Whether it’s for a special holiday dinner or just a quick weekday side dish, mashed potatoes are the perfect complement to many meals and occasions. Here’s our favorite delicious, yet simple, homemade mashed potato recipe when you’re looking to make the best mashed potatoes from scratch.
For this recipe, you’ll need:
Set out your butter so it can soften. Peel your potatoes for a smoother mash. If you prefer to leave the skin on and have a slightly rougher mash, you can skip this step.
Next, if your potatoes are particularly large or unevenly sized, cut them into even sizes. Don’t cut them too small, as starchy potatoes like Russets can quickly soak up water and turn to mush.
Warm your milk on the stove on low to medium heat. Make sure it doesn’t come to a boil.
Place your potatoes into a large pot of cold, lightly salted water, and bring the water to a boil. Boil the potatoes until there’s minimal resistance when you pierce them with a fork — this usually takes about 10-20 minutes if your potatoes are cubed or 20-30 minutes if you’re boiling them whole, depending on how large your potatoes are.
Drain the potatoes well in a large colander and return them to the pot. Put the pot back on the stove over a low heat.
Using either a masher or a mixer, mash your potatoes until smooth. Don’t overmash the potatoes, as this can cause them to release too much starch and become gummy. As you mash, allow the steam to escape.
Add the butter one tablespoon at a time, mixing it in fully before adding more. Once all the butter is mixed in, pour the warm milk in a little at a time while mashing. Add milk until you’ve reached your ideal consistency.
Season with salt to taste.
If you want to add some additional flavor to your mashed potatoes, here are some of our favorite add-ins:
Additionally, you could use pre-seasoned potatoes to consistently create the same creamy mashed potato dish every time.
Experiment with the different flavor combinations until you find your perfect creamy mashed potato recipe.
While a simple dish, the best mashed potatoes can be taken to the next level by giving them a little extra care and attention. Read more about how to make your mashed potatoes a crowd pleaser below:
When learning how to make creamy mashed potatoes that will elevate any meal, you must start with the key ingredient — the potatoes. The right potatoes make all the difference — without them, your dish could be bland or watery.
The best potato varieties for creamy mashed potatoes are russets or yellow potatoes. These potatoes have a very high starch content, which means they’ll make fluffy mashed potatoes. Russet potatoes tend to deliver the fluffiest mashed potatoes, while yellow/golden potatoes have a buttery flavor.
If you make your mashed potatoes in advance, you may want to keep them warm so they’re ready to be served with your meal. However, it’s easy for your potatoes to dry out. Using certain methods can help you keep them warm and delicious for longer.
When keeping your mashed potatoes warm, it’s also common for a skin to form. To avoid this, lightly butter the top of your mashed potatoes.
As you make your mashed potatoes, you’ll want to avoid making a few mistakes.
The perfect mashed potato dish comes down to two things — the right homemade mashed potato recipe and the best ingredients.
Sterman Masser Potato Farms produces U.S. No. 1 grade Russet and Yellow potatoes; our potatoes are perfect for consistently delicious creamy mashed potatoes. As an eighth-generation family-owned farming company, we know all about what makes a potato perfect for a family-favorite dish.
For quality potatoes fit for any dish, shop our Side Delights® range today.