Header Banner
wonderhowto.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Next Reality Food Hacks Null Byte The Secret Yumiverse Invisiverse Macgyverisms Mind Hacks Mad Science Lock Picking Driverless
Home
Food Hacks

This One Extra Step Gives Mashed Potatoes a Huge Flavor Boost

May 6, 2016 08:00 PM
Jul 19, 2016 03:54 PM
Straining food particles from a mixture using a sieve.

Mashed potatoes are a reliably tasty side dish, but they can definitely get a little boring sometimes. So if you're looking for that extra 'oomph' that goes beyond the classic butter and salt seasoning, try infusing your next batch with the flavor of baked potato skins.

According to Reddit user strumism, an executive chef in Canada, adding milk infused with baked potato skins is an easy way to inject your ho-hum mashed potatoes with some seriously awesome flavor.

Directions

For this recipe, you'll need as many potatoes as you plan on mashing, as well as some milk and butter. The amounts will vary depending on how many potatoes you'll be whipping up. Additional seasonings are up to you.

  1. Place as many whole potatoes as you need for your mashed potatoes on a bed of salt in a baking tray. Poke a few holes in the potatoes to allow ventilation, then bake for about 45-60 minutes at 425°F. (We've got an awesome list of ways to make the best baked potato ever, and you can follow that guide as well.)
Two raw potatoes on a reflective surface.

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

  1. Check your potatoes every so often after the 45 minute mark; Cook until you can easily poke a knife into the potatoes.
  2. Remove the skins from the potatoes after they've cooled a bit—they should slide or peel off easily.
Sliced potato with peeled skin and a bowl of chopped potato pieces.

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

  1. Place the skins in a frying pan with a little butter (how ever much you'd like to use) and ½ cup of milk. If you like more or less milk in your mashed potatoes, feel free to adjust the amount accordingly.
Fried fish fillets served in a creamy sauce.

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

  1. Simmer on medium heat for a few minutes so that the milk really soaks up the flavor of the potato skins. The smell will be incredible; I guarantee you'll be hungry if you aren't already. After a few minutes, turn off the heat and set the pan aside for now.
  2. Come back to your baked, skinned potatoes and mash them; as you can see, I use a coffee cup to mash mine, but you can use a masher or mixer if you want.
Mashed potatoes in a bowl being blended.

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

  1. Place a strainer over your mashed potatoes, then pour the contents of your pan into the strainer. The milk should pass through quite easily while the skins will stay separate from the bowl.
Straining cooked meat from broth using a fine mesh sieve.

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

  1. Add any salt, pepper, or preferred seasonings to taste. Then just mix it up, serve, and enjoy!
Fresh ricotta cheese topped with herbs in a bowl

Julia Kitlinski-Hong/Food Hacks Daily

Yes, this method requires a little extra effort, but the smoky flavor of potato skins conveyed through the creaminess of the milk are on a different level of deliciousness that you'll find yourself craving afterward. I doubt you'll be able to go back to your old taters recipe after giving this one a try!

Let us know how how this trick worked for you—and if you have any additional tips for amazing mashed potatoes in the comments.

More Amazing Potato Hacks:

You already know how to use your phone. With Gadget Hacks' newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.

Sign up for Gadget Hacks Weekly and start unlocking your phone's full potential.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!