Mashed potato - basic staple or too much effort?

[NoblyBobly]

I was at a social event this morning with a mix of age ranges. We were chatting about what everyone was having for their main meal (dinner/lunch/tea/supper). I mentioned we were having a quick meal tonight of sausage and mash along with some mushroom, onion and courgette.
I was really surprised that so many said they love mash but it's too much effort..........
I consider boiling a few spuds as minimal effort and an everyday basic food. am I out of touch?

If we are having mash, which isn't often, I am lazy and buy it premade. I can't be bothered with all that peeling, boiling, mashing until smooth. The only time we had mash regularly was when dc were small.

Much prefer the texture and extra taste you get with skin on crushed new potatoes, especially Jersey Royals. Boil, crush a bit with the masher, and stir in lots of butter and sometimes chives or spring onions. So much tastier, easier and a better alternative to mash 99.9% of the time.

I buy frozen mash... tbh it's just as good as homemade.

I only make it occasionally as I do find it a pain.

Sausage and mash is a quick meal if you use frozen mash.

A quick meal to me is one that requires little to no effort when making it so I can use that time to do other bits and peeling/mashing spuds is neither quick nor effortless.

@isthismylifenow aah. Farmer's beans. In the diminutive. 😉

I would also never refer to a dish containing homemade mash as a ‘quick meal’. To me ‘just making a quick meal tonight’ means an oven pizza with a bit of ready-made salad. Or maybe a spag Bol with a jar sauce.

We love buttery mash & I don't find it a faff at all it's easy, just make sure you cook the tatties really well and you won't have lumpy mash. I use the beater attachments on my electric hand mixer on low speed to mash them, then add butter, never milk or cream, perfect every time. Never use high speed it will turn into wallpaper paste! I rediscovered Smash during the pandemic, we bought a huge bag to have as back up in case we couldn't get spuds anytime & I keep some in the cupboard all the time now. Great for topping pies making tattie scones etc

I have never heard anyone think mash potato is an effort!

Sounds bonkers to me.

What on earth are people eating if mash is too much effort?!

It creates too much mess. I use a potato ricer and it just goes everywhere 😂

And as a PP said it needs too much butter and cream to be a staple!

But when I do make it I make loads and freeze it!

Is it too obvious to reply with frozen mash.. 😆

It's not that much of a faff but we only do it about twice a year as no one is that bothered by it in our house and one person actively hates it.

I've just caught up with the rest of the thread. Mash threads are my favourite. 😆.

I don't peel mine. I think of it as lazy rustic mash. I do add butter and milk and mayonnaise and some salt. So not the healthiest way to eat potatoes for sure. If I'm feeling flash I add a sauted leek and sweetcorn. Maybe some veggie bacon.

I fancy that now.

Bloody hate making mash. Bought a potato ricer which definitely makes superior rice - but the mess. Fuck it.

Frozen mash all the way if you are only cooking for one or two. I do it in a pan with a little milk, added butter and some mustard powder ( my secret ingredient) . Takes only a few minutes on the hob. I don’t eat potatoes of any sort often so mash is a treat.

Lefty here, can’t use a peeler, I use a paring knife.

I am a bit lazy when it comes to cooking but even I find the effort of making mash close to zero. Peel potatoes. Add water. Boil. Drain Water. Add butter. Mash with masher for about 1 minute.

We are not exactly talking huge amounts of effort here.

Unless I'm cooking something like a stew and can steam the spuds, I chop them into chunks and cook them in the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes, then mash them, add butter and milk (and chives and parsley and lovage in season) and re-heat. For more than three people it might be faff, for one or two it's perfect. And the left overs make delicious potato cakes / tattie scones.

If I'm going to eat them immediately I'll peel them first, if I can let them cool between microwaving and mashing I'll do them in their jackets.

Roosters are good for this - as for most other spuddy needs.

Me too. I love root veg mash - swede especially.

I find the peeling and mashing only takes about 5 minutes each. I also find the masking process quite therapeutic. The longest part is the boiling but generally there are other things that need attention (ie sausages) that you can get on with whilst it's cooking. I did by the m and s ultimate mash ones just to see but wasn't bowled over by it! I do it at least once a week.

Don't think anyone is saying it is something that requires any skill, just that it is a pain to peel, boil, mash, clean up when pre made is comparable.

I bought Smash during lockdown too. Jeez that brought back some childhood memories eating at grans (mum had 5 dc so real mash was easier/cheaper). It was made once and went straight in the bin! 🤢

I have HEARD that if you've a slob and live on your own you can eat the spuds out of the bowl you microwaved and mashed them in, which cuts down on the washing up. A flat-bottomed pyrex bowl is good. Be sure to leave space for the sausages or whatever else you're having.

Can you please stop spying on me whilst I'm eating my dinner.... 😅

I love mash. But I do find it a faff when cooking for more than 2.

And bangers and mash to me is not a quick meal. Lots of prep - especially coz we usually eat with steamed carrots, swede and broccoli which have to be peeled & chopped too. And there's a lot of supervision required for the spuds - making sure the pot doesn't boil over. Making sure they don't overcook and disintegrate (although, I think I'll he taking tips from this thread!)

Then there's the washing up - it's not fun to clean up a mash potato pot that's grainy and sticky, and a greasy sausage tray/pan.

I buy ready made mash. Can't be arsed doing it myself.

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Sorry for the big link

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