixture. It will take a few minutes to mix it all in; keep folding until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Stir in the salt, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a large microwave-safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap (the bowl should be large enough that the potatoes don't touch the plastic wrap). Refrigerate for up to 2 days. (DO NOT FREEZE)
• To reheat, use the tip of a knife to poke about 10 holes in the plastic wrap, and microwave at medium-high (75 percent) power until the potatoes are hot, about 14 minutes, stirring halfway through the reheating time. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving dish, top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and sprinkle with the chives. Serve hot.
• Notes: For perfectly smooth potatoes, pass the potato flesh through a potato ricer or food mill before adding them to the mixer. If you don't have a stand mixer, you can use a hand-held electric mixer. If you don't have an electric mixer, pass the potatoes through a food mill or potato ricer and then whip by hand with a wooden spoon.

DAY BEFORE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer potatoes to a large bowl, and mash until smooth. Mix in the cream cheese, sour cream, onion powder, salt, pepper and butter. Cover, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
• Spread potato mixture into the prepared baking dish, and bake in the preheated oven about 30 minutes.

THE BEST MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 450 degrees.
• Microwave the potatoes on high for 16 minutes, turning them over once.
• Transfer potatoes to oven and place directly on the oven rack. Bake about 30 minutes, turning once, or until a skewer glides easily through the flesh.
• Remove from from oven and cut each potato in half lengthwise.
• Using an oven mitt or folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, scrape out the flesh into a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Use a fork, masher, or spatula, break the potato flesh into small pieces.
• Transfer half of the potatoes to a mixer bowl and beat on high speed with the paddle attachment until smooth, about 30 seconds. (I used a hand mixer with the standard beaters and it worked fine but definitely use a stand mixer if you have it.)
• Gradually add the rest of the potatoes to incorporate until no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove bowl from mixer and gently fold in 2 cups of the cream followed by the butter and 2 tsp of salt. (This will look way too wet at first but keep folding and it will all come together without being soupy).
• Fold in up to 1/2 cup more cream as needed to reach desired consistency.
• Once desired consistency is reached, fold in an additional 1/2 cup cream. The potatoes will be quite loose at this point but this is neccesary to prevent them drying out overnight. You may skip adding the additional cream if you want to serve the potatoes immediately.
• Add any additional seasonings you desire (I like adding parmesan and roasted garlic).
• TO STORE: Transfer the potatoes back to the large microwave-safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• TO SERVE: Poke lots of holes in the plastic wrap and microwave at 75% power until the potatoes are hot, about 14 minutes, stirring gently halfway through.

DAY-BEFORE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in potatoes. Cook until tender but firm, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer potatoes to a large bowl and mash unil smooth. Mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
• To warm, preheat oven to 350f. Lightly grease a medium baking dish. Spread mixture into dish; bake about 30 minutes.
• Garnish with chives if you like.

HOMEMADE MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Scrub potatoes. Leave skins on, if desired, or peel thinly and remove eyes. Cut into large pieces. Heat 1 inch water (salted if desired) to boiling in 3-quart saucepan; add potato pieces. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cook covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Shake pan gently over low heat to dry potatoes.
• Heat milk, whipping cream, butter, salt and pepper in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Measure out 1/4 cup of the milk mixture; cover and refrigerate.
• Add remaining milk mixture in small amounts to potatoes in medium bowl, mashing with potato masher or electric mixer after each addition. (Amount of milk needed to make potatoes smooth and fluffy depends on kind of potatoes used.) Beat vigorously until potatoes are light and fluffy.
• Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. Spoon potatoes into casserole; cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350°F. Reheat reserved milk mixture in microwave. Then pour milk mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until potatoes are hot. Just before serving, stir potatoes.
• ALTERNATE METHOD: Only have one oven and need to bake all your sides at the same temperature? You also can reheat these at 325°F. When ready to bake, heat oven to 325°F. Reheat reserved milk mixture in microwave. Then pour milk mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered 60 to 65 minutes or until potatoes are hot. Just before serving, stir potatoes.

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place potatoes in a large pot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash.
• In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion salt, and pepper. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
• Cover, and bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.

CREAMY MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until tender., Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon; drain., Drain potatoes; return to pan. Mash potatoes, gradually adding cream cheese, sour cream and butter. Stir in milk and seasonings. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with cheese, green onions and bacon. Refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove potatoes from refrigerator and let stand while oven heats. Bake, covered, about 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until heated through.

CREAMY MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large pan with water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender when pierced with a thin-bladed knife, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Heat half and half in microwave.
• Process unpeeled potatoes through a food mill into a medium bowl. (Or, using a potholder, peel and drop them into a bowl. Puree using a potato masher or standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.) Stir in half and half and a sprinkling of salt (or beat, if using mixer) until smooth and fluffy. (Can be cooled and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.)
• Thirty minutes before serving, microwave until warm. Transfer to a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir in butter to melt. Cover with plastic wrap. Keep warm until serving time.

TO DIE FOR MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Boil potatoes until tender.
• Beat softened cream cheese and sour cream in mixing bowl.
• Add hot potatoes and beat until smooth, adding small amounts of milk as needed.
• Add butter, chives, salt, pepper and onion powder and beat until well-mixed.
• Add garlic, green onions, and marjoram and beat until well-mixed.
• Pour into either casserole dish or crockpot.
• Dot with additional butter and sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake for 25 minutes in 350°F oven or cook on low in crockpot for 2-3 hours. If cooked in crockpot, add a few additional drops of butter and stir, just before serving.
• Sprinkle with Bacon Bits or crumpled bacon just before serving.
• NOTE: Can be refrigerated overnight in either casserole dish or crockpot.