Best Basic Mashed Potatoes Recipes

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.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put 2 pounds whole unpeeled russet or Yukon gold potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water; add 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Bring to a simmer (do not boil) and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes, then peel and return to the pan; add 1 cup hot milk and 1/2 to 1 stick room-temperature unsalted butter. Mash with a potato masher or fork. Season with salt and pepper.

BASIC MASHED (WHIPPED) POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large cooking pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer until the potatoes are just tender (20 to 30 minutes).
• Drain water. Reserve 1 cup if you want to substitute the potato water for the half and half to save calories. Mix on low speed of an electric mixer.
• Add the butter after cutting it into several pieces so it melts faster (melt it first if you want to so that the potatoes remain steaming hot). Add the warmed half and half or the 1 cup reserved potato water.
• Mix again with the electric mixer, starting on low and increasing the speed to reach the desired consistency. Add the salt and pepper.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the potato pieces with water to cover and let stand for 5 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain.
• Bring a large sauce-pan 3/4 full of water to a boil.
• Add the 1 1/2 teaspoon salt and the potatoes and return to a boil until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
• Drain well and return to the empty pan.
• Place the pan over high heat and, turning the potatoes to prevent scorching, heat to evaporate the moisture, 1-2 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Using a potato masher, mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
• Add the butter, mash, and the half-and-half, a little at a time, switching to a spoon when the potatoes are smooth.
• The potatoes should be creamy but not soupy.
• Season to taste with salt and white pepper, transfer to a warmed serving dish and serve immediately.

BASIC CROCK POT MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place peeled and quartered potatoes in a large crock pot and fill with water.
• Cook on low over night for 8 hours.
• In the morning drain potatoes (if desired save some potato water for gravy base) and mash with remaining ingredients.
• Dot with extra butter.
• Transport crock pot (if necessary) and cook on low for 3 hours, stir and serve immediately.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 2-inch pieces. (If using red potatoes, it is not necessary to peel them). In a large heavy saucepan simmer potatoes in salted water to cover by 1 inch 10 minutes, or until tender, and drain in a colander. In pan or bowl combine potatoes, butter, and 3/4 cup milk. With a potato masher mash potatoes until smooth, adding more milk if necessary to make creamy. In pan reheat potatoes over moderately low heat, stirring, and season with salt and pepper.

BASIC LEAN MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain well.
• Put the milk in the saucepan used for the potatoes and bring to a simmer. Force the potatoes through a ricer and add them to the milk. Cook over very low heat, mixing well and season with salt and pepper.
• If desired top each portion with a thin pat of butter just before serving for a deceptive sense of richness.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, removing as many of the eyes as possible with the tip of your peeler. (If you prefer more rustic mashed potatoes, keep the skin on half of them.).
• Submerge the potatoes in a bowl of cold water to keep them from turning brown while you are chopping them.
• Cut the potatoes into similar-sized chunks so that they will cook evenly: the cubes should be about 1½ to two inches wide.
• Submerge cubed potatoes into a pot of water that is large enough to hold the potatoes with enough water to cover. Add salt, if desired. Place the pot over a high heat and bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.
• Simmer, covered, until tender--about 15-20 minutes. A knife tip inserted into a potato should meet no resistance; if the potato clings to the knife, the potatoes need to cook longer. When potatoes are done, remove from heat and drain immediately.
• Let the potatoes sit for a minute to dry and to allow any excess water to drain from the bottom of the colander. Meanwhile, heat the butter and cream in a small saucepan at a low temperature. (You can also use the microwave for this step.).
• Return the cooked potatoes to the large pan and mash them with the back of a spoon, a food mill, or a potato ricer.
• Gently stir in the warm butter and cream.
• At this point, taste the potatoes for proper seasoning and adjust it to taste. Test for consistency, too: if the potatoes are too thick, add more cream. Other herbs and spices can be added at this point as well--chopped chives, Italian parsley, Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon, roasted garlic, chopped scallions or creamed leeks are all delicious matches.
• ***To reduce the fat content of traditional mashed potatoes, use low-fat sour cream in place of butter, and milk or broth rather than cream.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Prick the potatoes all over with a fork and roast them in the oven until tender, about 1 hour.
• Being careful of the hot potatoes, split them and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Add the butter and season with salt and a few twists of black pepper. Mash until the butter is melted and the potatoes are smooth. Keep warm until ready to serve.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Wash and peel potatoes. Cut into chunks (about 1-inch) and rinse.
• 2. Place in large sauce pan and cover with water. Add 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil and cook until tender-approximately 20-25 minutes.
• 3. Remove from heat and drain. Add additional 1/2 tsp. salt to taste. Add butter and evaporated milk. Whip with mixer until fluffy. Sprinkle top with paprika, to add color, if desired. Serve warm.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Cook potatoes in water to cover 25 to 30 minutes until tender.
• 2. Drain and mash with milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Reheat if necessary before serving.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a saucepan. Cover with water. Simmer over medium heat until tender. Drain.
• Pass potatoes through a ricer. Warm the milk and stir it and cream, butter, salt and pepper into the potatoes.