Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe, What's Cooking America (2024)

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Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

• 15Medium(5 pounds) potatoespeeled and quartered
• 8ouncescream cheeseroom temperature
• 1Cupsour cream
• 2Teaspoonsonion powder
• Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
• 2egg whitesslightly beaten
• 4Tablespoonsbutter
• 1/3Cupchopped chivesoptional

1. Preparing Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes:

2. Spray a large casserole dish with vegetable-oil cooking spray.

3. In a large pot, add cut-up potatoes and just enough cold water until potatoes are covered; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and let simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Potatoes are done when theinternal temperatureregisters approximately 200 degrees F. on yourcooking thermometer. Overcooking can cause the potatoes to become gummy.

4. This is the type of cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking.I get many readers asking what cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use theThermapen Thermometershown in the photo on the right. To learn more about this excellent thermometer and to also purchase one (if you desire), just click on the underlined:Thermapen Thermometer.

5. Remove from heat and immediately drain potatoes thoroughly in a colander. Return to saucepan; heat over medium-low heat approximately 1 to 2 minutes to dry potatoes, stirring occasionally. NOTE: Boiled potatoes left in water will start to jellify and may even increase in volume (becoming swollen and watery). That is why it is important to let the potatoes drain for a couple of minutes in a colander immediately after they are cooked.

6. In the same cooking pan, mash potatoes with a potato masher or potato ricer until there are no lumps. NEVER use a blender, electric mixer, or food processor to make mashed potatoes.

7. Gluey or gooey mashed potatoes are caused by vigorous over mashing, as anyone who has tried to make the side dish in a food processor can attest. When potatoes are boiled, their starch granules swell. If those granules are broken too vigorously, the cells release copious quantities of starch, resulting in a potatoes with the consistency of wallpaper paste.

8. I personally use a potato ricer when making mashed potatoes. Using a potato ricer, you can make velvety smooth mashed potatoes right at home because potatoes come out fluffy without being gummy. Once you use the potato rice, you will never go back to the old traditional potato masher.

9. Add cream cheese, sour cream, onion powder, salt, pepper, egg whites, and chopped chives (if desired); blend well. Dot with butter.

10. Cool mashed potatoes slightly, cover, and then refrigerate.

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11. The prepared mashed potatoes may be made up to a week ahead of time. If preparing ahead, place in an ovenproof baking dish, allow to cool slightly, cover, and refrigerate.

12. 
    When ready to heat the potatoes:

13. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

14. Take potatoes out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

15. Bake, loosely covered, 40 minutes or until steaming hot in center.

17. Crock Pot - Slow Cooker Make-Ahead Mashed Potato Recipe:
    

18. I, personally, like and use this crock pot/slow cooker version, as it frees up my oven for other dishes when making my holiday meals. Heating the prepared mashed potatoes in the crock-pot is a great way to keep the oven freed up for the other dishes.

19. Take the prepared mashed potatoes out of refrigerator about 3 1/2 hours before serving time. See Preparing Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes above. Place the mashed potatoes in the crock-pot/slow cooker. Cover and use low heat for approximately 3 hours, stirring once or twice.

20. When you are ready to serve the mashedpotatoes, stir, and then add some additional dollops of butter.

22. Leftover Mashed Potatoes:

23. If you have any leftover mashed potatoes, place them in a re-sealable plastic bag and freeze.

24. Makes 12 to 15 servings.