Do Ahead Mashed Potatoes For A Crowd Food

DO-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes, peel or don't peel. Cut into large chunks and place in a very large pot with plenty of headroom. Fill with water to cover and then add a few extra inches of water; salt the water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Adjust heat and vigorously simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes or until done.
• Meanwhile, warm 3 cups (720 ml) of the milk (or half and half if you want richer mashed potatoes) with the 1/2 cup (113 g) of butter.
• Butter the inside of your slow cooker at this time, as well.
• Drain well in a colander. Return potatoes to the pot over low heat and toss them around a few times to dry out a bit.
• If you are going to mash with a hand-held potato masher you will proceed right in the pot. If you are going to use a ricer or food mill, you will do that right in the slow cooker.
• Using Hand-Held Potato Masher: Use a potato masher to begin mashing the potatoes right in the cooking pot, adding the warmed milk and melted butter. Add additional milk if necessary and keep mashing to achieve desired texture. You want them a little looser than usual, as they will dry out a tad in the slow cooker. Taste and season well with salt and pepper. Transfer to slow cooker. Dot potatoes with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Cover the slow cooker and set on warm for up to 4 hours.
• Using Ricer or Food Mill: Place ricer or food mill over slow cooker. Add potatoes to ricer or food mill and press potatoes into slow cooker. Clean out skins from food mill as you go. Once all the potatoes are in the slow cooker, add warmed milk and melted butter and use a balloon whisk to bring everything together. Add additional milk if needed, whisking it in well. You want the mashed potatoes little looser than usual, as they will dry out a tad in the slow cooker. Taste and season to taste with salt and pepper. Dot potatoes with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Cover the slow cooker and set on warm for up to 4 hours.

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients; mixing well.
• Place in large casserole.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• (May be stored in refregerator for 5 days) When ready to use, let set at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Bake at 350 degrees F.
• for 50-60 minutes, or until heated through.

BEST OLD-FASHIONED MASHED POTATOES FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water by about 1 inch and add 2 tablespoons salt. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over high heat, and then reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer briskly until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Drain the potatoes, reserving 1/2 cup of the water. Quarter the potatoes and pass them through a food mill or ricer back into the pan. (Peel them first if you are using a ricer). When the potatoes are almost done, heat the buttermilk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to just under a simmer. Set aside; it will separate and look curdled but don't worry, it will mix in fine. Fold the buttermilk and reserved cooking water into the potatoes over low heat. Then fold in the butter a handful of pieces at a time until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place potatoes in a large pot of lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash.
• In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, onion salt, and pepper. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
• Cover, and bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven.

DO-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Scrub potatoes.
• Leave skins on, if desired, or peel thinly and remove eyes.
• Cut into large pieces.
• Heat 1 inch water (salted if desired) to boiling in 3-quart saucepan; add potato pieces.
• Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat.
• Cook covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain.
• Shake pan gently over low heat to dry potatoes.
• Heat milk, whipping cream, butter, salt and pepper in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted.
• Measure out 1/4 cup of the milk mixture; cover and refrigerate.
• Add remaining milk mixture in small amounts to potatoes in medium bowl, mashing with potato masher or electric mixer after each addition.
• (Amount of milk needed to make potatoes smooth and fluffy depends on kind of potatoes used.) Beat vigorously until potatoes are light and fluffy.
• Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
• Spoon potatoes into casserole.
• Bake immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Pour reserved milk mixture over potatoes.
• Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until potatoes are hot.
• Just before serving, stir potatoes.
• Variation: Love garlic?
• Peel and finely chop 1 or 2 cloves and add to the potatoes before mashing.

MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATOES FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Butter and cream cheese should be allowed to soften at room temperature for ease of use. Leaving them on the counter while you peel the potatoes should be sufficient.
• Peel potatoes, rinse, and cut into large chunks. Place in a large stockpot and fill with enough water to cover the potatoes and boil till tender.
• While potatoes boil, blend 1 1/3 cup butter with the cream cheese. (This is best done in a stand mixer.) Add sour cream and mix well. Set aside.
• Chop green onions, and refrigerate in a ziplock bag till serving time.
• Drain cooked potatoes and mash or whip to your liking (I like them super smooth, but some people prefer them lumpy.).
• Add the dairy blend to the potatoes and mix well. You can either do this in your stock pot, or divide it up into more manageable portions.
• Once it's all mixed, load it into your crockpot and whack it into the fridge.
• On serving day, dot the top of the potatoes with the remaining butter. Put the crockpot on low setting for 2-3 hours or until heated thru, then turn down to 'keep warm' setting (if your crockpot has one) till dinner time.
• Can be served directly from the crockpot for buffet, or divvied up into serving dishes for family style dining.

MAKE AHEAD MASHED POTATOES FOR CROCK POT

Steps:

• Boil peeled potatoes until tender.
• Beat sour cream and cream cheese together.
• Add hot potatoes and beat until smooth.
• Add butter, chives, salt and pepper to taste.
• Place in greased two quart casserole.
• Dot with butter and sprinkle paprika on top.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
• Serves 8-10.
• NOTE****this recipe can be made the day before dinner and refrigerated in crock pot.
• Then, on the serving day, just turn on crock pot at low setting and cook potatoes for about 2-3 hours, to be ready when the rest of the dinner is ready.
• You may add more butter, cream cheese or sour cream depending upon the consistency you prefer.