Thanksgiving Potatoes: Everything You Need to Know

What Kind of Potatoes Should You Use for Mashed Potatoes?

For a traditional fluffy mashed potato situation, the only way to go is Russet. However, when food director emeritus Rhoda Boone was developing the recipe for Our Favorite Mashed Potatoes, a blind taste test revealed that our editors preferred the creamy texture and buttery flavor of Yukon Gold potatoes.

Let the latke-frying, gratin-layering, roasting, smashing, and mashing begin!

How Do You Make Mashed Potatoes?

This depends. Do you want classic mashed potatoes? Garlicky mashed potatoes? Cheesy mashed potatoes?

Here's how to make a pretty classic holiday potato mash. You can jazz it up as you see fit.

  1. Grab 1/2 a pound Yukon Gold potatoes per person (that's 2 pounds for four people). Cut the potatoes into 2-inch pieces (peel them or not, up to you). Immediately transfer to a sauce pot filled with cold water while you work on the next potato.

  2. Add 3 peeled garlic cloves and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt for every 2 pounds of potatoes. Heat over medium-high until water reaches a low boil. Reduce temperature to maintain a steady, but not rapid, boil. Cook for about 20 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, in a second pot, warm 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of milk, 2 thyme sprigs, and 6 tablespoons butter (again, this is for 2 pounds of potatoes, increase amounts as needed) over low heat until butter is melted. Set aside.

  4. When you can pierce the potato with a fork and the potato falls back off the fork without much coaxing, drain the potatoes and then return them, with the garlic cloves, to the dry pot. Return potatoes to heat just to cook off excess moisture.

  5. For ultra creamy mashed potatoes, transfer potatoes and garlic to a ricer or food mill. If you don't mind a little lump in your white stuff, grab a potato masher. Can you mash potatoes with a fork? You can certainly try, but you run the risk of overworking the potatoes into a gluey texture, and nobody wants that.

  6. Discard thyme from milk mixture and add about 1/3 of the milk mixture to the potatoes. If you've riced them, use a flexible scraper to gently fold them and incorporate the milk—if you're going old-school, mash and mix at the same time. Add 1/2 the remaining milk and repeat. Judge the dryness of your potatoes. Add the rest of the milk/butter as desired. Adjust salt and pepper. Gently mix to finish.

Can I Make Mashed Potatoes Ahead?

No one will know you prepped these in advance.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

No one will know you prepped these in advance.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

You sure can, bud. Just chill the fully cooked, mashed, and mixed potatoes for up to two days. Then to reheat 2 pounds of mashed potatoes, gently scoop the potatoes into to a small pot with a lid and pour over 1/3 cup half-and-half (or an equal mix of cream and milk). Place over medium low heat and cover with a lid. Every few minutes fold potatoes gently with a flexible spatula until they have warmed through and absorbed the extra liquid.

How Do I Thicken Mashed Potatoes?

No one says you can't do a test run and eat these tonight. You know, for science.

So you added too much milk to your mash? Or maybe you forgot to cook off the excess moisture. Don't worry! You have a few options. If you have extra raw potatoes, cook them quickly (even in the microwave!), then peel, mash, and fold them into the runny mix. If extra potatoes aren't an option, stir in some grated Parmesan or other hard cheese. This will definitely change the flavor profile of your potatoes, but the cheese will soak up some of the extra liquid.

Last choice: keep a box of potato flakes in the back of your cupboard and add in a few spoonfuls. Not ideal, but it works.

How Do I Make Mashed Potatoes Without Milk?

Rich mashed potatoes, no milk required.

If you're in need of vegan mashed potatoes, replace the butter and milk with olive oil. If that's not creamy enough for you, cashew milk is a great alt-milk for adding rich, dairy-free creaminess without much of an overtly nutty flavor. Just make sure none of your guests have nut allergies!

How Do I Keep Mashed Potatoes Warm?

Keep them in a bowl or saucepan, covered, and place over a pot of steaming—not boiling—water.

How Do I Take Mashed Potatoes Up a Notch?

Potatoes worthy of a Duchess.

Duchess Baked Potatoes

Potatoes worthy of a Duchess.
Photo by Bobbi Lin

Duchess. Potatoes. All. The. Way. But if silky, souffléd, crispy-topped, sour cream–spiked mashed potato casserole doesn't float your wagon, here are many, many more ways to reinvigorate your love for fluffy mash:

What Are the Best Mashed Potato Recipes?

These, clearly.

Do You Really Need Mashed Potatoes at Thanksgiving?

Well... It's my personal opinion that mashed potatoes are superfluous on Turkey Day. There are already so many starches on your Thanksgiving menu: a sweet potato dish, a winter squash dish, dressing/stuffing. There's really no need for mashed potatoes. Save them for Christmas. Or, if you don't celebrate Christmas, save them for next Tuesday.

Pro-potatoers are always like, "BuT WHaT do YOU Put thE GrAvY On!?" Dude. Calm down. Turkey and dressing are more than happy to accept your gravy pour.

What Are Some Alternatives to Mashed Potatoes?

If you're stuck on white potatoes, but don't like mashed potatoes, you've got options. Like little stacks of Pommes Anna, perhaps. Roasted and tiled Domino Potatoes. These crispy cuties. A Cheesy Potato and Kale Gratin, or maybe a Golden Potato Cake. Or get the best of the creamy and crunchy worlds with Twice Baked Potatoes.

How Do You Make the Best Crispy Potatoes?

Watch Now: Epicurious Video.

Are Sweet Potatoes and Yams the Same Thing?

God, who knows anymore. Officially, no. But grocery stores make their own signs and different regions have different naming conventions, so it doesn't really matter what I think.

Can I Microwave Sweet Potatoes?

Roasting is the way to go.

SUNDAY STASH Roasted Halved Sweet Potatoes on sheet tray

Roasting is the way to go.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova

Yes, but they won't taste as good as roasted sweet potatoes. Roasting concentrates the natural sugars in the potato, giving the potato a deeper flavor. Plus, if you like to eat the skin—which I do—roasting crisps it nicely. If you're in a hurry, though, prick the sweet potato with a fork and microwave on high for about 5 minutes. The power of your machine and the size and number of sweet potatoes you're nuking will affect the cooking time. So check after five minutes and then cook in 2 minute increments until the point of a knife can be inserted to the center without any resistance.

One other trick: if you're only in kind of a hurry, you can start a potato in the microwave and finish it in the oven. Cook it for 3 to 5 minutes in the 'wave and then transfer to an oven set to 400°F for about 20 minutes.

Should I Boil or Roast Sweet Potatoes for Pies or Casseroles?

While you certainly could boil sweet potatoes the same way you boil white potatoes for these preparations, the more flavorful option is to roast. While boiling white potatoes releases excess starch—which helps mashed potatoes to avoid turning gluey—sweet potatoes don't have the same makeup. Boiling sweet potatoes robs some of their natural sweetness while roasting concentrates it. Therefore roasting is the better bet.

Why Do People Put Marshmallows on Sweet Potato Casserole?

Convince even marshmallow haters with this sweet potato casserole.

Honestly, I have no idea. But if you want to try it, here's a pretty tempting version.

What's an Alternative to Sweet Potato Casserole?

Isn't she lovely?

There are so many: Shingled Sweet Potatoes with Harissa are earthy and spicy, while Cornbread Stuffing with Sweet Potatoes and Chorizo brings together a couple of classic dishes in one. Charred Fingerling Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Toum has a refreshing garlicky sauce on the bottom and sweet honey butter on top. Or bring in squash and cranberries too with this sweet-and-sour dish.

They're quick-cooking, tender-skinned, and cuter than Elmo.

How Do I Make Sweet Potato Pie?

A sweet potato pie is very similar to a pumpkin pie. In fact, you really could take your favorite pumpkin pie recipe and swap in roasted sweet potato purée for the pumpkin purée. If you'd like to make a sweet potato pie that's a little different from the traditional version, though, here's one with a graham cracker crust and marshmallow meringue topping. (I know I just said that I didn't get marshmallows on top of sweet potato casserole, but this is dessert, so it makes sense.)

Where Can I Find Patti LaBelle's Sweet Potato Pie?

If you're looking to buy a ready-made pie, I can't help you. If you're looking to get an invite to Ms. LaBelle's personal Thanksgiving celebration, you're in the wrong place. If you'd like to make a pie in the style of Patti, we've got you.

Got Any More Great Sweet Potato Recipes for Thanksgiving?

I thought you'd never ask.

Originally Appeared on Epicurious