How to Make Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes play an important part in many classic dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie, Sausages & Mash, and as a side dish for Roast Dinners. But this great comfort food is also an easily prepared accompaniment to many meats, fish and vegetables. Whether you like them light or creamy, flavoured or plain, buttery or smooth, we’re here to offer some tips on how to prepare the best homemade mashed potatoes you have ever tasted!

1. Choose The Right Potatoes

To make the best mashed potatoes with great texture and flavour, choosing the right potato is vital. Potatoes are generally divided into two types:

2. Boil The Potatoes

Once you’ve bought the potatoes, knowing how long to boil them for is essential for your mashed potato recipe to be a success. If boiled too long they will break apart. If left even slightly undercooked, the mash will end up with lumps. Ideally, you want them to become tender and soft.

Top Tip: The best way to tell when to stop boiling is to pierce the potato in its thickest part with a skewer. When cooked through, the potato will be soft in the centre.

3. Steam The Potatoes

Once cooked, you should drain the potatoes and then return them to the pan, covering them with a lid and allowing them to steam for at least five minutes. This will dry out the potatoes slightly and help them retain a texture that easily soaks up the milk and butter (or margarine) that you’ll add next.

4. Add Milk And Butter

Adding milk and butter (or margarine) to the potatoes makes the homemade mash potatoes rich and creamy and helps bind everything together.

Top Tip: To keep the temperature of the mash warm for serving, first heat (but do not boil) the milk and butter or margarine in a saucepan until it has melted. Then add this to the mash.

5. Use A Masher Or Ricer

Use a masher/ricer first then add the heated milk and butter. Now, use a masher or the back of a wooden spoon to mash the potatoes further. Combine the liquid, until you achieve the desired smooth consistency.

Top Tip: At this point you can stir in any extra spices or seasoning like Robertsons Barbeque Spice or Robertsons Masterblends Aromatic Roast Potato depending on your preference.

Best Recipes For Mash Potatoes

• Colcannon: add lightly cooked cabbage and a knob of butter for a classic Irish Colcannon.
• Spinach mash: add a couple of handfuls of chopped spinach right at the end.
• Garlic mash: for an extra punch, try adding some Robertsons garlic powder. This will infuse a deep, powerful taste to the creamy mash without any unpleasant garlic bits.
• Mustard mash: add wholegrain mustard to the mix.
• Spring onions: for added depth try spring onions. No need to cook, just chop finely and mix them through the hot mash.

Flavourful Mashed Potato Recipes Ideas

Here are a few of our favourite recipe ideas when it comes to mash:

• Try the combination of a Knorr Vegetable Stock Pot, spring onions, butter and some milk. This is a mashed potato recipe packed with flavour and the perfect accompaniment to your roast, grilled meats, or fish.
• Or add a tablespoon of butter and a few grinds of nutmeg and Robertsons Black Pepper.
• Another of our beloved mashed potato recipes is Cheese and Bacon Mashed Potatoes – a savoury, creamy treat. Simply add Knorr Cheese and Bacon Flavour Potato Bake, milk and butter to the potatoes, then finish off with chives, salt and pepper. An incredibly easy way to add a flavour twist to basic mashed potatoes.