How To Make Mashed Potatoes - 5 Best Ways to Make Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a staple of Thanksgiving dinner. If you're hosting, it's your responsibility to get the mashed potatoes right. It's not that hard to get right, but if you don't know what you're doing, or you think they'll turn out better if you try something different, here are some tips for making the best mashed potatoes every time.
No matter how many times you make them, mashed potatoes always taste great with brown gravy and green beans on the side. They make a perfect dish for any family dinner.
There are many different ways to make mashed potatoes - with butter or olive oil; cream cheese or sour cream; whole milk or half-and-half; salt and pepper or garlic cloves. All of these ingredients can be added to turn out your preferred kind of mashed potato dish. Read on to find the best way for you!
The Basic Mashed Potatoes
The most traditional mashed potatoes are simply made with butter and milk. This is a great recipe for making mashed potatoes for dinner, but if you're looking for something a little more flavorful we have tips below.
-Melt 1 stick of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
-Add 3 cups of peeled and cubed potatoes to the pot and cook until tender.
-Stir in 3/4 cup of whole milk and mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy.
-Season to taste with salt and pepper or garlic cloves.
Different Ways To Make Mashed Potatoes
There are a lot of different ways to make mashed potatoes. When you're making them, it's important to know how you want them to turn out before you start cooking.
Do you want your mashed potatoes creamy or chunky? Do you want the starch from the potato to be released or do you want a dense spud that can hold its shape?The type of potato is also important for the consistency of your dish. If you're after a fluffy dish, use russet potatoes, but if you're going for a denser dish, use red potatoes.
Butter or olive oil: Butter and olive oil are both great for a creamy dish, although butter has a richer flavor. For best results, use about three tablespoons of butter per cup of milk and two tablespoons of oil per cup of milk.
Cream cheese or sour cream: Cream cheese will give your dish a light and fluffy texture while sour cream will leave your potatoes more dense and rich tasting. Be sure to mix these in well so they don't clump up when cooking.
Whole milk or half-and-half: Whole milk will leave your potatoes with creamier texture while half-and-half will provide some fat without making your dish
Butter And Olive Oil
Mashed potatoes are a hearty dish. They're dense, filling, and perfect with gravy on top. So why not use butter to make them even richer?
We recommend using at least 3 tablespoons of butter for 3-4 cups of potatoes. And don't forget the olive oil - it adds even more richness. Coating the potatoes in butter before boiling will help them steam nicely, adding flavor to each bite.
Cream Cheese Or Sour Cream
For The Best Mashed Potatoes?
The debate over the best mashed potato dish is a heated one. Some people swear that whole milk and cream cheese or sour cream is the way to go, while others swear that a roux made from butter and flour with a little bit of milk is the best way to go.
Which side are you on?
The debate over which ingredients should be used in your mashed potatoes will likely continue for generations to come. But what's crucial is that you find what combination satisfies your tastebuds best.
There are plenty of ways to make great mashed potatoes, but only one way makes them perfect for you!
Whole Milk Or Half-And-Half
If you want your mashed potatoes to turn out creamy, you should use whole milk or half-and-half. They both make for a rich dish that will be perfect with roast beef or ham.
The downside? Whole milk or half-and-half are high in fat and calories. If you're looking for a leaner option, try using skim milk or soy milk instead!
Salt And Pepper Or Garlic Cloves
Salt and pepper can be added to taste. You might want to add a little more salt if you're using unsalted butter, for example. Garlic cloves are perfect for those of us who love garlic. Just peel some fresh garlic, cut them up into small pieces, and mash them with the potatoes as you go.
Conclusion
Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish to any meal. They are tasty, filling, and very easy to make. As long as you have the ingredients, it is hard to mess up mashed potatoes.
But, there are some ways that can make your mashed potatoes even better. Whether you want them to have a buttery or more salty taste, or you want to change up the texture by adding cream cheese, there are plenty of ways to dress up your mashed potatoes. Now that you know how to make them, you can't go wrong with these 5 best ways to make mashed potatoes!