Finest Mashed Potatoes Recipe – Crunchy Creamy Candy

April 25, 2026

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Discover ways to make the creamiest, fluffiest, greatest mashed potatoes in three easy steps. Strive my recipe and choose for your self. They’re wealthy and buttery! Everybody must know the best way to make scrumptious mashed potatoes!

Mashed potatoes in a serving dish with a wooden spoon, parsley and melted butter, set on a pink stone board.

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Why is that this recipe the perfect?

Mashed potatoes are the most well-liked facet dish for holidays, Sunday dinners, and particular events. You in all probability assume they’re really easy to make that you do not want a recipe. Simply cook dinner the taters and mash, proper? True, however there may be one step that you should take to make the BEST mashed potatoes. And it’s all about temperature!

I guess you probably did it greater than as soon as, identical to me: cooked the potatoes, added a splash of fridge-cold milk and some knobs of butter, and mashed, simply to finish up with lumpy, gluey potatoes. Nicely, that ends at the moment! The primary time I used heat milk and melted butter, I knew it modified the entire sport of creating mashed potatoes. Now it is your flip!

Substances:

Six russet potatoes in a white wire bowl, milk in a glass measuring cup and a stick of butter next to it.

potatoes: I used russet potatoes, my go-to for mashed potatoes;
milk: the upper the fats content material, the higher; I used complete milk;
butter: unsalted; don’t use margarine or unfold.

The best way to make the perfect mashed potatoes?

That is an summary of the recipe steps. All ingredient measurements and detailed course of steps are supplied within the recipe field under.

Raw potatoes cut into chunks, submerged in water in the Instant Pot.

Begin by peeling potatoes and slicing them into the same-sized items to make sure even cooking.
I all the time cook dinner potatoes in my Prompt Pot. It takes simply 7 minutes of cooking time. Observe my Prompt Pot Mashed Potatoes put up for detailed directions.

Green small Dutch oven with raw potato chunks in water.

To cook dinner potatoes in a cooking pot (like a Dutch oven), on the range, place reduce potatoes within the pot, cowl with water, and convey to a boil. Cook dinner till mushy, about 15 to twenty minutes.

Raw potatoes in water in white slow cooker.

If in case you have extra time, you need to use a gradual cooker to cook dinner the potatoes. Set the crockpot to LOW and cook dinner potatoes for 3 to 4 hours.

Melted butter and milk in a small stainless steel saucepan, set on a wooden board.

Warmth milk and butter in a small saucepan, simply till the butter melts. Don’t permit to boil.

Mashed potatoes in a stainless steel pot with mixer paddles on the right side.

Drain the cooked potatoes, add the butter and milk combination in two components, whipping the potatoes with a hand mixer between additions.
Season potatoes with salt and pepper.

Anna’s Useful Ideas!

Use a heat milk and butter combo! That is the secret to the perfect mashed potatoes. Warmth milk and butter simply till very heat, and add them to drained, cooked potatoes, simply earlier than mashing.
Use Russet potatoes. They’re increased in starch content material and due to this fact higher for mashing. They’re my go-to each time! Yukon gold potatoes are good, too.
Use complete milk and even heavy cream (or half and half). It’s going to give the potatoes a creamier texture and wealthy taste.
Use unsalted butter. It’s going to can help you management the flavour. Season potatoes with salt earlier than serving.
Use a masher or a hand mixer to mash the potatoes. It ends in a fluffy and clean texture! You will not get this outcome with a fork. You could whip the air into the potatoes for the perfect texture.

Close up on creamy mashed potatoes garnished with chopped Italian parsley and drizzled with melted butter.

Widespread errors to keep away from:

Utilizing boiling water: That is essential. Don’t attempt to pace up the cooking by utilizing sizzling water. The potatoes want time to cook dinner inside and outside, or they are going to be laborious within the middle and overcooked on the skin. All the time use chilly water and simply sufficient to cowl the potatoes within the cooking pot.
Not draining the potatoes properly: Use a strainer to empty the potatoes. You may cowl the cooking pot with a lid and drain the water, however one of the best ways to empty cooked potatoes is to make use of a strainer. I exploit a wire strainer, giant sufficient to suit all potatoes. If you do not have a wire strainer or a colander, use the lid, however after draining, set the pot with cooked potatoes over a low warmth and stir till the surplus moisture evaporates.
Utilizing a fork to mash: For the fluffiest, creamiest mashed potatoes, use a hand mixer or a masher. It’s value pulling it out for this dish!
Overmixing: It will result in gluey potatoes because the overmixing will trigger the starches to be launched.
Including chilly milk or butter: Your potatoes are sizzling. In case you add chilly milk, the outcome will probably be gluey potatoes.

Recipe FAQs:

What are the perfect potatoes for mashing?

Starchy potatoes like Russet and Idaho are greatest for mashing. Waxy potatoes, like purple, fingerling, or yellow potatoes, are greatest for roasting or making salads.

The best way to retailer mashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes must be saved in a container with a lid, within the fridge, for as much as 4 days. To reheat, place them in a deep pan, add a splash of milk, and reheat.

Can mashed potatoes be frozen?

Sure, mashed potatoes could be frozen. Cool them utterly and place in a deli container, freezer bag, or any freezer-safe container. Press it flat. Retailer within the freezer for as much as 4 months.

The best way to use leftover mashed potatoes?

Mashed potatoes can be utilized to make quite a lot of dishes, like potato truffles, Polish potato dumplings, or a tacky potato casserole. You should use them to thicken soups like chowder, make gnocchi, or use them as a topping for a Shepherd’s pie.

Extra primary cooking recipes:

Creamy and smooth mashed potatoes in a serving dish with handles, garnished with chopped parsley.

In case you like this recipe and make it, let me know within the feedback under! Remember to fee it if you happen to loved it!

Please learn the information and FAQs posted above earlier than making this recipe.