Crock Pot Pesto Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Will mashed potatoes dry out in a crock pot? ›

The lowest setting of your slow cooker will keep the potatoes nice and warm without drying them out. If you notice that they are getting a little dry, loosen them up by stirring in an extra splash of milk or cream or a few tablespoons of butter.

Season with salt and pepper. Plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound potatoes per person for your feast.

Seal the crock pot with the lid and turn it on to the "Warm" setting. Keep warm for up to two hours. If your mashed potatoes recipe uses more milk or cream to make them more "soupy", the crockpot method won't work well because it will actually break down the potatoes.

Ricer or Colander

Start as you would any mashed potato recipe—by boiling the potatoes until tender—then allow them to cool before adding them to a ricer. "If you rice them right away, you're not allowing excess moisture to evaporate off the potatoes," Greg says. Skipping this step can lead to dense, gluey potatoes.

To a 6-quart slow cooker, add the potatoes, olive oil, garlic, and salt, stirring to combine. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 3 to 4 hours on high, or 5 to 6 hours on low.

This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.

10 lbs for 20, 100 lbs for 200. If I am serving additional starch dishes, eg., stuffing at Thanksgiving, I might cut back a bit. If you want no leftovers I suppose you could get away with 4 oz per person. It depends on how your fellow diners like mashed potatoes.

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Restaurants prepare the potatoes ahead by boiling and mashing just the potato, then just before serving, it is mixed into boiling cream (or milk or even broth or a combination thereof) to reheat it and make it nice and creamy.

Does soaking potatoes in cold water make better mashed potatoes? ›

The secret ingredient is just ice-cold water.

The same trick applies to mashed potatoes—it's so obvious I wish I would have thought of it myself! You soak the potatoes in iced water before they are cooked. This eliminates much of the starches in the potatoes, resulting in a super light and fluffy mash.

There's just something about those velvety smooth, luxuriantly creamy, full-flavored mashed potatoes that have most homemade versions beat beyond comparison. As it turns out, there is a pretty simple reason why steakhouse mashed potatoes are so much better than other versions: They don't skimp on the salt or fat.

Some cells will inevitably burst, releasing tacky gel that helps give mashed potatoes their cohesiveness. But if too much gelled starch seeps out of the cells, either from overcooking or too-vigorous mashing (or both), gumminess ensues.

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.

Put the lid on your mashed potato pot and gently place the pot inside the simmering water bath. Leave the stove on and allow the water to simmer for as long as you need it to keep your potatoes warm. Not only will the water bath keep your potatoes warm, but it will also keep them light and fluffy.

Yes, it's possible to overcook potatoes in a crockpot. They can become mushy and lose their texture if left for too long. It's advisable to follow a recipe's recommended cooking time to achieve the desired consistency. Yes, they do.

Potatoes tend to break down and become mushy if they're cooked for an extended period beyond their ideal doneness.

Reduce Them Over Heat

You can also thicken your mashed potatoes by continuing to cook them on the stove with the lid off. Heat draws the excess moisture out of runny potatoes, leaving you with a denser finished product.