Mashed Potatoes

You know when you eat in a restaurant and get those perfect, creamy, velvety mashed potatoes? Here’s how they make them. First, you want starchy baking potatoes. Then, after they are cooked until tender and drained, place the strainer over the hot, steamy pot to dry them out a little. For the smoothest results, I like a foodmill or ricer (see Kitchen Note), but you can just crush the potatoes with a handheld masher.

You know when you eat in a restaurant and get those perfect, creamy, velvety mashed potatoes? Here’s how they make them. First, you want starchy baking potatoes. Then, after they are cooked until tender and drained, place the strainer over the hot, steamy pot to dry them out a little. For the smoothest results, I like a foodmill or ricer (see Kitchen Note), but you can just crush the potatoes with a handheld masher.

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds large baking potatoes, such as russets, peeled, quartered

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup whole milk, or as needed

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1.25kg large baking potatoes, such as Sebagos, peeled, quartered

75g unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup milk, or as needed

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

PREP TIME
10
MINS
COOKING TIME
20
MINS
Serves
6
Make-Ahead:
The mashed potatoes are best eaten as soon as they are made.
Make-Ahead:
The mashed potatoes are best eaten as soon as they are made.

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough cold salted water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring the water to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

Drain the potatoes in a strainer and set the strainer over the hot saucepan to evaporate the excess steam. Put the potatoes in the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low, then add 4 tablespoons of the butter and mash the potatoes until they are nearly smooth. Whisk in enough of the milk to form a creamy consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl and top with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough cold salted water to cover them by 2.5cm. Bring the water to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.

Drain the potatoes in a strainer and set the strainer over the hot saucepan to evaporate the excess steam. Put the potatoes in the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low, then add 4 tablespoons of the butter and mash the potatoes until they are nearly smooth. Whisk in enough of the milk to form a creamy consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl and top with the remaining butter, letting it melt over them.