Monday, June 04, 2007

Cooking essentials- the potato masher



Ah, the good old potato masher!! I'm sure most of us have something very similar in our drawers, right? Or are you one that purchases potato flakes in a box to make "homemade" mashed potatoes?? If so, please reconsider. This inexpensive cooking essential is just what you need to make perfect mashed potatoes every time!!!

According to Wikipedia...
A potato masher or bean masher is a food preparation utensil used to crush soft food for such dishes as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, or refried beans.

The potato masher consists of an upright or sideways handle connected to a mashing head. The head is most often a large-gauge wire in a rounded zig-zag shape, or a plate with holes or slits. Designs made from a single piece of wood are also known.

I use my potato masher for regular white potatoes, for sweet potatoes, to make applesauce, to mash strawberries before making strawberry preserves and even to make homemade baby food.

12 comments:

Momma Roar said...

I let my son use our masher to mash bananas for our banana bread!

Beach Girl said...

It works great on bananas for my banana-chocolate chip brownies!

Vanessa

HsKubes said...

I love my masher. We gave up potato flakes years ago and love homemade ones. I, too, use my masher for other things. It sure comes in handy!

~ Christina

Paula said...

I do agree there is nothing better than mashed potatoes made with the real potato! It works great for mashing veggies before straining for stock.

Anonymous said...

We have an old potato smasher that has been smashing taters for generations.
To many people use a mixer or even worse ~ instant!
great post~

Julieann said...

Yes!!! What would we do without the masher!! Great post Mrs.U--I really enjoy your Cooking essential posts.

Julieann:)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting about mashers. It gave me an idea to post about our antique masher for Treasure Tuesday tomorrow. I enjoyed your post.

Mimi said...

I used to use my potato masher more than I do now. Thanks for the reminder about how handy this little tool is.

Lynn said...

I use mine when I brown ground beef and turkey. It works great to break up the meat!

Kelli said...

I love my potato masher too, Mrs. U! No flakes here!
Kelli

Kathie said...

I mash avacados with my potato masher. We like our guacamole chunky, so the masher is perfect!

Henny Penny said...

LOVE my masher here! The Man can't figure out why I don't use the hand mixer to "whip" them like his mom did. LOL

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