Looking for a potato ricer substitute?
Many people love mashed potatoes, and nothing beats the home-made version. Using a potato ricer will almost guarantee ending up with smooth and creamy mashed potatoes.
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However, not everyone has a potato ricer at home. What is the best substitute?
You can use a fine grater, masher or a food mill to achieve the same results. You should not miss your favorite meal just because you do not have a potato ricer; improvise and enjoy your dinner as usual.
Fine Grater
Boil your potatoes long enough so that they are soft. Potatoes that are not cooked all the way through will have hard centers, and will be difficult to grate.
In the next step, you should peel the potatoes and cool them. Set the potatoes in cold water for about 15 minutes. Gently peel off the potatoes and discard the peels.
Place your grater over a bowl that will catch the grated potatoes. Hold one end down of the potato’s length and slide it on the grater. Do it gradually, but you can increase the speed to work faster.
Once you are done, and the grated potatoes are inside the bowl, you can use a fork to fluff them.
To get the smooth texture potatoes you want, avoid using graters with the smallest holes. It is a great idea to experiment with different sized graters to see which texture you prefer. On a box grater, many people prefer the second smallest set of holes.
Food Mill
If you are going to use a food mill, you can cube your potatoes prior to boiling them. After boiling and cooling your potatoes, select a medium-size option on the food mill to make potatoes that look like they came from a potato ricer!
There are food mills that claim to separate the peels from the potatoes. However, we highly recommended that you peel them prior to boiling and ignore this feature.
Food mills are hand operated, so spend a little time to see what pressures and speeds get the best results for you.
Potato Masher
The downside of potato mashers is that they can leave lumps; however, they are a good alternative if you do not have a potato ricer.
If you are diligent with your mashing, you can end up with smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, especially if you are only looking for a small amount.
Make sure your masher reaches all corners of your pot. Press and twist it as you add a little milk and butter, and you will end up tasty, smooth, and appealing mashed potatoes.
For the best results, make sure your potatoes are thoroughly cooked and soft. It may not give you fluffy potatoes, but it’s a great alternative to a potato ricer.
If you like potato skin in your mashed potatoes, the skin will mix in nicely when using a potato masher.
Hand Mixer
Creamy potatoes can be achieved by using a hand mixer. As with the other methods, you will need to start with thoroughly cooked potatoes that are cut into chunks.
Add some milk and butter. Start out at a slow speed, and increase the speed as the potatoes cream together. Mix until you get the amount of creaminess you desire. If you overmix, the potatoes become gluey.
A hand mixer is also good for making “dirty mashed potatoes” – mashed potatoes with potato skin mixed in.
Related: Food Mill Substitute
Conclusion
When it comes to ricing potatoes at home, you can always be innovative and flexible.
The alternative method will depend on how you want your riced potatoes and how fast you want them done.
