Recipe – Basic Mashed Potatoes

Basic mashed potatoes are simple to prepare and make a great side dish for a wide variety of meals and are a classic (not to mention delicious) comfort food in their own right. With the help of this instructional post, you can make your own mashed potatoes quickly and easily. Let’s dive in.

Basic Recipe Information

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

20-25 minutes

Servings

Required Equipment

1 large saucepan
1 small saucepan
A potato masher or electric beater

Ingredients

4 pounds (2 kg) russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
3/4 to 1 stick Butter
1 cup (240 mL) Milk
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Preparation Directions

Set out your large saucepan filled with cold, salted water
Peel your potatoes and cut them (approximately) into quarters
Place peeled and quartered potatoes into the large saucepan, ensure they are completely submerged, then boil on medium-high for 15-20 minutes.

Cook’s Note: To know when your potatoes are done, use the fork test – if you can pierce them with a fork, it means they’re ready.

Once ready, drain your freshly cooked potatoes in a colander. Let them sit for 3-5 minutes to ensure they’re completely drained (important to avoid soggy mashed potatoes). Once drained, put potatoes back in the large saucepan.
Place butter and Milk into your separate, smaller saucepan – cook on low heat until butter is melted, then stir until well-mixed
Pour butter and milk mixture onto the potatoes
Mash the potatoes using a potato masher or electric beater, mixing in the Milk and butter as you go (important for getting a silky smooth texture)
Add salt and pepper as desired

That’s it – you’re ready to serve your mashed potatoes.

They taste just fine on their own but, if you’d like to spice them up a bit, consider garnishing them with parsley, chives, or even a bit of cream cheese.