A trick to make perfect mashed potatoes has been revealed and it couldn’t be any more straightforward. The tip was shared on social media platform Reddit, after a user asked “what is your way to improve mashed potatoes”. Most people prepare mashed potatoes by simply boiling their spuds and then mashing them with some milk and butter.
However, there is one extra step that home cooks should do if they want their mash to come out smooth and fluffy, and the tip was approved by multiple home cooks on the cooking forum, who vouched that it makes their mashed potatoes come out great.
TheLadyEve wrote: “Cook the water out of the potatoes thoroughly before you mash them – that means if you boil them, after you drain them, put them back in the pot on very low heat and just let them steam and let the excess water cook off. It will make for fluffier potatoes.”
When asked what the purpose of cooking the water out of the potatoes is, the same user explained that the water causes “gluey, watery mashed potatoes”, which isn’t the kind of mashed potatoes most people go for.
They added: “They won’t be as fluffy or have as nice a texture if they’re wet. IME [in my experience] it’s the number one factor that separates blandy icky mashed potatoes from great mashed potatoes.”
Another user chimed in, explaining that “by cooking off the water first you can add more milk and butter without making the taters runny.”
Some users even shared that they completely avoid boiling their potatoes to end up with fluffy mash.
SunBelly wrote: “I actually bake my potatoes instead of boiling or steaming. Then I remove 75% of the skins and do a rough mash with butter, half-and-half and salt. Incredibly good.”
TheLadyEve praised the method but added that “boiling and cooking off the water works well” for them and gives them “great results”, especially as they don’t always have the time or patience to bake the spuds.
The next time you make a serving of mashed potatoes try taking a few extra minutes to steam your potatoes before mashing them and watch it make all the difference.
