Sometimes on a chilly spring night, all you want is a bowl of your grandma’s mashed potatoes and we all know the boxed kind won’t do. Whipping up a batch of mashed potatoes is a lot easier than you think, and can be done in fewer than 20 minutes.
Step 1
Photo by Bernard Wen
Start a pot of boiling water. Cut potatoes into smaller pieces, leaving the skin on.
Step 2
Photo by Bernard Wen
Boil potatoes until tender. The boiling time will vary depending on the size of the potato chunks and the type of pot you use, so just test them every five minutes or so. When they’ve cooked, drain the water, and return potatoes to the pot.
Step 3
Photo by Bernard Wen
This is where it starts to get fun. Mash the potatoes using a fork. Go ahead and imagine that awful TA’s face in there — mash away. If you’re someone who favors lumpy potatoes, don’t be too aggressive with your mashing.
Step 5
Photo by Bernard Wen
Add butter, milk and salt. The amount is really up to you here, so start with a about a tablespoon of each and taste as you go. Don’t be afraid to add salt and butter liberally; the potatoes will soak up those flavors quickly. It might seem like you’re putting a whole container of salt in there, but trust your taste buds. The milk is more for texture than flavor, so if you like creamier potatoes add more, and if you like stickier ones, hold back.