How to Make Mashed Potatoes

Guide Note: If you're at a loss for How to Make Mashed Potatoes, this page will show you how to do it (and how to do it right).

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • Mashed potatoes: not only a holiday meal staple, but an incredibly versatile side dish enjoyed year-round. For such a seemingly simple food, many of us have yet to master the art of making these smashed up spuds. So how do you make perfect mashed potatoes? There are multiple methods to this mystery; follow the easy steps on this page and you'll do just fine!

What You'll Need

(Creative Commons photo by Ernesto Andrade)
(Creative Commons photo by Ernesto Andrade)

Equipment

    • Stove
    • Potato Peeler
    • Sharp Knife
    • Potato Masher, Ricer, or Electric Mixer
    • Saucepan or Pot
    • Colander
    • Large Bowl or Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

  • This will serve 4-6 people.
    • Potatoes (4-6 medium-sized potatoes; more if the potatoes are small)
    • Butter (2-4 tbsp.)
    • Milk or Cream (1 cup, warm; milk is more common, but cream will make them, well, creamier)
    • Salt
    • Pepper

Optional Ingredients

Garlic is a popular addition to mashed potatoes. (Creative Commons photo by Gio JL)
Garlic is a popular addition to mashed potatoes. (Creative Commons photo by Gio JL)

Step 1: Choose Your Potato

  • The first thing you'll need to do is figure out what kind of potato you're going to mash. There are many varieties of potato, each with its own characteristics and flavors. Here are three of the most commonly used:
  1. Yukon Gold: These are typically the best potatoes for mashing. They easily absorb any added ingredients, and have a higher moisture level. They usually result in a more textured mashed potato.
  2. Russets: These potatoes are starchier and less moist, but the mashed product is usually the smoothest.
  3. Red Potatoes: If you want to mash potatoes with their skins on (skin adds great texture and extra nutrition to your mashed potatoes), this variety is the best candidate. Its skin is not as tough or thick as other potatoes.

Step 2: Cook the Potatoes

Wash your potatoes before you begin. (Creative Commons photo by P. A. M.)
Wash your potatoes before you begin. (Creative Commons photo by P. A. M.)
  • Before you start mashing, your spuds need to be boiled.
  1. Wash the potatoes by scrubbing rigorously. You can use a potato scrubber or your hands, but don't use soap. Running water will do just fine.
  2. Remove the eyes of the potatoes with the tip of your potato peeler.
  3. Peel the potatoes next.
    • If you're using red potatoes, you'll want to leave those skins on for some added texture and flavor.
  4. Cut out bad spots that you find after peeling. They are easy to see because of their dark color.
  5. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise. Cut into quarters if desired.
  6. Place in a saucepan or pot and cover with water. Add salt to the water, bring to a gentle boil and simmer for about 20-25 minutes. It's better to overcook than to undercook.
  7. When potatoes are soft and a knife or fork can pierce through the center easily, drain the potatoes in a colander.

Step 3: Mash

  • Now you're ready for the fun part: mashing your potatoes into a smooth, tasty side dish.
  1. Using a masher, potato ricer, or fork, begin a preliminary gentle mashing of the potatoes. You can also use an electric mixer if desired.
  2. Add some butter and begin adding milk or cream in small amounts. Start with about 1/3 or 1/2 of the milk/cream, and slowly add more as necessary. Continue mashing until you've reached the desired fluffiness, smoothness and consistency.
  3. Be careful not to overdo it with the mashing, as this will make them gummy and not fluffy.

NOTE: Using a masher or fork will result in a lumpier texture, while a ricer or an electric mixer will produce much smoother potatoes. It's all a matter of personal preference!

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Step 4: Add Some Flavor

Add some garlic or other spices for extra flavor. (Creative Commons photo by FeastingMadeEasy)
Add some garlic or other spices for extra flavor. (Creative Commons photo by FeastingMadeEasy)
  • The final step before serving is to decide how fancy you'd like to get with your mashed potatoes.
  1. To keep it simple, add a little extra butter (or any you didn't use in Step 3) and top it off with salt and pepper to taste. Now you have simple, classic mashed potatoes ready to eat!
  2. If you are serving your mashed potatoes along with a main course of meat, make some gravy to smother them in.
  3. Mixing in some sour cream and sprinkling chopped chives on your potatoes can add a kick of flavor.
  4. Garlic is a very popular and delicious addition to mashed potatoes. You can mash up toasted garlic cloves (about 2/3 cup) along with the potatoes.
  5. Try melting some cheddar cheese (or the cheese of your choice) and adding crumbled bacon or bacon bits for a slightly less healthy but extremely tasty recipe.
  6. Chopped onion can add both flavor and texture. Watch Paul McCartney make mashed potatoes for more details on chopped onions. That's right, Sir Paul McCartney.
  7. Plenty of other seasonings can add a nice touch to your side dish. You might add nutmeg, basil, or oregano.
  • If all else fails and you've completed all of the steps but don't have a good pile of mashed potatoes in front of you, you may want to try a quick alternative to be ready in time for dinner!

Recipes and Resources for How to Make Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potato Videos

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