This recipe for Homemade Mashed Potatoes is the ultimate recipe for preparing creamy, buttery, fluffy, classic mashed potatoes. The results are truly perfect.
Mashed potatoes are an all-American, classic side dish that is a must for Sunday dinners and of course for the holidays.
But when I want buttery, creamy, classic Mashed Potatoes, this is the recipe I turn to!
There is nothing fancy or complicated about this recipe for classic mashed potatoes. But by following a few key “chef tricks,” they never turn out lumpy, gummy, or flavorless.
The ultimate potato weight table for feeding a crowd
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Number of people
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Total potato weight
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Number of medium-size potatoes needed
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1
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0.5 lb.
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1
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4
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2 lbs.
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4
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6
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3 lbs.
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6
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10
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5 lbs.
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10
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∗ 5 Secrets to Perfect Mashed Potatoes ∗
With this easy mashed potato recipe and a few chef secrets, you are well on your way to making the best homemade mashed potatoes.
- Cook Potatoes Evenly. It is really important to dice your potatoes into equal size chunks and to begin the cooking process with cold water. This will ensure that the potatoes all cook evenly and will be fork-tender at the same time. If you have randomly sized pieces of potatoes, the smaller potatoes will become water-logged and mushy in the time it takes the larger potatoes to cook through.
- Get rid of Excess Moisture. After your potatoes have cooked through, you need to drain off the cooking liquid. But draining off the water is not enough! It is best to steam the cooked potatoes over low heat to evaporate the excess liquid. This will let potato flavor really shine through and you wont be left with watered-down mashed potatoes.
- Do Not use a Mixer. If you want to avoid gummy and tough mashed potatoes, skip mashing your potatoes with a handheld or stand mixer. This overworks the starch in the potatoes, turning them into a gummy mess. Instead, use a ricer, food mill, or handheld potato masher to mash up the potatoes into a smooth consistency. Trust me, this extra step is well worth the outcome!
- Add Warm Liquid. You do not want to add cold butter or cold milk to your potatoes, as this can cause them to seize up a bit. Instead add warm milk and melted butter, which will allow the potatoes to absorb the delicious flavor while staying light and fluffy.
- Add Sour Cream. The sour cream will help to keep your mashed potatoes especially light and creamy and give the potatoes a bit of a tangy flavor which will help cut through the richness of the added butter and cream.
How to Make the Best Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Keeping the tips above in mind, you are now ready to make perfect mashed potatoes.
- Wash, peel, and cube the potatoes into 1-inch-sized chunks.
- Place the potatoes into a large, heavy-bottomed stock pan and cover them with cold tap water so they are fully submerged and covered by about 1 inch of water.
- Heavily salt the water. Dont be tempted to skip this step, potatoes need a lot of salt to enhance their flavor!
- Bring the water to a rapid boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer the potatoes until fork-tender and nearly falling apart.
- Drain off the cooking liquid and return the potatoes to the hot pan.
- Place the drained potatoes back into the hot pan and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes, or until all of the water has evaporated.
- Using a hand-held potato masher, mash the potatoes until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the potatoes to a ricer and rice the potatoes over a large mixing bowl.
- Either in a small saucepan over low heat or in a heat-safe glass measuring cup, gently warm the milk and butter together until the butter is melted.
- Add the mixture to the mashed potatoes and fold into the potatoes until creamy.
- Fold the sour cream into the mashed potatoes. At this time, you can also opt to add in grated parmesan, fresh herbs, garlic powder, or roasted garlic to further season your mashed potatoes.
- Transfer the potatoes to a serving platter and top with additional butter if desired.
How many potatoes is enough for one person?
FAQ
How many potatoes should 1 person eat?
How many potatoes to cook for one person?
How many potatoes is one serving?
How many potatoes is good for 2 people?
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Number of people
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Pounds of potatoes
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2
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1 lb.
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4
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2 lb.
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6
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3 lb.
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8
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4 lb.
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How many potatoes do you need for 6 people?
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need about ⅓ to ½ pound of potatoes per person. So, if you’re cooking for 6 people, you’ll need about 2-3 pounds of potatoes. The number of potatoes you need will also depend on the size of the potatoes. If you’re using small potatoes, you’ll need more than if you’re using larger potatoes.
Should one have potatoes every day?
It depends, as it is a good source of carbohydrate. If the person is making a control in the consumption of carbohydrates, he should eat in moderation, that is, not somatising with other foods that are sources of carbohydrate. Like, macaroni and potatoes, ends up with a high load.
How many pounds of potatoes per person?
Use the guidelines below to determine how many pounds of potatoes per person you need for dinner. Potatoes can weigh anywhere from 1/10 pound to 1/2 pound, depending on their size. If you’re making mashed potatoes, figure you will need 1/3 to 1/2 pound of potatoes per person.
How many roasted potatoes per person?
On the other hand, if roasted potatoes are the main side dish, you’ll want to make sure you have enough for everyone. As a general rule, plan on 4 to 6 ounces of roasted potatoes per person for a side dish, and 8 to 12 ounces per person for a main dish. Another important factor to consider is the appetite of your guests.