The Mistake: Overworking the Potatoes with a Food Processor, Blender or Mixer. Too much — or too vigorous — mashing will produce gluey potatoes. Your best tool is an old-fashioned masher, fork, ricer or food mill.
"The less water you use to cover the potatoes, the more starch in the water." That starch gives finished mashed potatoes a sticky, grainy texture.
Once there is too much starch in your mashed potato mixture, the texture will quickly turn from fluffy to gummy. Instead of using an electric hand mixer, food processor, or blender — all of which will overwork the potatoes — use a ricer, food mill, or hand masher to gently break down the spuds, per The Spruce Eats.
The yolk emulsifies water and fat to create a cohesive, velvety bite, while providing a little fat and body of its own. What is this? You can add an egg yolk to nearly any existing mashed potato recipe.
Mistake 8: Overmixing
If you overwork potatoes, too much starch is released. The mash becomes gummy, gluey and unappetizing. If you're using a food processor or stand mixer, you're probably whipping the life out of your potatoes. What to do instead: Be gentle and mash by hand.
If you find your mashed potatoes are soupier than normal, it's likely because you overcooked them, Buzzfeed says. Overcooked potatoes aren't always dry and hard, as it's possible to overboil a potato too.
So what are the best potatoes for mashing? We consider Yukon Gold potatoes the best choice for classic dense mashed potatoes. Their rich texture and subtle creaminess make them great for all of your mashing needs.
I recommend corn starch when thickening mashed potatoes as it does very little to affect the taste of your side dish. Flour, on the other hand, can sometimes give potatoes a chalky taste/texture.
Adding cold dairy to your mashed potatoes also cools the mash down — and very few people like cold mashed potatoes. Ready to put this tip into action? Bring the milk and butter to at least room temperature or, better yet, gently heat them on the stovetop before adding them to your potatoes.
Just a pinch of baking soda is all you need to create mashed potatoes as soft as clouds. When you add baking soda, it reacts with the heat of the dish and the acid in the milk or cream to create small air pockets throughout the mash. These air bubbles translate to light and airy bites. Yum!
“Salting the water not only seasons the potato, but it also allows it to boil to a hotter temperature. This in turn cooks the potatoes' starch more thoroughly, resulting in a more creamy texture [for mashed potatoes],” says Sieger Bayer, Chef and Partner at The Heritage.
Mashed Potatoes
A drain or disposal filled with potatoes leaves no room for water or other substances to fit through. This can result in clogs and backups. Turn into a sticky paste . As the leftover mashed potatoes sit in your drain, the starchy food can turn into a sticky paste that narrows pipes and causes clogs.
Once you've got hot potatoes, you're almost ready to mash. Drain out any remaining water, add butter and milk and put the lid back on. The potatoes and warm pot will melt the butter and heat the milk. Let them sit for three to five minutes, then mash.
Potatoes can be peeled prepped and cut into water up to 2 days before boiling for mash.
If your potatoes have been growing in very dry soil, the potatoes themselves will have a fairly low moisture content when harvested. What this then means is that when the potatoes are build they absorb more water and fall to pieces quite quickly.
The problem with overcooked potatoes is that they absorb a ton of water. When you go to mash them, they'll be soupy and sad. One way to fix them is by placing them in a pot over low heat and gently cooking them. The excess water will turn into steam, and your mash will dry out.
But the most essential suggestion, per Bon Appétit, is always to salt the water you are boiling your mashed potatoes in. It acts as pre-seasoning, and Bon Appétit recommends adding a full cup of kosher salt to the boiling water.
But if you've made them a little too runny for your taste, don't worry! You don't have to throw them out just yet. To thicken mashed potatoes, you can add a thickening agent like cornstarch, flour, powdered milk, or tapioca. Add one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Doing so is a science thing – soaking cut potatoes removes excess potato starch. This means fluffy mashed potatoes (and not gluey!)
Only use egg yolks when mixing the potatoes.
They add so much creaminess and will give the potatoes an irresistible flavor. Not to mention that the yolks will give the mashed potatoes a vibrant yellow color and make them richer too.
Eggs and potatoes are a nice combination for a hearty breakfast. This recipe features spicy home fries with classic scrambled eggs.