Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of instant potatoes to water? ›

Then, prepare the potatoes: Bring 1¼ cups water to boil in a small saucepan. Once bubbling away, remove from heat, add 1 cup instant mashed potatoes (2 oz.), and gently fluff with a fork.

Swap Out the Water

In fact, when you mix the potato flakes with the warm broth, the result is a creamier, more buttery-tasting bowl of spuds. You can also swap milk or half-and-half for the water required.

Add a Thickening Agent

This is the most common way to thicken mashed potatoes. You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well.

Don't overmix the potatoes! For mashed potatoes that are smooth without being gummy, a potato ricer is your best bet.

How Long to Boil Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes. Peeled and quartered potatoes should be perfectly boiled after about 15-20 minutes. If you leave your potatoes whole, it will take a bit longer.

As already discussed, pastiness is caused by too much potato starch being worked into the mashed potatoes. The main way we combat this problem is by rinsing away starch, both before and after cooking potatoes for fluffy mashed potatoes. Rinsing off starch means that there is less of it that can end up in the dish.

Too much liquid: This is the most common reason. In the mashing process you may have added too much milk or broth. Boiled too long: Boiling your potatoes for too long can make them water-logged, which (you guessed it) can contribute to runny mashed potatoes.

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing. Overworking the potatoes can happen in a couple ways: either by simply handling them too much, or by using a food processor, blender, or similar tool, which mixes the potatoes too aggressively.

Once there is too much starch in your mashed potato mixture, the texture will quickly turn from fluffy to gummy.

How to spice up instant mashed potatoes? ›

Use truffle or smoked salt. Spice options run the gamut, too: A few dashes of chile powder, onion powder, turmeric or paprika can all turn humdrum instant potatoes into a “wow” side dish.

When making more than one package at a time, add the appropriate amount of ingredients that are called for on the package (ie. If you were making two packages of Idahoan Scalloped Homestyle Casserole you would add 3 cups of water 1-½ cups of milk, 3 Tbsp. of margarine or butter and two packages of potatoes.

Prep Instructions

Add cold water to fill-line in cup. Stir thoroughly to moisten all potatoes. Microwave uncovered on HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes.

You can slightly improve the taste by adding seasoning like a pinch of salt or nutmeg, chopped herbs like chives, a knob of butter, a spoonful or two of crème fraîche or sour cream, use half milk instead of all-water, or maybe some grated cheese depending on the dish, but the texture still won't compare to homemade ...