7 Tips for the Best Mashed Potatoes

The holiday season is just around the corner, and it’s time to pull out your favorite mashed potato recipe. They make the perfect side for just about any holiday dinner, and for good reason. Mashed potatoes are one of the most delicious and comforting foods. They’re soft and flavorful, and they warm you from the inside out. However you like them—airy, buttery, velvety, or creamy—they’re just plain tasty!

If you want to elevate your mashed potatoes, we recommend a few best practices. These steps will help you make them light and fluffy while avoiding lumpy or gluey mashed potatoes. The trick is working with the starch in the potato.

Starch is naturally found in potatoes, and it helps give them their irresistible texture. As the starch in the potatoes warms while cooking, it expands and makes the potatoes fluffy. But if the starch doesn’t get warmed enough, absorbs too much water, or gets too agitated, it makes the potatoes gummy and sticky.

The following tips will help you achieve the very best mashed potatoes. Don’t be surprised if your family and friends request these all the time!

1. Choose the Right Potatoes

Each potato variety has its own characteristics, and the starch and water content will determine the final texture of your mashed potatoes:

Russets are best for light and fluffy mashed potatoes. They are starchier and have a lower water content than other potato types.
Red, white, or yellow potatoes have a waxier texture that will help you achieve rich and creamy mashed potatoes.

2. Soak Your Potatoes in Water Before Cooking

Before you add your cut potatoes to your pot, place them in a bowl of cold water for a few minutes to remove excess starch. Then, give them an extra rinse before transferring them to a pot.

Note: Potatoes can be peeled, cut, and held in water for up to 2 days before boiling for mash.

3. Peel and Cut Potatoes Before Boiling for Best Texture

Silky smooth mashed potatoes require peeling and cutting the potatoes before boiling them. Additionally, cutting the potatoes into uniform chunks is essential for even cooking. Whole potatoes will take longer, and you may end up with undercooked or overcooked spots.

Of course, you can leave the skin on if you like having texture in your mashed potatoes. Dice your potatoes a little smaller to ensure there are no overly large pieces of skin in your final dish.

4. Warm the Dairy and Fat Before Adding Them to the Potatoes

Bring your diary and fat to room temperature before you add them. You can warm them in a saucepan on the stove or a bowl in the microwave. If they go into your potatoes cold, they can cause the starch to retract, resulting in gluey potatoes.

Heavy cream and butter will produce those velvety, rich mashed potatoes you dream about. Whole milk, half and half, or oil will make your potatoes soft and airy. Other great options are coconut milk and avocado oil for lighter potatoes.

5. Make Sure the Potatoes Are Fully Cooked

Depending on their size and type, it can take between 20-45 minutes for your potatoes to cook. The best way to test if they’re done is to poke them with a paring knife or fork to see if they break apart easily. Even better, you can taste them to see if they’re soft. Err on the side of overcooking rather than undercooking if you’re unsure. Undercooked potatoes are hard to mash and will become sticky and gummy.

6. Use the Right Mashing Tool

The mechanical process of smashing your potatoes after they’re cooked helps break open the starchy bonds and introduces air, which is essential for that perfect mashed potato texture. You want a tool that will break up your potatoes well, but not too much.

The best tool is a ricer fitted with a plate that has the smallest holes; it will make airy shreds of your potatoes.
A food mill or potato masher are also great options, but these tools are more specialty.
A sturdy wire whisk will also get the job of mashing done nicely, and most kitchens have one.
A hand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment can work, but if you’re mashing waxy potatoes, go easy. Over-mixing can agitate the starch too much.

We don’t recommend a regular blender or immersion blender. They may be able to get out all the lumps in your potatoes, but they will agitate the starch in the potatoes so much that they become sticky.

7. Elevate the Flavor of Your Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a perfect canvas for additional flavor. Cheese? Garlic? Herbs? They’re all great in mashed potatoes! You can customize these classic recipes with extra ingredients to suit your taste preferences.

Ultimate Light and Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

Ultimate Rich and Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Here are a few suggestions to help you enhance your mashed potatoes, but feel free to use this as inspiration to get your creative juices flowing. There are plenty of other ingredients you can add to make your mashed potatoes amazing. Have fun experimenting until you find the combination of flavors and textures that you love.

Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Enhance Flavor and Texture

If you love rich and creamy mashed potatoes, make them extra deluxe with sour cream or cream cheese. Both add a nice, tangy flavor, too.

Use milk instead of heavy cream since sour cream or cream cheese will make your mashed potatoes richer.

Better with Bacon

Almost everything is better with bacon, and mashed potatoes are no exception. Adding bacon can enhance the flavor and texture of your mashed potatoes. Consider the following tips:

Crispy bacon will crumble better and integrate with your potatoes more seamlessly than chewy bacon if you like a smoother consistency. Chewy bacon works well if you want to add texture to your potatoes.
Save the bacon grease. Adding a small amount to your mashed potatoes will ramp up the flavor.
Bacon also works well as a garnish or on the side. You get all the flavor benefits without changing the overall texture of the mashed potatoes.

Cheese Provides Flavor Variety

Mashed potatoes pair well with just about every type of cheese.

Cheddar – Universally loved, cheddar cheese is a great addition to mashed potatoes. You can mix shredded cheddar cheese into your mashed potatoes when you add the dairy and butter, or you can top your mashed potatoes with a sprinkle for just a hint of flavor.
Goat Cheese – Gradually add your goat cheese to taste—a little goes a long way. You can use regular goat cheese or flavored goat cheese. If you use flavored goat cheese, proceed cautiously with any other seasonings. The flavors may not work together.
Gorgonzola – If you’re cooking for a group that loves this strong cheese, go for it! Gorgonzola cheese adds a strong flavor for truly unique mashed potatoes. Its soft, creamy profile also makes mashed potatoes a little creamier.
Brie – With a milder flavor than goat cheese or gorgonzola, brie can also make your mashed potatoes richer and creamier. We recommend leaving out the rind.
Parmesan – Like cheddar, parmesan will be a crowd-pleasing addition to your mashed potatoes. Pair it with garlic, Italian seasoning, or even pesto!

Get Creative with Your Seasonings

Play around with different seasonings for your mashed potatoes to create a more complex flavor profile. We recommend throwing spices and herbs into the pot with the potatoes as they boil, so the flavor infuses into them. Consider including:

Cumin – Cumin is a great way to add a little complexity to your potatoes, providing nutty warmth and smokiness. Just add it sparingly to avoid overpowering them.
Rosemary – Rosemary is a great complement to potatoes, adding a fragrant and earthy tone. Boil the potatoes with a sprig of rosemary or finely chop the rosemary leaves so your mashed potatoes will still have a smooth texture.
Garlic – Adding a little pressed garlic will provide a rich, aromatic flavor to your mashed potatoes. You can also use garlic powder, but the fresh garlic will deliver a more robust flavor.
Thyme – Fresh or dried thyme adds a subtle herbal flavor that complements the creaminess of your mashed potatoes.
Chives – Finely chopped chives provide a mild onion flavor that perfectly complements mashed potatoes.
Sautéed Onion – Mix finely chopped, sautéed yellow onion or shallots into your mashed potatoes for a bit of sweetness and depth of flavor.
Onion Powder – Onion powder blends well with other seasonings and will add to the depth of your flavors.
Mashed Potato Recipes