Note 1 – Which potatoes are best for mashed potatoes? Not all potatoes are made equal. An all-rounder, floury potato high in starch will produce the fluffiest, creamiest mash. Opt for desiree, Dutch cream or sebago in Australia, Yukon gold in the US or Maris Piper in the UK. It is not a complete deal breaker if you don’t use one of these varieties, but these will produce the best results. Regardless of your potato of choice, opt for small to medium potatoes as these will cook most consistently and allow you to peel the potatoes after cooking (larger potatoes would need to be peeled and quartered prior to cooking). 

Note 2 – Why is warm milk best for mashed potatoes? It’s much easier to incorporate the milk into the potatoes if it’s a similar temperature and it results in a smoother mashed potato. Place the milk in a microwave-safe mug and microwave it on High in 30-second intervals or warm it on the stovetop.

Note 3 – Ever wondered how restaurants get their mashed potatoes so smooth and creamy? They pass their mashed potatoes through a drum sieve (which can be time-consuming and fussy). You can get equally amazing results by using a fine potato masher (small holes = finer, smoother mashed potatoes) or, even better, a potato ricer, which I find to be the quickest and easiest method (you can even add the cooked unpeeled potatoes directly into the ricer if you don’t mind fragments of potato skin in your mashed potatoes). My preference is to NOT use a blender or food processor as this can result in too much starch being released and gluey/sticky potatoes.

Make ahead

Can I make mashed potatoes ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare your mashed potatoes ahead of time, ready for when you need them. Refrigerate for up to 3 days and freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Check out the full recipe for reheating instructions (you can reheat your mashed potatoes from frozen)! Reheat refrigerated mashed potatoes for 4 minutes and frozen mashed potatoes for 8 minutes or until piping hot. See the full recipe for exact details, or see below for instructions to reheat on the stovetop or in the oven.  

Leftovers

Refrigerate or freeze mashed potato leftovers as per the recipe and use them in another dish. Try my delicious, family-friendly Cottage Pie. Reheat refrigerated mashed potatoes for 4 minutes and frozen mashed potatoes for 8 minutes or until piping hot. 

• Reheating on the stovetop – Place the frozen mashed potatoes in a covered saucepan over low heat. To remove the mashed potatoes from the container, you may need to run it under hot running tap water for a 1 minute to loosen the edges and allow it to pop out easily. Add a splash of milk and stir frequently as the mash slowly thaws and heats through. This can take around 15–20 minutes, depending on the amount. Stir well to restore creaminess, adding more milk or butter if needed.
• Reheating in the oven – Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) (180°C/350°F fan-forced). Transfer the frozen mashed potatoes to an ovenproof dish, cover tightly with foil, then bake for 30–40 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking. Add a little milk or butter if needed before serving.