Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of instant potatoes to water? ›

Then, prepare the potatoes: Bring 1¼ cups water to boil in a small saucepan. Once bubbling away, remove from heat, add 1 cup instant mashed potatoes (2 oz.), and gently fluff with a fork.

Yes, you can use milk instead of water to make instant mashed potatoes. Using milk will provide a creamier and richer taste to the dish. Just make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging as some brands might have specific recommendations for milk usage.

Those same add-ins—chopped fresh herbs like chives or parsley, chopped cooked bacon, crumbled blue cheese, roasted garlic cloves and so on—will enhance the instant variety as well. Butter (not margarine) is a must, as is sour cream. Instant potatoes offer a couple of additional variables for you to play with.

For a quick and delicious instant mashed potatoes recipe, all you have to do is simply add your potato flakes to hot water, gently fluff with a fork and serve.

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.

Your Instant Pot needs liquid to work. If there's not enough, your pot won't be able to create enough steam to build pressure. About 1 cup is the minimum amount of liquid, so if you're cooking a recipe that will absorb water, like rice or beans, you'll need even more.

Once boiling, reduce heat, adjusting as needed to maintain a simmer. Cook potatoes until they offer no resistance when pierced: 10–12 minutes for baby potatoes, 15–20 minutes for small potatoes, or 30–40 minutes for large cubed potatoes. Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool 10 minutes.

In a pressure cooker, the pressure inside increases and hence the boiling point of water decreases thereby food cooks faster.

When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing. Overworking the potatoes can happen in a couple ways: either by simply handling them too much, or by using a food processor, blender, or similar tool, which mixes the potatoes too aggressively.

To give your mashed potatoes a light tanginess, go with buttermilk or sour cream. For packages that call for butter or margarine, try using cream cheese instead for a thicker texture. And if you don't want to go all in, try half water and half dairy.

Should I salt mashed potato water? ›

You Don't Season the Water

That makes seasoning the center of the potato pieces more difficult. Add about one tablespoon of salt for every pound of potatoes. When it's time to season the potatoes in the end, take a light hand. The mashed taters won't need nearly as much salt now that they were cooked in salty water.

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

Add a thickening agent

Flour, cornstarch and even powdered milk can thicken mashed potatoes quickly.

Quick, easy, and fresh weeknight recipes. Good brands of instant mashed potatoes, like Bob's Red Mill, contain one ingredient: dehydrated potatoes. And when you rehydrate them with a bit of butter and milk and—please use a heavy hand—salt and pepper, they taste surprisingly clean and good.

When you are ready to use the dehydrated potatoes, soak them in water for about 15 minutes. Use enough hot water to just cover them. In a couple of minutes, if they look like they need more water, add a little more. If there is any water left before you cook them, just drain it off.

When making more than one package at a time, add the appropriate amount of ingredients that are called for on the package (ie. If you were making two packages of Idahoan Scalloped Homestyle Casserole you would add 3 cups of water 1-½ cups of milk, 3 Tbsp. of margarine or butter and two packages of potatoes.