Help me with prep of my mashed potatoes?!
20 lbs of yukon gold potatoes to be boiled and mashed
Right now, they are peeled and quarted and soaking in water
I only have ONE large pot for boiling. I will likely have to boil in 3-4 batches.
Dinner is 1hr away from my house. Plan was to mash & mix the pototatoes and then place in my large crock pot on low to keep warm. Insulate crock well and transport to dinner location. When I get there, I can plug it back in and continue to keep the potatoes warm without having to get at the oven which will be beyond full. I figure a nice stir every now and then will keep the mashers fluffy.
Being that I have to boil the potaotes in 3-4 batches, what should I do with the potatoes that are cooked while the next batches are boiling? Do they need to be covered in water? Should I mash them and get them in the crock then just combine all batches.
I'd love your suggestions for coordinating this effort. I'm just NOT good at this kitchen stuff!!
Answers: Here is the challenge:
20 lbs of yukon gold potatoes to be boiled and mashed
Right now, they are peeled and quarted and soaking in water
I only have ONE large pot for boiling. I will likely have to boil in 3-4 batches.
Dinner is 1hr away from my house. Plan was to mash & mix the pototatoes and then place in my large crock pot on low to keep warm. Insulate crock well and transport to dinner location. When I get there, I can plug it back in and continue to keep the potatoes warm without having to get at the oven which will be beyond full. I figure a nice stir every now and then will keep the mashers fluffy.
Being that I have to boil the potaotes in 3-4 batches, what should I do with the potatoes that are cooked while the next batches are boiling? Do they need to be covered in water? Should I mash them and get them in the crock then just combine all batches.
I'd love your suggestions for coordinating this effort. I'm just NOT good at this kitchen stuff!!
Do the latter - Mash each batch as your potatoes finish, place them in the crock, combining with the later, mashed batches.
Do NOT under any circumstances, allow unmashed potatoes to go cold. You will end up with a gluey mess, not a fluffy mash.
I would keep them warm in the oven set at 250 until you are ready to mash all of them. Leave them a little water and cover the dish so they do not dry out in the oven.
I would mash each batch as it is finished than combine all the batches - leaving them soaking in water will make them mushy and mealy.
I would make them in batches and keep in crock pot, blended the batches with each addition.
Just keep the already-boiled potatoes in a vessel you can mash in, warm and uncovered, and stir them occasionally. In fact, this will help drive off some water from the boiled potatoes, amd that's an important step in finishing with a fluffy product instead of a gummy one. Also, don't beat them too much or use an electric mixer during the mashing process. This is a sure way to cross over from fluffy into gummy.
You're on the right track. Forzo e corragio!