What is the point of Mashed Potatoes?

Chomeur

I don’t know why this question hasn’t occurred to me before, but why does anyone bother making mashed potatoes? Potatoes are great baked, roasted, boiled or fried, but they are rubbish if mashed. They taste soapy and personally I find it unsatisfying eating something that doesn’t take any chewing. Yet I imagine (I never made any) that mashing potatoes must be one of the most labour-intensive ways to prepare them. So why does anyone bother? Is it that poor quality potatoes can only be eaten like this?

And if it does make sense to mash potatoes, why not go the whole way? Put all your food in a blender and eat it with a baby spoon?

purpleivy

Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean that others don't! I don't care much for chips, roast or fried potatoes. I like jackets, boiled and mashed. I like boulangere potatoes but you would probably find them too labour intensive. I cook food from scratch, that's probably too time consuming for some people but it's what I prefer to do. A bit of effort produces some lovely meals

It would be a dull old world if we all liked the same things.

hieveryone

If you find mashed potatoes taste soapy then you are making them wrongly!

shellsuit

They taste soapy? What spuds are you using or what do you put into them??

We all love mash in my house ~ mine is lovely and fluffy, after adding butter and milk to it.

I don't know anyone who doesn't like it.

Yum Yum!!

funkymonkey849

Whats the point of that post?

sandiep

Consider it a good way of exercising.

aliasojo

Oh my. Mashed potatoes are IT! Lovely with milk and butter (real butter not marg) or even with mayonnaise. Mashed tats with chicken soup poured over is good too.

I love mashed potatoes.

PasturesNew

I LOVE mash. But there are all sorts of mash.

Most people add milk/cream etc, I never do. Sometimes I literally just mash the potatoes with a fork, all potatoey and with some lumps. mmmmm

The most I will "make" mashed potatoes is by chucking in a bit of black pepper, knob of butter/margarine, then mash them with a fork and giving them a 15 second "beat around" to get them a bit smoother.

But overall, I love the taste and texture of rough mashed potatoes.

I love eating just cold mash too. Straight out of the fridge, with a big spoon.

Pink.

Mashed potatoes do take longer than bunging a potato into the microwave or oven but in my opinion they are well worth the effort. They are real comfort food, especially in winter, that my family love so I think it's well worth the effort.

I agree with the previous posters...it's down to personal choice and if they taste soapy to you, clearly they aren't being made properly.

This thread has lots of tips on making mash taste good:

The Perfect Mashed Potato?

And this thread has lots of delicious variations:

Mash, boring mash!!!

Pink

nearlyrich

I love mash, get some wholegrain mustard in with your butter yummy...

If you start with good ingredients you get good results.

Bennifred

Mashed potatoes made with mascarpone instead of butter/milk is a revelation!:drool: