If you love good, old fashioned mashed potatoes this is the perfect recipe. Simple and delicious.

Basic Mashed Potatoes

baking potatoes,

butter

milk

salt and pepper

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.  Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes; drain.


In a small saucepan heat butter and milk over low heat until butter is melted.  Using a potato masher or electric beater, slowly blend milk mixture into potatoes until smooth and creamy.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.


I have been making mashed potatoes like this for over 50 years...and it's the way MY mother made them.  For this recipe to be a success, you have to know a little about potatoes.  Notice the recipe called for BAKING potatoes.  Red ones will be gummy.  Yukon Golds make GOOD mashed potatoes. Start them off in COLD water so everything will reach boiling at the same time.  When they are tender, drain them in a colandar and let them STEAM.  The more steam is gone, the more the potatoes will absorb the milk.  (No problem with 'soupy' potatoes here...you even MAY have to add more milk than the recipe calls for.  While the potatoes are steaming, heat the butter and milk in the same pot you cooked the potatoes in.  (Why wash another pan?) Add the steamed potatoes and mash and season.  (I've had my share of 'gummy' and 'soupy' mashed potatoe in my time :)  Oh! And if this is for a special occasion...use cream instead of milk.  Over the top!!!

Perfect mashed potatoes.  Heating the milk and butter is a must, I didn't realize what a difference it would make, my potatoes were not gummy and they stayed hot longer.

Great recipe for "good old fashioned" mashed potatoes! It's straight forward and just plain delicious. The perfect mashed potato for your favorite gravy! I always heat up my milk in the microwave and add it to the potatoes (sometimes use half n half to make them creamier). You just can't go wrong with this classic recipe for comfort food!

Take about 8 cloves of raw garlic and throw them into the water with the potatos and let them cook together. They will be soft and mash easily.  TO DIE FOR

This recipe is not bad but I added all the milk in and the mash potato became too runny (like soup). I'll say not to add all the milk this recipe suggested. Just add a little milk a time until u think it's the texture u want and that's it. Then maybe u'll love it. ^-^.

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best! Smash the potatoes to mostly lump-free before adding the butter and milk. One thing I suggest doing differently is to add the butter to the potatoes first, then add heated milk as needed. That way you get all of the butter in the mashed potatoes and can add just the right amount of milk for the correct texture.

There isn't enough butter in these mashed potatoes, you should have a least a stick of butter.  I make mashed potatoes all the time and everyone just loves my potatoes.

Great basic recipe.  If you're watching your calories etc, try substituting the potatoes starchy cooking water for most of the milk.  After that, only a quick splash of milk is needed.

I have been looking for a recipe for good, old fashioned, mashed potatoes like mom used to make. This is it. Thanks!

See how to make good old-fashioned mashed potatoes.

basic mashed potatoes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Cost: $3.61 /serving

Author : Esmee Williams

Ingredients

Instructions

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