Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Learning how to make mashed potatoes may not seem like seem like a hard task, but a few special secrets will give you the best mashed potatoes you have ever eaten!   No one likes a mountain of Elmer’s glue on their plate, so read on to discover how to make them perfect every single time.  Homemade mashed potatoes make every dinner better, but can you guess what type of potatoes work best?

I make mashed potatoes every Sunday for our big family dinner.  If I serve anything but roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes and gravy, Amish Potato Rolls and garlic green beans for this traditional weekly meal, I hear about it.  After so many years of making mashed potatoes, I have these babies down to a science!

How to Make Mashed Potatoes

Step 1. Use Yukon Gold Potatoes and Toss the Idaho Potatoes

Step 2. Use Cream, Butter and Garlic – go big or go home

Step 3. Toss Out Your Potato Masher and Use a Hand Mixer

Step 1 – Now, don’t get all upset with me just yet for pushing you towards a new type of potato.  I am not trash talking your standard Idaho or Russet spud.  They have their uses, but mashed potatoes just isn’t one of them.  Yukon gold potatoes are slightly more expensive, but they have a natural buttery flavor and creamy texture that just can’t be beat.  Yes, your end result is slightly yellow but soon you will be able to tell lousy mashed potatoes from fantabulous ones based on this visual cue.

Step 2 – I always get a chuckle from readers who try to make certain recipes “healthy” by cutting out mandatory ingredients like cream and butter.  Let’s be honest here…these potatoes are simple carbs no matter what you add to them so if you are going to enjoy a bit of mashed potatoes with your meal, shouldn’t they be completely delicious?

When it comes to learning how to make mashed potatoes the right way, use milk as the main dairy addition, but before I am done, I always add heavy cream.  It takes that average texture to a whole new level.  As far as butter and garlic, please don’t be afraid of either.  For a 5 lb bag of potatoes, I use half a stick of butter and a generous tablespoon of garlic powder when I am mashing.  Some people think the garlic will overpower the potatoes, but it just adds some much needed depth of flavor.  Even “garlic haters” have sat at my table and raved over my mashed potatoes, never knowing that those killer spuds are so killer because of that necessary addition.

Step 3 – When it comes to the actual act of mashing, most people pull out the standard potato masher.  I love mine, but not for this specific task!  For me, the only proper tool for making the perfect mashed potatoes is a simple electric hand mixer.  This little work horse takes the tender potatoes, cream, milk, butter and garlic and whips them all up into a pot of potato nirvana.

I know some people swear by a potato ricer for the best end result, but I have one and am just not a fan.  Not only does it take an eternity to rice 5 lbs of potatoes, but I just wasn’t impressed with the texture of the finished product.  I will take my cheap electric mixer any day and whip those babies to a smooth, creamy perfection.

Take a peek at my quick video to see the magic all come together right before your eyes!

How to Make Mashed Potatoes

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A simple recipe for the perfectly creamy garlic mashed potatoes!

Ingredients

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• 5 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 C cold water
• 1/4 C butter
• 3/4 C skim milk
• 1/3 C heavy cream
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

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Instructions

1. Peel and chop the potatoes, then place in a large pot with the salt and cold water. Bring to a boil, then cover and boil until the potatoes are soft and fork tender. Drain the water.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients then use either a potato masher or hand mixer to mash the potatoes until light and fluffy. Add any additional milk to create your desired thickness. Serve immediately.

Notes

To reheat any leftover potatoes, you will need to add a bit more milk

• Author: Carole Jones

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/10th
• Calories: 238
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 476mg
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 1g
• Cholesterol: 23mg

Perfect Mashed Potatoes Video

**My friend, this post contains Amazon affiliate links which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link, at no additional cost to you.   And no worries….I only link to products that I both use and love! ~Carole