Perfect Mashed Potatoes
You'll get light, fluffy potatoes with no lumps with this easy homemade Mashed Potatoes recipe! It's great for holidays or dinner year-round!
Servings: 8 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 large russet potatoes peeled and cut in half lengthwise
- ½ cup butter 1 stick
- 1 cup milk or chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and allow to simmer until tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and return the potatoes to the pot.
- Mash the potatoes with a potato masher a few times, then add the butter and milk or chicken broth, and salt and pepper. Continue to mash until smooth and fluffy.
Notes
- Using larger pieces of potato helps prevent the potatoes from becoming water-logged while boiling. More water in your potatoes means less flavor. If you really want to protect the potatoes from water, boil them whole in their skin (adjust cooking time, if necessary), and then peel the skins after the potatoes have cooked.
- It is important to start your potatoes in cold and not boiling water. This ensures your potatoes cook evenly. Starting with boiling water will cause the outside to cook faster than the insides leaving them hard and crunchy.
- Don't let your potatoes cool before mashing them!
- It's important to taste your potatoes and adjust your seasonings as needed. Starchy and fatty foods like these potatoes need plenty of salt to really make them taste good - so don't be afraid to season.
- Try to work the potatoes as little as possible. The more you mash them, the more starch is released and the more gluey and gummy they become. Use a potato masher or ricer and SKIP anything that resembles a food processor or blender!
- Need to keep your potatoes warm for awhile? Transfer them to a slow cooker and keep them on warm.
Nutrition
Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 1203mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 407IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2mg
