Potato mashers
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Potato mashers

45 Posts
40 Users
0 Reactions
405 Views
Posts: 6219
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Please can someone recommend me a good, relable, effective, durable and comfortable potato masher. So far this year I've tried three different types- each has it's failings- generally they are just too flimsy.

FWIW- I do cook the spuds properly.


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:36 pm
Posts: 646
Full Member
 

For mash REALLY boil the tatties. Stick some butter and milk in and then a fork will do the job fine.


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:38 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Cake mixer


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:40 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

i use an electric whisk


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:40 pm
Posts: 1781
Free Member
 

Got one of these recently - pretty good.

http://www.josephjoseph.com/product/smasher


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:41 pm
Posts: 15
Free Member
 

a potato ricer easy to use and makes better mash . Do not over boil potatos to make mash.

http://www.souschef.co.uk/potato-ricer.html?origin=product-search&kwd=&source=pla&gclid=CPDQzY695boCFfLHtAod2l8ASA


 
Posted : 14/11/2013 11:54 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

@Ambrose, I know what you mean have had a couple just bend. I have a potato ricer as above but it's a bit fiddly. I cannot recall where I bought my "good masher" (might even be IKEA) but it's definitely thicker at the point where it bends 90 degrees. I then whisk rapidly with a fork

Totally agree with @crankboy, do not over boil the spuds, this just makes them too wet. Warm/hot milk is a good tip too to stop the mash cooling.

Edit: this sort of design may be good, oxo make decent stuff although I don't have one of these

[url= http://www.johnlewis.com/oxo-good-grips-smooth-potato-masher/p177453?navAction=jump ]OXO masher[/url]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:03 am
Posts: 3773
Free Member
 

Robotic one?
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:05 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

cook the peeled potato, with the peeled skin, in a vac bag. then pass through a tamis sieve. Then add cream, seasoning & butter stirring like hell over heat.

boring but the best way.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:11 am
Posts: 14595
Free Member
 

I've had this annoyance, final gave up & bought a ricer, but by the time you've used it on a pile of spuds, there cold. Yes you can re-warm them, but its not exactly a quick mash...

No idea why I've not thought to get one like my brothers, our gran asked with raised eye brows what the hell it was:
http://www.thegreenhead.com/2008/04/simply-mash-potato-masher.php

[img] [/img]

found it/a clone [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BUME62A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1JBEKCFP2FGBU ]for sale[/url]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:13 am
Posts: 6219
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks for the tips re: cooking mash.

Ricers- I agree, far too much faffage.

Oxo- I'll look to see if it is tough enough for me!

Jambalaya, z1ppy- I wholeheartedly agree. I saw the thing your gran commented upon a few days ago, expensive but if it works it's worthwhile.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:27 am
 tron
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Buy an old one from eBay or a car boot. The kind with an oval plate covered in lots of small slots / holes, attached to the handle by two thick wires / rods. Unfortunately these are now mainly on eBay with the words "vintage", "kitchenalia" and "I saw you coming".

[img] [/img]

I don't think I've seen any "modern" potato masher that actually works... Lots of nice looking ones, but very little functionality.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:44 am
Posts: 15
Free Member
 

Tron that is my mum's masher and what I had as a student surely you can still buy them new ?


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 1:16 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

+1 for the one recommended by rob hilton


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 2:36 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Another recommendation for Trons masher. The type of spud matters too. I'm currently enjoying Desiree spuds for mashing.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 3:07 am
Posts: 12
Free Member
 

use a potato ricer for the lightest mash. A hand whisk also works well.

Use some of the water from boiling the spuds and milk (50:50) for the needed liquid.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 3:20 am
Posts: 412
Free Member
 

I have that OXO masher. Would recommend it.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 7:43 am
Posts: 17834
 

I sympathise! Have just bought another masher as previous was unfit for purpose.

Use mine for swede and carrots, yum. 🙂


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 7:50 am
Posts: 208
Free Member
 

The Germans make good ones.

[url= http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WzxMz2wvyAI/UKTfzuq3FSI/AAAAAAAADW4/ROYv5jixGRw/s1600/potato-masher.jp g" target="_blank">http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WzxMz2wvyAI/UKTfzuq3FSI/AAAAAAAADW4/ROYv5jixGRw/s1600/potato-masher.jp g"/> [/img][/url]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:00 am
Posts: 1
Free Member
 

+1 for the OXO masher
[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Grips-Smooth-Potato-Masher/dp/B00004OCL9 ]http://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Grips-Smooth-Potato-Masher/dp/B00004OCL9[/url]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:03 am
Posts: 97
Full Member
 

Had plenty, but this Ikea one takes some beating...
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/10866374776_0e63453426_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/10866374776_0e63453426_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/10866374776/ ]IMAG2081[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

Don't overcook the spuds, outsides need to be soft with a bit of resistance as the fork goes further in. Drain off & leave for a few mins with the lid on. Then butter but just a splash of milk. Then it's down to brute force.
🙂

A whipping kind of action works best.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:18 am
Posts: 6
Free Member
 

That's very similar to the WMF one I have. Makes great smooth mash with no lumps.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:22 am
Posts: 10980
Free Member
 

When in doubt in the kitchen I turn to Lakeland:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/17108/OXO-Good-Grips-Potato-Masher

(They've got a lovely cafe in Windermere too!)

Edit: Eeek! I've just seen the Amazon link above.... looks like I'm being ripped off at Lakeland!


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:27 am
Posts: 478
Full Member
 

Plenty of good advice here, but what everyone wants to know is which masher makes the potato come alive


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:43 am
Posts: 33
Free Member
 

The ikea one works for me as well.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:48 am
 DezB
Posts: 54367
Free Member
 

This sort is best

[img] [/img]

Good grip and easy downward/twisting action.
Used it for [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fish-pie ]this[/url] only yesterday. Awesome 😀


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:50 am
Posts: 3327
Free Member
 

I've got the OXO Good grips one and it's excellent.

I've got the non scratch version though:
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 8:59 am
Posts: 13942
Full Member
 

Don't boil the potatoes, microwave them. Works so much better! Easier too.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 9:19 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Seriously, +10000 for a potato ricer.

Pass them through, put back in the pan with a good dollop of butter, a little milk to loosen, season to taste then bit of a stir and you're good to go.

We've got a plastic jobbie, but it struggles with much more that one chunk of potato, a metal one should see you better.

I have a potato ricer as above but it's a bit fiddly.
I've only found it a faff if it's left to dry before washing up- the potato yipp seizes it solid! Get it apart and soaking as soon as you've used it, washup and put back together ready for next time. Easy!

Cheers,
Jamie


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 9:29 am
Posts: 9136
Full Member
 

Buy an old one from eBay or a car boot. The kind with an oval plate covered in lots of small slots / holes, attached to the handle by two thick wires / rods

+1 for old school - did manage to find a reasonable modern equivelent at Debenhams for, like, eight quid, although a quick search of their website shows one on sale for £2.50, but the stupid picture doesn't show the mashing face of it, so not sure if it's the same one.

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_331008996797UMAS_-1

Couldn't believe how hard it was to find a decent one - most of the modern ones are stupid plastic or a crap flexy design.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 9:44 am
Posts: 9
Full Member
 

jamiea +bajillion

all you savages need to get on the ricer tip - 70's mashers off ebay, jesus wept!

rice em up, fill them empty pan wi water and chuck the ricer in, dishwash it at your leisure and enjoy some funk:

I'm an open minded guy but lumps are banned at ours


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 9:49 am
 bigG
Posts: 137
Free Member
 

[url= http://www.pubshop.co.uk/catalog/potato-masher-metal-handle-handle-60cm-total-p-51046.html?gclid=CI60o8DG5roCFcXKtAodAF8A9Q ]How about this? It ought to handle pretty much anything,,,[/url]


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 10:13 am
Posts: 97
Full Member
 

Ricers are for southerners, y'all need to man up & get some of that Ikea action going down.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 10:14 am
Posts: 91000
Free Member
 

Elbow grease is the best thing. Do it by hand but work it well, as once the potatoes break up it continues to change as you keep mashing. Electric devices seem to go all the way to puree too quickly.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 10:59 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

So all of doing it wrong, you've actually tried a ricer and gone back? 😉

Cheers,
Jamie


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 11:05 am
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

STW 'Niche' potato masher installed in my kitchen and ready to go:

[img] [/img]

😉


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 11:06 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Proper mash should be made with a masher, ricer is for pomme puree don't you know.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 11:14 am
Posts: 12865
Free Member
 

I just use a masher to break the tatties up. Could probably use anything though. Then it's just half a stick of butter, a wooden spoon and elbow grease. 😀


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 11:47 am
Posts: 102
Free Member
 

Steam the potatoes. I find this the best and easiest way to a smooth mash.

Takes a little longer but so much easier to mash, irrespecitve of masher and as smooth as you like.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:50 pm
 DezB
Posts: 54367
Free Member
 

2 pages on mashed spuds. Only on STW 🙂 (and maybe cookingpotatoes.com)


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:54 pm
Posts: 751
Full Member
 

We use a ricer, lovely smooth mash.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 12:56 pm
Posts: 4365
Full Member
 

We've got that wiggly ikea one, the wife makes bangin mash. She busts them up with the masher, then attacks it with a whisk. Mmmmmmmm mash.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 3:47 pm
Posts: 13601
Free Member
 


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 3:58 pm
Posts: 97
Full Member
 

Is that the Gangnam Style man at the monster press roafshow...


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 3:58 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

+1 for the OXO good grip masher. Best I have ever had.


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 4:00 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

[img] ?v=8CD0771EEE82C80[/img]

There's a couple of ways this one can be used to make mash


 
Posted : 15/11/2013 4:08 pm

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!