Should you mash or rice the potatoes?
Most experts recommend ricing the cooked mealy potato through a food mill to achieve smooth and creamy mashed potatoes. A food mill is a hand-crank machine that forces the food through small holes in a sieve. If you don't have a food mill, you can make do with a colander, using the back of a large spoon or a smaller bowl with even pressure to push the potatoes through. It is more labor-intensive, but it will work.Waxy potatoes will still retain more texture, even when processed through the food mill. Most prefer to simply mash or smash waxy potatoes and enjoy the lumps of potato flavor. In either case, be sure the cooked potatoes have been completely drained of water. Return to the pot and heat, while gently stirring, to dry off any residual moisture before mashing or ricing.
More About Mashed Potatoes
• Choose the Right Potato for Mashed Potatoes• Should Potatoes Be Peeled for Mashers?
• Should potatoes be mashed or riced?
• How to Avoid Gummy Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Potato Cooking Tips and Hints
• Gold Potato Cooking Tips
• Mashed Potato Recipes
Smashed Potatoes Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.
