Best Mashed Potatoes

Here at Delish, we believe that no Thanksgiving (or any holiday spread for that matter) is complete without creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. This is a comfort food that deserves to be celebrated all year long, but should be absolutely perfect on your Thanksgiving dinner table. To make sure your mashed potatoes are as creamy and delicious as possible, we retested this recipe again and again until we achieved perfection. If you’ve ever wondered what actually separates amazing mashed potatoes from subpar ones, read on for all of our top tips on making yours the best they can possibly be:

The best potatoes to use for mashed potatoes:
Russet potatoes are the classic go-to for mashed potatoes, but you don't have to stick to those alone. We like using a mix of russet and Yukon golds, which have a super-creamy texture. Russets cook slightly faster, are starchier and fluffier, and taste less sweet; Yukons are a little more moist, a little waxier, and they hold their shape better. Put 'em together, and you’ve got the perfect combo.

Should I peel my potatoes?
Many of us in the Delish kitchen fall into the camp of people who happen to love the texture that the skin adds, but it's entirely up to you. Keeping the skins on will make for a more textured mash with a little more fiber and nutrients. Eliminate the skin (like we did here) for the creamiest, smoothest mash possible. 

Variations:
We're obsessed with loaded mashed potatoes, so we totally encourage you to stir in shredded cheddar or grated Parmesan, cooked bacon bits, and chives right after you add the melted butter-milk mixture. But your options don’t stop there! Any addition of fresh herbs (we love parsley), cheese, or lots of garlic (à la garlic mashed potatoes) will only help your mashed potatoes taste even more amazing. Feel like going over the top? Our toasted sesame mashed potatoes, cream cheese mashed potatoes, or horseradish mashed potatoes would all be welcome additions. 

Want to save your stovetop for other sides? Check out our slow-cooker mashed potatoes, microwave mashed potatoes, or Instant Pot mashed potatoes for hands-off cooking. 

Storing mashed potatoes:
If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a max of 3 to 4 days. With all of our recipes to transform your creamy leftover mashed potatoes—like fried mashed potato balls, potato rolls, waffles... we doubt they'll even last that long.

Made these perfectly creamy spuds? Let us know how it went in the comments below!