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A bowl of mashed potatoes with two tablespoons of butter, drizzled with more melted butter and sprinkled with parsley.

Basic Mashed Potatoes

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  • Author: Diana
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 side servings 1x
  • Category: Potatoes, Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This recipe for making basic mashed potatoes will give you a delicious, classic side dish. You can make it in less than 40 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 34 large russet potatoes (about 2 lbs)
  • Water (enough to cover the potatoes)
  • ½ stick of butter (4 tbsp or 56.5 g) softened or at room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 ml) hot whole milk, heavy cream, or half and half
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Peel and cut the potatoes into 1-inch (2.54 cm) cubes and place them in a pot large enough to cook them. Cover them with water, season with salt to taste, cover the pot, and bring them to a boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat and cook at a low simmer (low to medium-low) for about 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and you can easily pierce them with a knife. Turn off the heat.
  2. Drain the cooked potatoes well and put them back in the pot. Place the pot back on the hot burner (turned off) so the remaining heat evaporates any leftover liquid.
  3. Once they are dry, you can start mashing them with a potato masher. Add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, while you continue to mash. Now, add the hot milk and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste and finally fluff them with a spatula or a whisk before serving.

Notes

  • You can keep the mashed potatoes warm in the oven set to its lowest setting or in a slow cooker set to warm.
  • Store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.