Do you love mashed potato? If you do, there is one must-have when it comes to the kitchen essentials – the best potato masher. The latter will make it easy to mash boiled potatoes and to achieve the texture that is desired. With its unique design, it can make your lives easier in more ways than one.
Early in the early 1840s, there is already a potato masher, but it exists in a different design. It is made only from a piece of wood. Through the years, it has evolved and were incorporated with different features. Choosing the best one can be an overwhelming task, but with this guide, you will earn insights on how to make the right decision.
What is a Potato Masher?
In its simplest sense, a potato masher refers to a food preparation equipment
While we all know potato masher as an equipment that is used for mashed potatoes, Food Network suggests some of the clever ways to use it, such as for egg salad, chopped walnuts, broccoli soup, crumbled feta, cookie crumbs, and mashed broccoli, among others.
It should never be confused with a potato ricer, although they have some similarities in terms of their functions. While mashers are great, they leave lumps on potatoes, which result to a unique texture. If you want the mashed potato to be free from lumps, a potato ricer is what you should have instead.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Potato Masher
Can’t decide on what potato masher to purchase? To help you narrow down the choices, below are some factors you must consider:
- Feedbacks: The first thing that you can do is to go online and read the reviews shared by other people. You can also ask around from people you personally know. The insights that they will share can be a good starting point in the evaluation of the possibilities.
- Size: Generally speaking, the larger the potato masher is, the more potatoes it can mash within a given time. With this, consider the extent of use that you anticipate to easily decide about the right size.
- Plate: Also referred to as the head, this is the one that gets in direct contact with the potato. It is better if it is larger, which can help to significantly speed up the job. Perforated plates are preferred over the zigzag design. The latter allows you to work with minimal effort on your end.
- Handle: The design of the handle is equally important as the design of the head. It should be ergonomic, which means that using it will minimize fatigue. It should also be shaped in such a way that it will not easily slip, especially with the application of heavy pressure.
- Material: This is an important consideration because it will have an effect on the quality and performance of the potato masher. Stainless steel is the most popular material. Make sure that it is not going to rust and that it will withstand wear and tear.
- Comfort: If the potato masher often leads to discomfort, you will probably not like using it and it will only go to waste. From the design of the handle to the overall weight of the masher, pay attention to features that will make sure of your comfort. It should have a non-slip handle as well.
- Ease of Cleaning: You should also choose a potato masher that will be a snap to clean and maintain. This means that it will be easy for you to keep it in its tip-top condition, even after many years of use.
Making the Best Mashed Potato
Yes, it will help if you have the best potato masher. Nonetheless, even if you have a topnotch product, this will never suffice. With this, here are some tips that will help you to prepare mashed potato that will surely be well-loved by everyone:
- Using the right type of potato is one of the most important. Avoid fingerling and Red Bliss as they tend to be waxy. They have low levels of starch, which means that they won’t absorb dairy, and hence, achieving the desired consistency can be difficult.
- Another important thing to do is to pay attention to the water. Salting will help the potato to absorb a little more flavor, and hence, it will not turn out bland. Do not also start cooking the potatoes in hot water as this can lead to inconsistency.
- Choose the right flavorings. It is not enough that you add salt to the water. For sure, you want it to be tastier. With this, some of the most common choices are butter and hot cream. They can also improve the consistency of your mashed potato and not just its taste.
- There is technique that will make sure it will end up fluffy. After the potato is drained, place the potatoes in a pot and do not cover it. Under medium-low heat, cook it again but do this only for a few minutes. Shake the pot and wait for moisture to evaporate. After this, you can now start mashing.
- As much as possible, serve the mashed potato while it is hot. Like in the case of others, the longer it is left sitting, the higher is the possibility that they will end up gummy. When reheating, it is also important to choose the right method to ensure that it gets warm while retaining its texture.
Below is a quick recipe that will teach you how to make the perfect mashed potato:
Top Picks for the Best Potato Masher
If you are still having a hard time reaching a decision, here are the best products you might want to consider. We’ll briefly tackle not only their features, but also their pros and cons, making it easier to evaluate each product.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 05:07 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Innovative Design – This potato smasher is simple in style but highly innovative in its design. Broad mashing plate and strong grip handle allows easy mashing of potatoes under gentle pressure without any extra effort
- Extremely Easy for Use – Unlike traditional potato mashers which come with vertical grips, this innovative potato masher is highly convenient for use thanks to its broad horizontal grip which makes applying pressure absolutely effortless
- Easy for Cleaning – Stainless steel mashing plate and solid rubber handle of the potato masher are extremely easy for cleaning under tap water or mildly hot water.
- No Electricity, No Gas – Now you can mash potatoes, and all vegetables in kitchen or on the outdoors without using a mixer. Take it with you wherever you go and do the kitchen work without having electricity or gas saving on time, money and energy.
- Satisfaction Guaranteed – Hundreds and thousands of happy customers around the world is proof for ultimate satisfaction over this kitchen tool. It does what it says and delivers best results while making potato mashing fun and effortless
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 15:16 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Mashing Potatoes Made Easy - Don’t you wish you can create perfectly smooth and fluffy mash potato with less effort? With our PriorityChef ricer masher kitchen tool, you can achieve a creamy, heavenly dish quickly and conveniently. Simply squeeze on the long hanldes of our potato press for perfect mash.
- Large Deep Basket For Quicker Ricing - Holding a max capacity of 15oz, you will have your mashed potatoes prepared quicker than using other brands. You can also use it for other veggies like soft carrots, turnips, yams and even use a baby food masher
- Anti-Slip, Cushioned Long Handles For Easy Leverage - Our potato ricer's long easy-grip silicone handles allows comfortable leverage while you mash, rice, and mill. No more sore or tired arms just perfect results, everytime.
- Easy Clean Up - Top Rack Dishwasher Safe - Crafted from 100% rust-proof, high-quality materials, the PriorityChef potato ricer is resistant to stains, corrosion, and deformation. And with its non-stick material, the spuds will simply slide off. Any food residue is easily rinsed off with running water. It’s easy to use and easy to clean!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 18:16 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Great for mashing potatoes, root vegetables and fruit
- Sturdy, stainless steel wire head
- Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle absorbs pressure
- Dishwasher safe
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 17:07 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- MAKES FOOD PREP A BREEZE: Cooking at home should be easy and mess-free. With the Moskus Gear multifunctional potatoes masher, you’ll waste no time handling multiple kitchen utensils or dealing with unsightly food residues on your kitchen counter, in your efforts to cook a simple, healthful meal for your family!
- GREAT FOR ALL TYPES OF FOOD: Perfect for potatoes and yams, our multifunctional kitchen tool is a foolproof choice for mashing turnips, parsnips, bananas, as well as pumpkin, squash, beans and other soft-cooked food. Ideal for pulping and mixing soft fruit, like bananas, kiwis and more, you can also use our mashers to beat or fold eggs into your baking mixes !
- STURDY, NYLON CONSTRUCTION: Made from heavy duty nylon, it maintains its flawless shape, even after years of daily use and handling! Its contemporary design, black grid and red rubber handle make for a perfect addition to your kitchen utensils collection, perfectly complementing your kitchen’s décor theme!
- LONG, ERGONOMIC HANDLE: With its sleek, red rubber handle contours around your palm’s natural curvature, absorbing shock and making it easy to mash any ingredient, using minimal pressure. Slightly raised at the bottom, the handle reduces friction and maximizes handling efficiency! Great for anyone suffering from arthritis or pain stemming from hand or forearm injuries, this makes a great gift to anyone in need of reliable cooking utensils.
- DISHWASHER SAFE: Exceptionally easy to clean, you can either rinse it with some warm, soapy water or add it to your next dishwasher load and allow it air-dry, for a hassle-free cleanup. Thanks to its seamless design, it maintains minimal moisture, inhibiting bacterial formation while it also remains odor-free!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 05:07 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- RUST RESISTANT: The head is crafted from thick, stainless steel wire which is durable and will not rust
- ERGONOMIC HANDLE FOR COMFORT: The handle is well balanced and ergonomically designed for comfort and smooth operation under heavy use; features an integrated loop in the handle for hanging storage
- IDEAL FOR MASHING VEGETABLES: Perfect for mashing root vegetables, avocadoes, apples, and nuts
- MEASUREMENTS: This masher measures at approximately 14 3/4 inches long
- DISHWASHER SAFE: This potato masher is dishwasher safe; making clean up quick and easy. A Lifetime Limited Warranty is also included with purchase
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2021-09-25 at 05:07 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
In sum, the best potato masher will surely be a great addition for your kitchen. While it is mostly used for mashed potatoes, it has multiple other applications, such as when crumbling cheese and mashing broccoli. With its innovative design, it can make tasks in the kitchen a lot easier.
From the options we have briefly tackled above, one that I personally believe is better than all others is KUKPO Stainless Steel Potato Masher. The latter is an affordable product made from stainless steel. It has an innovative design that will allow you to do more in less time and without exerting too much effort.
