Can you make non-lumpy mash? What's your secret, please?

[pairsinparis]

Is it my masher, my muscle, or am I missing a trick to get lovely lump free mash?

overcook the very small cut potatoes add butter and milk. mash then whip.

the whipping makes it imo. But then I like my mash slightly sloppy.

Potato ricer. Not a blender as it makes it too much like wallpaper paste. Or for when I can't be bothered with the faff, frozen mash.

The variety of the potato definitely matters. You want a floury potato like King Edward or Maris Piper rather than a waxy one and red varieties make good all rounders. Also make sure you're using main crop potatoes and not new/second earlies. I also find that spuds don't mash well towards the end of the potato season around spring time. They tend to go all gloopy and horrible.

Potato ricer.
And if you can be arsed, bake the potatoes in their skin and then scoop out the middles. Much better mash.
And butter butter butter butter.

Potatoes have to be cooked until they’re falling apart. Loads of butter, splash of milk.

DH loves cottage pie - I have taken to ready made mash ( have nerve damage in my arm no not great at mashing ) - with a bit more butter it works. Otherwise I would say make sure potatoes are the same size to they cook the same & put a knife through each one to make sure soft before you mash.

You need a potato ricer. Nothing else compares.

Ricer. Or buy frozen...

But DH likes lumps

Frozen mashed potatoes. Gamechanger. I cannot tell you how much easier this has made my life! I work fulltime and not having to peel boil and mash spuds midweek is just brilliant

I only have to keep it in the freezer so no waste with potatoes going bad etc. and as well as no lumps there's no nasty additives or anything else either!

Iceland frozen mash
Microwave
Butter, milk, black pepper
Delish !

Well the trick is obviously, it has to be the Monster Mash!

@ChilliChaos

Handheld Electric mixer

Yes to this

Handheld electric masher.

I can't believe people use electric whisks to make their mash! I saw Ina Garten do that once and wanted to report her to the FBI and CIA for gluey potato crimes.

Do not add milk! Over boil them by about 5 mins, drain and mash immediately (while still steaming hot...wear oven mitts if you can't stand the heat!). Then add heaps of butter and mash again. THEN go in with a whisk and whizz it round really quick. You'll have creamy, lump free mash in no time!

Oh and be careful what potatoes you're using!

Definitely team ricer here. Only use it occasionally as it's a faff to wash but it's great. Do the potatoes through it first then add butter and beat through it.

Cook potatoes longer than you think is needed
Drain and put back in pan over low heat
Add more milk than you think you need , mash with potato masher , and then mash some more
Add butter ( carry on mashing ) add more milk ( carry on mashing )
The heat of the pan will make them milk absorb into the potatoes
Add a dollop of cream , a bit more salt and pepper ( add some grated nutmeg too , if you have some )
Mash a bit more and there you go
Creamy , lump free mashed potatoes

YY to the type of potatoes. Waxy potatoes don't mash well. New potatoes don't work well either.

Go for potatoes described as floury rather than waxy. Google potatoes that are good for mashing.

I don't add milk. I'm Scottish so prefer thick mash rather than a more puréed type texture. Must be cooked till soft absolutely all the way through. Dried as pps have said and mashed while still hot.

There’s your definitive answer, OP! Milk and no milk and melted unmelted butter, mashed with multiple implements before adding the milk and no milk and melted unmelted butter, but also don’t add those till you’ve mashed them. Enjoy!
Wins the thread

Potato ricer. Has been a game changer in our house. No more accidental missed lumps in mash. All lovely and smooth.

Leave the lid of the potatoes to steam after draining the water.

I just shove it in my Kenwood mixer

Use Idaho instant mash, it's lovely. Saw it here on MN a while ago and wouldn't be without it in the cupboard now! Buy in 12 packs from Amazon but Tesco also sell it.