We Love Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the best part of any holiday meal and the perfect side with almost anything! They go especially well with sauces, gravy or things like Salisbury steak, beef tips, or Swiss steak.
- Below Ive shared my favorite tips and tricks for creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes each and every time.
- They are so buttery and creamy, nobody can resist !
- Mashed potatoes are great on their own and of course, served with turkey and gravy, holiday meals or just as good ol comfort food.
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Can You Make Them Ahead Of Time
You definitely can make these ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To heat them up, you can use either the microwave or on the stove top on low. When you reheat them, you should add a little bit of milk to help keep them fluffy and prevent them from being too dry. Start with a ¼ cup of milk and add more as they begin to dry.
You can also warm them up in the slow cooker or your Instant Pot, both are a great option if youre cooking a big dinner and want to get the potatoes out of the way early.
Slow cooker Take your potatoes out of the refrigerator and put them in the slow cooker, and set it to low. Once they are warmed through, set your slow cooker to warm and let them sit until you are ready to eat them.
Instant Pot Take your potatoes out of the refrigerator and put them in the Instant Pot and press the Keep Warm function.
Both methods will reheat them very slowly over low heat so youll need to give them at least an hour probably closer to two hours. As they reheat, make sure to stir them every 30 minutes so they dont overcook on the bottom. If they begin to dry out some, add a little milk until they reach your preferred consistency.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes:
Making mashed potatoes in the instant pot starts out just a simple and easy as if you were making mashed potatoes on the stove like my reader favorite Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
You’ll start out with three pounds of potatoes. This is about 6 medium potatoes total. Go ahead and peel them. I haven’t tried this recipe leaving the skin on the potatoes because we prefer ours without skin.
Next, simply slice the potatoes into large rounds. For me, this came out to about 4-5 round slices per potato. There is no reason to spend time cutting them into cubes. You’ll then cover them completely in water which will be about 4-5 cups depending on what size of instant pot you’re using. The picture below shows the potato rounds in my 8 quart instant pot.
After the potatoes are covered in the water you will add ½ teaspoon of salt. This is just enough salt to flavor the potatoes while they cook without being overwhelming.
Then, that’s it for now! Go ahead and place the lid on your instant pot. Set the valve to sealed and cook on manual for 8 minutes. Keep in mind that it will take about 8-10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
Once the timer goes off you can quick release the pressure from your pot. You will need to drain the potatoes and then return them to the instant pot with the power off.
You can mash these up with a standard potato masher if you wish. Or, you can mash then whip them with a hand-held mixer which is what I love to do!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
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Best Potatoes For Making Mashed Potatoes
You can make this recipe with Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoesthey have the same cook time in the pressure cooker.
Russet potatoes have a high starch content and make fluffy, wonderful mashed potatoes. The official Idaho Potato page recommends Idaho Russet Burbank potatoes.
Yukon golds are said to have a more buttery flavor than white potatoes like russets. Theyre not quite as fluffy.
Lately, when I cook mashed potatoes, I like to use a mix of russets and Yukon golds to get the best of both worldsflavor from the Yukon and fluffiness from the russets.
Reasons To Love These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
There are so many! Here are the ones that make me jump up and down:
- You can use russet potatoes or yukon potatoes .
- You can peel your potatoes, or leave the peels.
- Its ready to go in 30 minutes with very little fuss.
- It has amazing garlic herb flavor.
- But also, you can pick the herbs you like, and you can decide how much garlic, and basically its a choose your own adventure.
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Can You Keep Mashed Potatoes Warm In The Instant Pot
Keeping your mashed potatoes warm in the Instant Pot is easy! If you simply keep the mashed potatoes on Keep Warm on Low, you can have beautifully warmed mashed potatoes for up to four hours.
Make sure that your Keep Warm is set to low, or you will end up with burned mashed potatoes on the bottom.
If you like this post, you should also check out these other recipes on my blog:
Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potato Recipe
When it comes to Thanksgiving and holiday side dishes, creamy mashed potatoes are always a popular choice but did you know you can make mashed potatoes in your instant pot?
These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes come together easily in the pressure cooker in under 30 minutes. Russet potatoes are cooked to tender perfection. Use a potato masher to combine them with vegan butter, vegan sour cream, garlic and fresh herbs.
Creamy mashed potatoes are my sons favorite side dish and we love that instant pot mashed potatoes come out creamy, delicious and dont require boiling a big pot of water so you can even enjoy this comforting side dish on a busy weeknight. Dont have an instant pot? Check out my slow cooker mashed potatoes or sweet potato mash recipes.
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How To Make Mashed Potatoes In The Slow Cooker
How Do You Prepare Mashed Potatoes Ahead Of Time
If you are preparing food for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another large family gathering, prepare these ahead of time!
To make the potatoes in advance, prepare the potatoes up to 2 days before serving and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them by adding them to a slow cooker on low. It may be necessary to add a splash of milk and butter to smooth them out.
Prepare the potatoes up to two days before cooking: Peel and quarter the potatoes, then store in a large bowl or pot, covered in water. Leave them in water for no longer than 24 hours to avoid water-logging the potatoes.
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How Many Potatoes Can You Cook In The Instant Pot
Ive cooked up to 6 pounds of potatoes in my 6-quart Instant Pot with no problems. I think I could have even squeezed a few more in there, but its important to be aware of your machines max fill line, to make sure that you dont over-fill your pressure cooker.
I imagine that you could fit 8 pounds of potatoes into an 8-quart Instant Pot, if you really need to feed a crowd, but Id love to hear from you in the comments if you give it a try. Ive never had to cook that many!
More Instant Pot Side Dishes
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
I would love to hear how much you enjoyed this simple method for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. Please share a comment and review below.
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How To Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
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More Mashed Potato Favorites
Instructions
- Fill Instant Pot pot with 1 inch of water in the bottom, maximum 1 ½ cups water.
- Peel and chop the russet potatoes.
- Place potatoes in Instant Pot.
- Add salt, put the lid on top of the Instant Pot, and turn to close the lid.
- Set the valve to sealing.
- Press the MANUAL button. Press the +/- button to set to 12 minutes.
- Let the IP do its job. It will take a little while for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. At which time it will start counting down.
- When it counts to zero, it should beep. At this time, turn the valve/ vent to Venting. Immediately turn the steam release handle back to the Sealing position at the first sign of spattering. Quick Release should ALWAYS be closely attended.
- Once the pressure cooker has vented, open it, and add the milk and butter, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
- Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes right in the pot.
Nutrition Information
Why do people love the Instant Pot so much?
Speed. The Instant Pot is about cooking food faster than it would be using other methods.
Thats the power of pressure. Its ability to increase the boiling point of water, cooking food faster.
Think of anything you boil. Would it be better to do in the Instant Pot? Lets explore one food today that is often boiled potatoes. And why are they boiled? Well for mashed potatoes of course.
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot
+ Holiday Side Dish Recipes
This holiday season be sure to check out our sides guide for all the recipes PLUS tips and tricks for entertaining.
What potatoes are best for mashed potatoes?
For classic mashed potatoes, I like to use Yukon Gold. They have a great texture when cooked and mashed, and get nice and creamy. Russet potatoes are another good option.
Can I make these mashed potatoes ahead of time?
This is a quick recipe, so its easy to make when youre ready to serve them. But you certainly can make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. Just reheat to serve!
How can I prevent mashed potatoes from drying out?
If your potatoes get dry before serving, add a splash of half an half and stir. Keeping them warm will also help prevent drying out.
What should I use to mash potatoes?
Use a potato masher, ricer, or electric hand mixer to mash the potatoes after theyve cooked.
Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes
Freezing potatoes is usually not a good idea. It changes the texture. But, the exception is mashed potatoes. You can successfully freeze mashed potatoes for up to 10 months. Just make sure they have been smashed with butter and milk so that there is enough fat in them to keep the texture from becoming weird. To freeze them, put them in an airtight Ziploc bag and get as much air out as possible.
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Melt Butter & Add Milk
*Pro Tip: If its for special occasions, we strongly recommend using ¾ lb 1 lb unsalted butter. It simply tastes super amazing!
First, switch Instant Pot to Slow Cook Less Mode.
Add half of the room temperature unsalted butter and melt it into the potatoes by stirring gently with a silicone spatula. Add in the remaining unsalted butter and repeat this step.
Then, change the Instant Pot to Keep Warm Mode.
Pour hot milk on the mashed potatoes and gently stir it in. Then, allow the potatoes to absorb the milk.
Finally, season mashed potatoes with kosher salt and taste to adjust until desired saltiness.
*Reference: We used approx 4 pinches of coarse kosher salt.
Now, serve these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes immediately as a main side dish.
*Pro Tip: It can stay in the Keep Warm Mode for roughly an hour. If the butter starts to separate from the mashed potatoes after an hour, gently stir it back together with a silicone spatula.
We simply couldnt stop eating these Mashed Potatoes! Be prepared to be obsessed.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to classic comfort food, nothing beats a bowl of mashed potatoes! Theyre the ultimate side dish, and lets be honest, it wouldnt be Thanksgiving without them. Stovetop space can be limited during the holidays, so make some much-needed room on yours by turning to your Instant Pot. With this quick and easy guide, youre only 30 minutes out from the creamiest mashed potatoes you can imagine. Read on for our top tips on how to get the perfect results every time.
Choose the right spud
For classic mashed potatoes, our go-to is the russet. They’re low in moisture and super starchy so, once mashed, they absorb all of that dairy like a charm. You could use Yukon Gold here, which is only a bit waxy, just dont use a very waxy potato like Red Bliss. Youll end up with a gummy mash. If you like the skins on in your mashed potatoes, we recommend only peeling half of the potatoes. Yukon Gold works best!
Salt that water!
Just like pasta, potatoes need to be cooked in salted water, so they are seasoned from the inside out as they cook. Add a healthy pinch to your water before putting the lid on that pressure cooker. If youre concerned about your sodium intake, no need to fear the potatoes dont actually absorb all the salt you add to the water, and by cooking them in salted water, youll need to add less actual salt to them in the end!
Ensure even cooking
Do the mash
Heat your dairy
Finish with more flavor!
sour cream
Freshly ground black pepper
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What Is The Best Potato For Mashed Potatoes
I use Russet potatoes in this recipe, which in my opinion, is the best potato for mashed potatoes. You can also use Yukon Gold potatoes with good results. I wouldnt recommend using other varieties of potatoes like red potatoes because they are waxier and can turn pasty when mashed.
Instant Pot mashed potatoes are the perfect addition to any holiday meal, primarily because they dont take up any oven or stove top space, leaving you plenty of room to make your turkey, sides and desserts. These potatoes are on our table every Thanksgiving and they always get rave reviews!
Tips For The Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Making mashed potatoes has never been quicker or easier than these Instant Pot mashed potatoes. Here are a few tips to make these mashed potatoes even better:
- You can add 1 or 2 teaspoons of garlic powder to your mashed potatoes for an extra bit of flavor.
- If your potatoes look too watery after cooking in the Instant Pot, drain a few tablespoons of the liquid.
- Do we have to peel the potatoes? We found that keeping the potatoes skin on adds texture to the dish. But feel free to peel them!
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Tricks For Smooth And Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Use the right mashing tool For perfect, lump free mashed potatoes, I highly recommend using a ricer or a food mill instead of a traditional masher.
If youre in a hurry, you can use your KitchenAid mixer. But you need to be really carefuloverwhipping your potatoes can make them gluey and youll still be likely to have some lumps.
Butter first. Another tip is to stir in the room temperature butter before adding the warm liquids to the mashed potatoes.
When Im in a hurry, Ill warm the butter and milk together. However, if you add room temperature butter and stir them in before adding warm liquid, . This will prevent the mashed potatoes from absorbing as much liquid so theyll stay dry and fluffy.
How To Reheat Mashed Potatoes In The Instant Pot
If you want to use your pressure cooker to reheat mashed potatoes, add a 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the pot and press the Sauté button to heat up the bottom. Break up the cold mashed potatoes into chunks, so that they will reheat faster, then mash them and stir frequently, until they start to warm up. Stir frequently until heated through, adding more liquid as needed.
This is the only way Im making mashed potatoes from now on.
I love how it doesnt take up any stove top space for a big holiday meal, and how it makes mashed potatoes a more accessible side dish for any time of the year!
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