Classic Mashed Potatoes Recipes

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a medium pot, cover with cold water and add 2 tablespoons salt. Bring just to a simmer and simmer the potatoes, uncovered, until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain.
• Peel the potatoes and return them to the pot (if desired, pass them through a ricer or food mill after peeling). Mash the potatoes with the milk and butter using a fork or potato masher. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt; season with pepper.

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 WITH THREE VARIATIONS

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.
• Put the potatoes into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix them for a few seconds on low speed, to break them up. 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 mix to combine. Serve hot.
• Three variations:
• Truffle Butter Mashed Potatoes: Add 3 tablespoons room temperature white truffle butter to the Classic Mashed Potatoes and combine.
• Parmesan Mashed Potatoes: Add 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan to the Classic Mashed Potatoes and combine.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Place 1/2 cup garlic cloves and 1/2 cup olive oil in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 20 minutes and then add the garlic cloves and 3 tablespoons of the oil to the Classic Mashed Potatoes and combine.

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.

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.

TRADITIONAL MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, until easily pierced with a fork, 20-25 minutes. Drain. Add remaining ingredients; mash until light and fluffy.

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.

CHEF JOHN'S PERFECT MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and return the potatoes to the pot. Turn heat to high, and allow the potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.
• Mash the potatoes with a potato masher twice around the pot, then add the butter and milk. Continue to mash until smooth and fluffy. Whisk in the salt and black pepper until evenly distributed, about 15 seconds.

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.

MOMMA'S MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes and lemon juice in a large saucepan, and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain water from potatoes, and use a potato masher to mash. Stir in egg white and butter, and gradually mix in the half-and-half using the masher. Use more or less cream to reach your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

AMERICAN KITCHEN CLASSIC BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Fill a large pot halfway with cold water. Peel the potatoes and cut into 2 inch cubes, adding to the pot as they are cut. Add cold water to cover by 1 inch, if needed. Stir in the 3 tbsp kosher salt.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and gently simmer until tender, 10-15 minutes. Drain potatoes and transfer to a baking sheet. Let dry 5-10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat milk, cream, peppercorns, sprigs and bay leaves in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is very hot but not boiling, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let mixture infuse for 20 minutes then strain.
• While milk mixture is infusing, pass the potatoes through the smallest disk of a food mill along with the diced butter into a large bowl. The hot cream mixture should be ready by this time so stir into the riced potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
• If you need to hold the mashed potatoes, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly against the potatoes surface and set bowl over a large pot of 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°.

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.

OPRAH'S CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Wash potatoes well, leaving the skins on.
• Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Place in a kettle and fill with enough water to cover potatoes.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender.
• Drain well and add butter while potatoes are hot. Begin to hand mash.
• Add all remaining ingredients and mash well leaving them just slightly lumpy.
• Makes about 10-12 cups or 6 to 8 servings.