May 20, 2022

The art of perfect mashed potatoes

Homemade mashed potatoes have long been everyone's go-to accompaniment for meat, fish and vegetarian dishes alike. The ultimate comfort food, mashed tatties are tasty, filling and quick to make - and low in cost. But the humble mashed potato feels like luxury when it's smooth, creamy and oh so fluffy, so in this blog we're going to take a look at the art of perfect mashed potatoes.

Unfortunately mashed potatoes can be pretty unpleasant when they're flavourless and lumpy! And at Sensio we're all about helping you to produce your very best food magic... especially when it comes to mashed potatoes. That's because we have a secret weapon - the Masha.

Ingredients needed for the perfect mashed potato

When making mashed potatoes, you will need:

Ingredients

  • 2kg of your favourite mashing potatoes (see below)

  • 100 ml milk (or dairy free alternative such as oat milk)

  • 50g unsalted butter (or dairy free alternative)

  • Salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan

  • Potato masher or electric masher (like the Masha)

  • Colander

The best potatoes to use for mashing

In every UK supermarket there is a massive choice of potatoes all of which are packed with vitamin C. But not every type of potato will make the perfect mash. Try our top four and see which one makes the best mashed potatoes for you and your family:

  • Maris Piper: Readily available, these are perfect for making fluffy mashed potatoes.

  • Desiree: Low in water content, they have a slightly waxy flavour and a lovely creamy, fresh colour. The desiree is often selected by top UK chefs as their favourite to make the best mashed potatoes.

  • King Edward: A multipurpose choice with a fluffy, slightly floury texture (so they work brilliantly as baked potatoes too). Their bright, light colour means they are a popular choice by those who love stiffer mashed potatoes.

  • Sweet potatoes: A tasty alternatives to regular potatoes, sweet potatoes provide a different flavour and great boost of vitamin A. The good news is that sweet potatoes do count as one of your five fruit and veg a day whereas ordinary potatoes don't.

Prepping for perfect mashed potatoes

To prepare and cook your perfect mashed potatoes:

  • Put your salted water on to the cooker and bring to the boil

  • Peel each potato being careful to remove all of the mud, skin and 'eyes'

  • Cut your peeled potatoes into small, even sizes so that they cook at an even speed

  • Pop potatoes into boiling water on a medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes (or until they are tender - test with a fork). Alternatively, steam your potatoes in order to lock in the vitamins and minerals, making it a healthier option

  • Take your cooked potatoes, drain in a colander and leave to steam dry for a couple of minutes

  • Return to the pan - removed from the heat

Grab your potato masher

If there are no dietary requirements, simply add a knob of butter, a splash of milk and salt and pepper as seasoning to your pan. It's time to get mashing!

If you are doing this manually with a potato masher, be sure to press down on every potato individually before working your way to mash the whole pan. As required, add a little more milk to the mixture - don't worry if you do not use all of the milk, it is definitely better to under-use than over-use it. If you have lumps - and you are feeling strong - then speed up your mashing movement so that you're almost whisking the pan with your masher.

If you're using an electric potato masher then simply apply across the pan of potatoes and watch as your creamy mashed potatoes take shape. Obviously an electric potato masher will be a huge advantage for lump-free mash, produced in a fraction of the time.

Mashed potatoes recipes

Ever versatile, once you've mashed your potatoes you can add in additional ingredients and totally change the flavour, colour and presentation of it. Here are some quick ideas to switch things up:

  1. Cheesy mashed potatoes - add 100g hard cheese such as Cheddar or Parmesan (or diary free alternative)

  2. Pesto mashed potatoes - add a tablespoon of red or green pesto

  3. Mustard mashed potatoes - add a tablespoon of your favourite mustard

  4. Parsley mashed potatoes - finely chop a bag of fresh parsley and spoon through

  5. Cream cheese mashed potatoes - add 100g of cream cheese

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the kitchen and create your most tasty homemade mashed potatoes ever!

Don't forget to share your photos and recipes for your perfect mashed potatoes with us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.