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22 November 2008
THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!! Mashed potatoes - skin off or on? →[More:]
I say off - makes for a smoother creamier mash.
Get a potato ricer. I've never even heard of people leaving the skins on for mash, but the ricer lets you boil them with the skins on and then magically squish them out. Win - win, as they say.
On for family, off for company. For family too, I boil extra long so I can leave them a bit lumpy, they like 'em that way but then my gravies are a bit thicker than most with bits of onion and mushroom and a radically reduced stock. Also. my using ranch dressing to mash the potatoes has been a big hit.
on, most of the nutrients are in the skin. And I say leaving them on balances out the heavy cream I use when mashing.
I like baby reds or yukon gold, and always hand-mash. IThe golden or red skins are pretty, too. I prefer the wavy S type masher to the circle with a grate in it, for cleaning simplicity.
This is turning into one of those "which way up should I mount the toilet roll?" discussions ... :-)
My fav is leave the skins on -- mash with some sour cream and chives (or chopped spring onions/scallions). Makes a really tasty dish.
Skin off, and then comes the awesome part: I cut the skins into smaller triangles and bake them for a couple minutes more on a cookie sheet, after sprinkling them with cheese and sour cream.
What casarkos said. With LOTS of butter. The hell with healthy.
What pips said. Red and yukon gold's keep their skins, large baking potatoes get peeled. And it's all about the butter. Only a bit of milk, a ton of butter and salt.
Skins on and never use baking potatoes for mash. For a change throw in some diced garlic add milk, whip, and spread on a cookie sheet. Fluff it up with a spoon and put it under the broiler until the tips brown.
"Should you mourn the loss of nutrients from peeling? No, says Mondy. It's a myth that most of a potato's nutrients are in or near the skin. For example, vitamin C is concentrated in the center of the potato, and a seven-ounce potato still contributes about two grams of fiber even without its peel."
Weird. At work today, I overheard rthese two ladies talking about a (no joke) 'Mashed Potato Martini Bar.' Apparently, they give you mashed potatoes in a martini glass and you garnish them with butter, green onions, cheese, etc. I have to admit that's a pretty shrewd marketing idea.
photo by splunge
photo by TheophileEscargot
photo by Kronos_to_Earth
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