Mashed potatoes are one of those quintessential side dishes that show up on the table during holidays, and at your favorite steakhouse or chicken joint. Theyre soft and creamy and adaptable depending on the flavor profile youre hoping to enjoy. You can serve them with butter, or gravy… you can even add garlic to them for a more decadent taste. Mashed potatoes can also be made with different types of potatoes, although Good Housekeeping recommends high starch varieties like Russets and Yukon Golds for the fluffiest mashed potatoes.
Unlike their cousin, the baked potato, which is often topped with a pad of butter or a dollop of sour cream, mashed potatoes get all of their creaminess mixed in so that you get some of that luscious texture with every bite. Mashed potatoes are generally made with potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper so you might be wondering if you can substitute other dairy products like sour cream in place of the milk. Lets explore!
This is a good option for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. Sour cream: Sour cream can be used in place of milk or cream to add creaminess and tanginess to mashed potatoes. Yogurt: Yogurt can be used to add a tangy flavor to mashed potatoes.
It’s all about the texture
For many people the appeal of a fully loaded baked potato is the sharp tanginess of the sour cream, yet sour cream is not traditionally added when making mashed potatoes. While there is a case to be made for adding a bit of sour cream to your mashed potato recipes, you definitely dont want to swap the milk for sour cream, and the big reason is texture.
According to The Kitchn, sour cream is much denser than milk and so youd end up with very stiff potatoes if sour cream replaces the milk in your recipe. Because milk is a liquid, it helps take the potatoes stiffer mass and soften it, giving them their signature texture. My Recipes also notes that potatoes are highly absorbent, so they will absorb whatever you add to them. The liquid nature of milk makes mashed potatoes creamy without making them watery. Too much sour cream on the other hand has the opposite problem. It would turn them to paste.
11 Substitutes for Milk in Mashed Potatoes
FAQ
Can you use sour cream instead of milk?
Why do people add sour cream to mashed potatoes?
What can replace milk in instant mashed potatoes?
Is cream cheese or sour cream better in mashed potatoes?
Can you use sour cream instead of milk in mashed potatoes?
While there is a case to be made for adding a bit of sour cream to your mashed potato recipes, you definitely don’t want to swap the milk for sour cream, and the big reason is texture. According to The Kitchn, sour cream is much denser than milk and so you’d end up with very stiff potatoes if sour cream replaces the milk in your recipe.
What is a dairy free substitute for sour cream?
Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream’s flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you’d like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.
Can I substitute butter for olive oil in sour cream mashed potatoes?
You can easily substitute butter for extra virgin olive oil. Be sure to use a good quality olive oil as it may alter the taste of your sour cream mashed potatoes. Be mindful because you are using olive oil and not butter, your potatoes may not have the same richness as it normally would if it was prepared with butter.
What can I use instead of milk in mashed potatoes?
You can use many things instead of milk, as seen in the list above. Some of the best substitutes for milk in mashed potatoes include heavy cream, sour cream, yogurt, broth, vegan milk, etc. Why do you add milk to mashed potatoes?