How To Make Mashed Potatoes

Paula, one of my readers from Kansas, shared this recipe and detailed how to make mashed potatoes and then freeze them! This is the best idea ever, one less thing to do on Sunday, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday. You can make these creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes ahead of time and place the casserole dish in the freezer.

A day or two before you want to bake them for your family place the baking dish in the refrigerator to thaw. Then bake as directed in the recipe card.

Ingredients – Mashed Potatoes

• Potatoes (medium-sized): Potatoes are a nightshade vegetable and are grown for their starchy edible tubers.
• Butter: Helps to keep the potatoes from crumbling; prevents the water from evaporating, which creates moist, soft, and fluffy mashed potatoes.
• Water: Water is used to wash the potatoes before cooking to help eliminate any dirt on the potato’s surface; also used to cook the potatoes.
• Cream Cheese: Soft, creamy, mild-tasting cheese made with milk and cream. The perfect cheese to use when making mashed potatoes!
• Sour Cream: Used to add more flavor to the mashed potatoes. It has a 20% fat content. The cream is mixed with a lactic aid that creates that sour taste we all love! It also helps to thicken the cream.
• Seasoned Salt (Lawry’s): A tasty and unique blend of salt, spices, and herbs.
• Salt and Black Pepper to taste: Both spices add flavor and help to bring all of the flavors together.

Items You May Need In The Kitchen:

• Potato Peeler
• A Good Knife
• Hand Mixer or Potato Masher
• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups
• Casserole Dish
• 6-Quart Saucepan

How To Make Mashed Potatoes

Instructions

Step One: Gather Ingredients – Wash and Peel Potatoes – Cut into Chunks

Gather all of your ingredients. Wash and peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks. Preheat oven to (350°F) = (176°C).

Peel and chop the potatoes. If you cut the potatoes too small, the mashed potatoes may become too mushy.

Step Two: Boil Potato Chunks – Drain

In a large pot, on medium-high heat, boil the potato chunks until tender. Test with a fork for tenderness.

Drain the potatoes.

Slice the butter and cream cheese.

Step Three: Add Butter, Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Salt, and Pepper

Add the butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and salt and pepper into a large mixing bowl, or use the saucepan they were cooked in. Beat with a hand mixer, stand mixer, or electric mixer until smooth.

You can also use a potato masher to mash the potato chunks if you would like, it just takes longer. You could also use a food processor or blender, it really depends on what works best for you to achieve the texture you want.

*Please note: Consider the size of your potatoes when adding the cream cheese and sour cream; you may need more or less. This recipe can be doubled or tripled for bigger crowds!

Step Four: Grease Dish – Scoop Potato Mixture into Pan

Grease a casserole dish and scoop the mixture into the dish. Dab Potatoes with Butter and Seasoned Salt. Bake covered at (350°F) = (176°C) for 45-60 Minutes.

Finished Product

How To Freeze The Mashed Potatoes

1. If you would like to freeze the mashed potatoes for another day, cover the unbaked mashed potatoes with foil and place them in your freezer.
2. When ready to serve the frozen mashed potatoes remove them from your freezer 2-3 days before and let them thaw in your refrigerator.
3. Bake covered in a preheated oven (350°F) = (176°C) degrees for 45-60 minutes.

What potatoes are best to use when making mashed potatoes?

To be honest, I have tried a variety of potatoes over the years. It kind of depends on what texture and taste you are looking for when making your mashed potatoes. Here is a list of the other potatoes you can use and the outcome you could potentially expect.

• Yukon Gold potatoes: A classic delicious potato. Known for its yellow flesh. When cooked, it has a creamy texture and rich buttery flavor.
• Russet potatoes: A potato commonly used in cooking. It has light brownish skin. When cooked, the flesh is fluffy, moist, and light.
• Red potatoes: A beautifully red-colored medium-sized potato with smooth, thin skin. Very flavorful flesh.
• Fingerling potatoes: A small potato in the shape of a finger. They have very thin and tender skin. When cooked, they have a very buttery, rich flavor.

Are there any additional ingredients I could add to these mashed potatoes?

I really, really love the flavor of these mashed potatoes! The combination of butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and salt and pepper is a perfect combination.

If you are interested in adding any additional ingredients or making any substitutes, I would recommend adding a little garlic or fresh herbs. You could also add a little heavy cream. It would also be fun to garnish the mashed potatoes with green onions! This recipe is pretty versatile!

What pairs well with mashed potatoes?

• Prime Rib
• Turkey
• Spinach Salad
• Soft Dinner Rolls

How long can washed, peeled, and cut potatoes last in water before cooking?

Once the potatoes are ready to be cooked, I wouldn’t recommend placing them in water for very long. Definitely no longer than a 24-hour period. The potatoes will begin to absorb the water as they sit.

This can cause the potatoes to absorb excess moisture which will create a mushy potato when cooked. If you decide to allow them to sit in water for an extended period of time, you can limit the absorption of water by using ice-cold water and refrain from adding any salt to the water.

Final Word

Please let me know if you decide to make this homemade mashed potatoes recipe! There is nothing like sinking your teeth into creamy and smooth delicious classic homemade mashed potatoes! I believe the secret ingredient is cream cheese. It adds such a velvety texture and the taste it adds is unbelievable!

What I love about this recipe is how truly easy it is to make the best-mashed potatoes. I can’t tell you how many parties or family gatherings I have taken these to. They are always a hit!

They go perfectly with a Thanksgiving turkey or a prime rib steak! Be ready to hand out the recipe. Thank you, Paula! I really hope you and your family enjoy this delicious easy mashed potatoes recipe! Everything tastes better when it’s homemade, right? May God Bless this World, Linda.