Ella Walter
Mashed potatoes are a staple side dish for many meals, especially during the holidays. While they are traditionally made on the stovetop, mashed potatoes can also be cooked in a crock pot or slow cooker, which frees up stovetop space and makes the process more hands-off. This method also allows you to keep the potatoes warm for a couple of hours without sacrificing flavour or texture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of potatoes | Russet, Yukon Gold, Red potatoes |
| Cooking liquid | Chicken broth, water, milk, heavy cream, buttermilk |
| Other ingredients | Butter, sour cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic |
| Cooking time | 3-5 hours |
| Cooking temperature | High |
| Mash type | Chunky, creamy |
| Mash method | Hand masher, hand mixer, ricer |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right potatoes
Yukon Gold potatoes are an excellent option for mashed potatoes due to their creamy texture and slightly sweet flavour. They are a popular choice for crock pot mashed potatoes, as they can enhance the overall taste and provide a beautiful buttery texture.
Russet potatoes are another variety that is commonly used for mashed potatoes. They have a fluffy texture and are known to mash up beautifully, making them ideal for creating a smooth and creamy mash. If you're looking for a potato that will give you a perfect, lump-free consistency, russets are a great option.
Red potatoes, on the other hand, are not recommended for mashed potatoes in a crock pot. They tend to have a waxy texture, which is not ideal for achieving the desired creamy consistency. While you can certainly use red potatoes if that's what you have on hand, you may find that the final texture is not as smooth and fluffy as you'd like.
Additionally, consider the size of the potato chunks you'll be using. Smaller cubes, such as 1/2-inch pieces, tend to cook faster, release their liquid quicker, and result in less oxidation. This means that your mashed potatoes are less likely to turn beige and will have a creamier texture.
When choosing potatoes for your crock pot mashed potatoes, it's important to consider the variety that best suits your taste preferences and the desired texture. Yukon Gold and russet potatoes are generally excellent choices, while red potatoes may require some adjustments to achieve the perfect mash. Remember to cut your potatoes into smaller pieces for optimal results.
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Preparing the potatoes
If you are using chicken broth, you can boil the potatoes in the broth before placing them in the crock pot. You can also soak the potatoes in liquid overnight before cooking. If you are not using chicken broth, you can add some garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover the crock pot and cook on high heat for 3 to 5 hours, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. The potatoes are ready to be mashed when they fall easily off a fork when pierced.
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Cooking the potatoes
Once the potatoes are prepared, place them in the bottom of your crock pot. You can use a 5-quart or 6-quart crock pot, depending on the quantity of potatoes you are cooking. Dot the potatoes with butter and season with salt and pepper. You can also add some minced garlic for extra flavour.
Now, it's time to add the cooking liquid. You can use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water. The amount of liquid you add will depend on the type of potatoes you are using and your preferred consistency. If you want a thicker consistency, use less liquid. Cover the crock pot and cook the potatoes on high heat for 3-5 hours. The potatoes are ready when they are fork-tender.
Finally, drain the excess liquid from the crock pot and place the potatoes back into the pot. If you want to use a different container for mashing, make sure to put the drained potatoes into it. You can now add the remaining ingredients, such as butter, milk, cream, or sour cream, and start mashing the potatoes to your desired consistency.
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Adding ingredients
If you want to add some extra flavour to your potatoes, you can cook them in chicken broth instead of water. Alternatively, you could try using buttermilk, whole milk, or heavy cream as your cooking liquid. If you're using milk or cream, you can add it to the potatoes after cooking and mashing, and stir it through.
You can also change the type of potatoes you use to add flavour. Russet potatoes are a popular choice as they mash up well, but you could also try Yukon Gold potatoes for a slightly different flavour, or red potatoes for a change of colour.
If you're looking to add some extra ingredients but keep things simple, you could try adding some herbs and seasoned salt to taste.
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Mashing the potatoes
Once the potatoes are cooked, you can start mashing them. You can use a potato masher, a hand mixer, or an electric mixer for this step. If you want chunkier potatoes, a potato masher or a ricer will be a better option. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother and creamier texture, an electric mixer might be a better choice. However, be careful not to over-mix the potatoes, as they can become gummy.
When mashing the potatoes, you can also add some butter, milk, cream, or sour cream to adjust the consistency and flavor. If you want chunkier potatoes, you can simply mash them with a potato masher and then add the desired amount of butter and milk. However, if you prefer a smoother and creamier texture, you can slowly stir in the warmed dairy and butter after mashing the potatoes.
You can also adjust the seasoning by adding salt and pepper to taste. Additionally, you can add other ingredients like shredded cheese, bacon, or green onions to make "loaded mashed potatoes."
Once you have achieved the desired consistency and flavor, you can keep the mashed potatoes in the crock pot on the warm setting until you are ready to serve them. This will ensure that they remain hot and flavorful.
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Frequently asked questions
Yukon Gold potatoes are a popular choice for their buttery, creamy flavour. Red potatoes and russet potatoes are also good options.
Cooking times vary depending on the crock pot, but generally, you should cook the potatoes for 3-5 hours on high heat.
Chicken broth is a common choice, but you can also use water, milk, or cream.
Unfortunately, browning is common when cooking potatoes in a crock pot due to oxidation. To mitigate this, you can tinker with the type and amount of cooking liquid and the size of the potato chunks.
