You may find yourself with tons of leftovers after Thanksgiving finally calls it a day. Figuring out how to reheat mashed potatoes seems like one of the simplest things in the world, right? But while dishes from Thanksgiving usually reheat easily, it's tough to get good flavor, consistency and a uniform temperature with mashed potatoes.
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They can turn from creamy and moist to dried out and grainy, only to resemble something out of a box. This is especially true when you'd rather not turn on the oven and simply warm your mashed potatoes in the microwave.
We're here to let you know why mashed potatoes don't always reheat well and what additional steps you can take. Learn the secrets that restaurants use when reheating mashed potatoes, and put them to good use for you and your family.
We'll dive into four different ways to reheat mashed potatoes, including an oven, microwave, stovetop and slow cooker. You'll discover how best to achieve reheated mashed potatoes that could be mistaken for ones you just prepared. No one will ever guess that you didn't labor all day over these incredible-tasting spuds.
Why Do Mashed Potatoes Not Reheat Well?
There are specific reasons why mashed potatoes don't tend to reheat well. Like any starchy dish that includes dairy, mashed potatoes can get dry and even sticky like glue. This also happens to dishes from cream-based casseroles to mac and cheese.
When mashed potatoes overheat, they can become too hot in places and cold in others. You're left with an uneven, dried-out mess that no one will want to taste. If you take the steps outlined below, you'll avoid unhappy eaters every time.
How Do You Reheat Mashed Potatoes Without Drying Them Out?
The key when reheating mashed potatoes is adding more moisture before they heat up again. You can include a bit of milk or cream, a tablespoon of butter, sour cream, or cream cheese. Whatever heavy cream substitutes you have should do the trick. Many believe stirring the mashed potatoes in a saucepan is the most effective way to evenly distribute heat without overheating potatoes. Check out all the methods below for how to reheat mashed potatoes, so you can find the one you like best.
Can You Reheat Reheated Mashed Potatoes?
Once you've already reheated mashed potatoes, it's best not to keep trying to reheat them over and over again. A better plan is to set aside the amount of mashed potatoes you want to reheat if a lot is available. This way, each time you reheat a smaller portion of mashed potatoes, they'll only go through the reheating process once.
How Do Restaurants Reheat Mashed Potato?
Restaurants usually pre-prepare mashed potatoes so they're not technically reheating them. What they do is boil and mash the potato ahead of time. Once it's time to serve, they'll mix warm cream or milk into the already-mashed potatoes. All the while, they heat them until the potatoes achieve a creamy consistency and are ready to eat.
How Long Can You Keep Mashed Potatoes In The Fridge?
Healthline reports that mashed potatoes have a shelf life of three to four days when kept in the refrigerator. If you decide to freeze mashed potatoes, portion them in scoops on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, they can be kept in a plastic bag in the freezer for up to a month or more.
How To Reheat Mashed Potatoes Four Ways
Here are four ways detailing how to reheat mashed potatoes successfully for serving again!
- Stovetop: When reheating mashed potatoes on a stovetop, use the double boiler method. All you'll need is a medium saucepan and heatproof bowl, plus a spoon or whisk to mix the potatoes with. Fill the saucepan with a couple of inches of water and bring to a simmer. Put the mashed potatoes into the bowl over the saucepan and add whatever extra milk, cream or butter you want. Stir the mashed potatoes semi-regularly as they heat throughout.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 F. Place mashed potatoes into a greased baking dish. Add additional dairy ingredients and mix them into the potatoes. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 30 minutes until warmed through. You may have to check on the potatoes and add more butter or cream if dry. It's a good idea to stir from time to time, especially if they're cold in some areas.
- Microwave: While many people believe a microwave is the least-effective reheating method for mashed potatoes, it can work. The trick is to add enough butter or cream to the mashed potatoes and cover the microwave-safe bowl with a dish. The dish creates steam to add moisture to the potatoes as they reheat. Reheat mashed potatoes in the microwave for 15-second increments so you can check on them and stir as needed.
- Slow cooker: When using the slow cooker method, you can reheat mashed potatoes or make ahead and keep them warm. Once all the ingredients are added in, set the slow cooker to low and warm for three to four hours. Keep in mind the potatoes should be mashed before being added to the slow cooker. Keep checking the mashed potatoes to see if they need stirring or if more ingredients are added. This is a great method when you need to set it and (almost) forget it!
