New Chef Mashed Potatoes Recipes

NEW CHEF MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Boil 1 gallon of water in a 2 gallon cooking pot, covered. Do not add salt.
• Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and then cut each in half. Rinse them and drop them into a bowl of cold tap water. (You should be using nice-sized potatoes, large enough to bake -- sized between medium and large).
• When the water begins a good rolling boil, drain the potatoes from the cool water and drop them into the pot. Cover the pot until it begins to re-boil, then remove the lid and reduce the heat until the potatoes are cooking at a low boil, uncovered.
• When the potatoes are "fork-tender," drain them in a colander and return them to the pot (no heat). Cut in the two sticks of butter, add the salt and pepper, and then begin mashing the potatoes with a hand masher. (Do not use a hand mixer -- this generates "whipped" potatoes which can be a bit gluey).
• When the potatoes are pretty well mashed, begin adding the milk, 1/4 cup at a time, and stir until the desired consistency is achieved. You may not end up using the entire cup, or, you may end up using a bit more -- potato moisture varies widely.
• If you get them too thin, just re-warm them over very low heat, stirring frequently, uncovered, until they stiffen back up.
• Serve hot.
• NOTE: As you choose, you can modify these mashed potatoes by adding sour cream, garlic salt (not too much!), Parmesan cheese, etc. Honestly, I like the basic recipe, with no additions, the best.

REALLY CREAMY POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a parchment-lined sheet pan, arrange the potatoes in an even layer. Bake the potatoes until tender, about 45 minutes. Let the potatoes cool slightly until able to be handled but still hot. Peel the potatoes.
• Add one potato at a time to a ricer and rice the potatoes into a pot. Add the warm cream to the potatoes and some pieces of butter. Whisk until smooth. Continue to add most of the remaining butter, whisking piece by piece, reserving 1 to 2 tablespoons to finish. Season the potatoes with salt.
• Fill a small Dutch oven with hot water to warm it up. Dump the water and transfer the potatoes to the pot. Top with the remaining butter and garnish with chives.

CHEF JOHN'S PERFECT MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot, and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and return the potatoes to the pot. Turn heat to high, and allow the potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat.
• Mash the potatoes with a potato masher twice around the pot, then add the butter and milk. Continue to mash until smooth and fluffy. Whisk in the salt and black pepper until evenly distributed, about 15 seconds.

MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Peel and quarter potatoes and keep in cold water until ready to cook. (This can be done up to 4 hours in advance.) Add potatoes to boiling water and boil about 15 to 20 minutes, until soft; a knife should go in with almost no resistance. (It is better to overcook than to undercook.)
• In a saucepan or a microwave oven, heat butter and milk together until butter melts and mixture steams. Drain potatoes well and return to pot. Shake them around in the hot pan or over very low heat for a minute (you want dry potatoes). Using an extruding masher or a ricer, mash hot potatoes until smooth, about 2 minutes. Lightly mix in about half of hot butter mixture, just until blended. Taste for salt and add more butter mixture until seasoned to your liking.
• Stop here for fluffy potatoes. For creamy potatoes, keep stirring potato mixture, using a sturdy spoon to press it against sides and bottom of pot. Mix until dense and thick. For whipped potatoes, use a stand mixer to mash hot potatoes just until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add all the butter mixture and salt to taste, pulsing machine in short bursts at medium speed. When light and creamy, stop mixing immediately. (Potatoes can quickly become sticky.)
• To keep hot until ready to serve, transfer to serving bowl, dot top with butter, cover tightly and keep in a warm place, like the back of the stove. Potatoes will stay hot for at least 30 minutes. To keep longer, place covered bowl in a pan holding about an inch of gently simmering water. Before serving, mix well.

CHEF JOHN'S ULTIMATE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into quarters. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and rinse to remove starch. Drain and transfer to a pot of cold water. Very generously salt the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft and the tip of a knife goes in easily, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, cut butter in chunks and let come to room temperature.
• Drain potatoes thoroughly and return to the pot. Set over medium-low heat and mash with a potato masher until potatoes. Season with salt and pepper and add ¼ of the softened butter chunks. Mash until butter just about disappears.
• Add another 1/4 of the butter and mix with a wire whisk until it just about disappears. Whisk in the remaining butter in 2 additions as before; potatoes will be light and creamy after all the butter has been mixed in.
• Whisk in hot milk until incorporated. Add cayenne and more salt if needed. Serve immediately.