Air-Frying Mashed Potatoes: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a convenient way to make mashed potatoes. They are easy and affordable, and can be made all year round. The dish is also incredibly fast to make and full of tasty, savoury flavours. The process is simple: first, air fry the potatoes wrapped in foil; second, mash the potatoes; and finally, add the other ingredients, such as butter, milk, and cheese. The result is a delicious, creamy, and fluffy side that goes well with barbecue food and gravy.

How to make mashed potatoes in an air fryer

Making mashed potatoes in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to create a tasty side dish. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes (baby, new, red, russet, golden, or Yukon Gold)
• Butter (unsalted or salted)
• Milk or heavy cream
• Spices and seasonings (e.g. garlic powder, salt, black pepper, chives)
• Olive oil

Optional Ingredients:

• Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella)
• Bacon bits
• Sour cream
• Cream cheese

Method:

Step 1: Prepare the Potatoes

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F. While the air fryer heats up, prepare your potatoes by coating them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also pierce each potato with a fork a few times. This step is especially important if you are using larger potatoes, as it will help them cook evenly.

Step 2: Assemble Foil Packets

Divide the seasoned potatoes in half and wrap each half in foil, creating an airtight sealed packet. This step ensures that the potatoes cook through without drying out.

Step 3: Cook the Potatoes

Place the foil packets into the preheated air fryer and set the timer for 25 minutes. After the time is up, check if the potatoes are fork-tender. If not, wrap them back up and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until they are fully cooked.

Step 4: Mash the Potatoes

Once the potatoes are cooked, it's time to mash them. Add the butter and milk to a bowl, and then mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy. You can use a potato masher or ricer for best results. Adjust the seasonings to taste.

Step 5: Mix in Extras (Optional)

If you want to add cheese, bacon bits, or other extras, now is the time to do so. Mix them into the mashed potatoes until combined.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Your creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes are now ready to be served! This method is perfect for busy weeknights or holiday meals, as it frees up oven space. Enjoy your delicious side dish!

Tips for making mashed potatoes in an air fryer

Making mashed potatoes in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and tasty way to prepare this classic side dish. Here are some tips to help you achieve perfect results:

Choose the Right Potato Variety

When making mashed potatoes in an air fryer, it's best to use smaller potatoes, such as baby potatoes, new potatoes, or early potatoes. These varieties cook faster and have a more tender and creamy texture. Russet potatoes are also a good option due to their high starch content and creamy texture. Other options include Yukon Gold and Idaho Russets.

Season Generously

Don't be shy with the seasonings! A generous amount of salt, pepper, and other spices will enhance the flavor of your mashed potatoes. Be sure to taste the potatoes before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Prepare the Potatoes

To prepare the potatoes for the air fryer, chop them into small pieces and toss them with a small amount of olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. This will ensure that the potatoes cook evenly and have a crispy skin while remaining moist and tender on the inside.

Create Airtight Foil Packets

Divide the seasoned potatoes into halves or smaller portions and wrap them tightly in foil, creating airtight sealed packets. This helps trap the heat and ensures even cooking. Place these foil packets directly into the preheated air fryer basket.

Cook at the Right Temperature and Time

Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the potatoes for 25 minutes. After this time, check the potatoes for doneness by piercing them with a fork. If they are not fork-tender, cook them for an additional 5 minutes or until fully cooked. Avoid overcooking, as this can make the potatoes too mushy.

Add Butter and Cream

Once the potatoes are cooked, it's time to mash them! Place the cooked potatoes in a bowl and add butter and milk or cream. Mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy, adjusting the amount of milk or cream to achieve your desired consistency. You can also add in sour cream for extra flavor and creaminess.

Mix in Flavor Enhancers

To take your mashed potatoes to the next level, consider adding flavor enhancers such as minced garlic, chopped chives, or other fresh herbs. You can also add in a bit of cream cheese for a tangy and thick twist. If you're a cheese lover, mix in some shredded cheddar cheese for cheesy mashed potatoes.

Make it Vegan

If you're following a vegan diet or simply want a dairy-free option, you can easily adapt this recipe. Substitute dairy milk with almond, soy, or oat milk, and use vegan butter instead. You can also get creative with plant-based cream cheese and cheese alternatives.

Reheat and Store Properly

If you have leftover mashed potatoes, you can easily reheat them in the air fryer or oven. Place them in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and heat at 350°F for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. To store mashed potatoes, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.

Reheating mashed potatoes in an air fryer

Preparing the Mashed Potatoes

Before reheating, ensure you have prepared your mashed potatoes. You can use your favourite recipe or even use leftover mashed potatoes. If you're starting from scratch, here's a simple method:

• Wash and scrub the potatoes to remove any dirt. You can peel them if you prefer, but it's not necessary.
• Cut the potatoes into evenly sized chunks. Baby potatoes or smaller potatoes are ideal as they cook faster and more evenly.
• Drizzle olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the potatoes. Toss them to ensure an even coating.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Wrap the seasoned potatoes in foil, creating an airtight packet. Poke a few holes in the foil with a fork to allow steam to escape.
• Place the foil packet in the preheated air fryer and set the timer for 25 minutes.
• Check the potatoes after 25 minutes by piercing them with a fork. If they are not fork-tender, cook for an additional 5 minutes or until done.
• Once cooked, remove the potatoes from the air fryer and let them cool slightly.
• Use a potato masher or ricer to mash the potatoes. You can also remove the skins at this point if desired.
• In a separate saucepan, heat butter, milk, or cream, and your choice of seasonings. You can also add ingredients like cream cheese, chives, or garlic for extra flavour.
• Combine the mashed potatoes with the heated mixture and stir until you achieve your desired consistency.

Reheating in the Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 360°F. It is recommended to preheat for about 5 minutes to ensure even heating.
• Place the desired amount of mashed potatoes in an oven-safe dish.
• Cover the dish with foil to prevent drying and overheating.
• Reheat the mashed potatoes in the air fryer for about 5-10 minutes.
• Check the potatoes halfway through the reheating process and give them a stir to ensure even heating.
• If the potatoes start to dry out, add a splash of milk or cream to retain moisture.
• Once the potatoes are heated through, they are ready to be served!

Tips for Success

• For best results, reheat only the amount of mashed potatoes you plan to serve.
• If you're making mashed potatoes from scratch in the air fryer, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This can cause the potatoes to steam instead of roasting.
• When mashing the potatoes, avoid over-processing, as this can make them sticky and gluey.
• If you want to add a crispy element to your mashed potatoes, consider topping them with breadcrumbs or cheese and placing them under a grill for a few minutes until golden.

Storing and freezing mashed potatoes

Storing Mashed Potatoes:

Mashed potatoes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. It is best to store them as soon as they have cooled down to room temperature. If you plan to store them for longer than 5 days, it is better to freeze them.

Freezing Mashed Potatoes:

First, make sure your mashed potatoes are at room temperature. This is important because placing hot food directly in the freezer can result in extra ice crystals and freezer burn. Next, you can choose to portion out your mashed potatoes into individual servings using freezer cube trays or simply store them in a large freezer bag or container. If using a bag, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. Label the container or bag with the date and amount of potatoes. Frozen mashed potatoes can be stored for up to one month in the freezer.

Reheating Frozen Mashed Potatoes:

There are several ways to reheat your frozen mashed potatoes:

• Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat them in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop.
• Place the frozen potatoes in a slow cooker on low heat for 2-4 hours.
• Put the frozen potatoes in a microwave-safe dish and use the defrost setting until they are thawed.
• Place the frozen potatoes in a saucepan or Dutch oven with a splash of water and heat them on low, stirring occasionally.
• Put the frozen potatoes in a covered oven-safe dish and heat them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

What to do with leftover mashed potatoes

If you have leftover mashed potatoes, there are plenty of ways to use them up. Here are some ideas:

Reheat and Serve

You can simply reheat your leftover mashed potatoes in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in an oven-safe dish in the oven. You can also put them back in the air fryer to reheat—this should take about 5-10 minutes at around 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a splash of milk or cream to help them regain their creamy texture.

Potato Pancakes

Mix your leftover mashed potatoes with an egg, a handful of flour, and your favorite seasonings. You can also add cheese, scallions, or fresh herbs for extra flavor. Form the mixture into small patties and coat them with breadcrumbs. Then, shallow fry the patties in olive oil until they're golden and crispy.

Mashed Potato Balls

Roll your leftover mashed potatoes into small balls, dip them in beaten egg, and coat them with breadcrumbs. You can then air-fry or deep-fry the balls until they're golden brown.

Bubble and Squeak

Mix your leftover mashed potatoes with various other leftovers, form the mixture into patties, and fry until golden brown.

Shepherd's Pie

Use your leftover mashed potatoes as a topping for a shepherd's pie. You can also add other leftover veggies to the mash.

Tacos

Put your leftover mashed potatoes in a corn tortilla with shredded lettuce, pico, sour cream, salsa, and any other desired fillings. Fry the tortilla in a skillet to make crispy tacos.

Gnocchi

Turn your leftover mashed potatoes into gnocchi.

Potato Soup

Use your leftover mashed potatoes as a base for a potato soup. Mix them with bacon, cheese, onions, cream, and broth.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

Mix your leftover mashed potatoes with butter, a splash of milk, a squirt of ranch dressing or plain Greek yogurt, Mrs. Dash, and grated cheddar cheese. Put the mixture in a greased casserole dish and bake at 350°F, stirring occasionally, until warm in the center. You can also add other ingredients like frozen corn, chopped ham, cooked chicken, bacon, or extra cheeses and spices.

Potato Waffles

Make mashed potato waffles and top them with leftover meat, butter, cheese, sour cream, chives, or bacon.

Potato Patties

Add an egg and some flour to your leftover mashed potatoes and form the mixture into patties. You can also add cheese, green onion, or herbs. Saute the patties in a mix of olive oil and butter.

Other Ideas

• Use the leftover mashed potatoes as a filling for egg rolls.
• Make potato croquettes.
• Use the leftover mashed potatoes as a thickener for soups or stews.
• Put the leftover mashed potatoes on a hot dog split lengthwise and topped with cheddar cheese and paprika. Bake until the cheese melts.

Frequently asked questions