7 tips from the pros on how to reheat frozen mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a versatile side dish that can be used with a wide range of main dishes. It's also easy to prepare and store by putting the right amount of portions in the freezer.

Daily Meal writes: "You can freeze mashed potatoes for several months in advance and they will remain delicious. Of course, if you know how to defrost it, because if you do it wrong, the dish will become grainy and tasteless."

That is why we have collected the best tips from chefs on the topic of reheating mashed potatoes using a wide range of kitchen appliances. This was reported by SSPDaily.

How to avoid grainy mashed potatoes

When reheating mashed potatoes, graininess can be a serious problem. There are various reasons for this phenomenon. These include certain types of potatoes, insufficient fat, and improper heating methods.

Although using the oven and microwave are the most common ways to defrost and reheat mashed potatoes, practice shows that this is the easiest way to spoil their texture.

However, this can be easily avoided by using an alternative method. In particular, to reduce the graininess, defrost the potatoes in the refrigerator beforehand and then heat them in a saucepan.

Make sure you use gentle heat so that the product heats up slowly and evenly, and then, using a silicone spatula, press the potatoes against the walls of the pan for 15-30 seconds.

This technique will help the potatoes re-absorb the liquid, smooth them out, and get rid of any lumps that may not have mashed up the first time.

Heat the mashed potatoes over low heat

It doesn't take long to reheat mashed potatoes, but it will take some time. And if you're heating it on the stove, you might be tempted to turn up the heat to speed up the process.

However, this is a big mistake. If you increase the heat to the maximum, you will essentially start cooking the mashed potatoes all over again, and as a result, you will ruin them. Worse, the high heat can cause mashed potatoes to stick to the pan and even burn.

Instead, you should always keep the temperature low when reheating, and use a non-stick pan to avoid sticking.

In addition, when heating the mashed potatoes, do not forget to stir them - this will help to distribute the heat properly.

How to improve the consistency of mashed potatoes by frying them in butter

The main attraction of mashed potatoes is their soft, buttery texture, the neutrality of which goes well with foods with a more specific flavor. But that doesn't mean mashed potatoes can't be interesting on their own. And one of the best ways to achieve this is to heat it up in a special way.

To do this, cut the mashed potatoes into 2.5 cm wide slices or plates, then fry them in butter, turning them over midway through cooking.

Take into account the thickness of your mashed potatoes. Fry it this way if it is quite firm. Otherwise, it may simply "melt" in the pan.

Add cream to warm up potatoes in the oven

While butter or cream is not necessarily required to make mashed potatoes, it definitely helps. Using these ingredients infuses the potatoes with milk fats, makes them taste creamier and provides some moisture.

But when mashed potatoes are heated, some of the water can evaporate, turning into steam. This is especially common in ovens, where dry heat can cause the mashed potatoes to form a dry and cracked top.

To prevent this, use a little extra butter or cream before putting the potatoes in the oven.

If you are using cream, add it around the edges of the potatoes before taking them out when they are slightly warm. As for the butter, simply cut it into pieces, scatter them on top of the potatoes, and stir once it has melted.

How to heat mashed potatoes in a slow cooker

Although it's not always advisable to put a slow cooker on the dining room table, it's quite suitable for more casual dinners.

To reheat the dish, set the slow cooker to slow, put mashed potatoes inside and wait until they are hot.

How to defrost mashed potatoes in the microwave

The best option for quickly heating mashed potatoes is the microwave. It can make the dish edible in a matter of minutes. How to do it?

Place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave at 50% power for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, until the food is fully heated.

Reducing the power is important because it will heat the puree softer.

Remember that microwaves heat food mainly from the outside in, so by using 50% power, you allow the inside of the mashed potatoes to slowly heat up from the outside, defrosting them with more control.

If you have a large portion, increase the cooking time slightly to ensure that everything is hot enough.

Also, keep a little cream or milk on hand, and when you stir the potatoes, check to see if they need any additional moisture.

How to reheat mashed potatoes in a double boiler

While microwaves, ovens, and saucepans are all great for reheating mashed potatoes, they all do so quite intensely, causing the potatoes to lose their smoothness and become mealy. While you can turn down the power or heat with any of these methods, it may be better to use a gentle, temperature-controlled option such as a double boiler.

Put the mashed potatoes in a heatproof bowl, then place it in a saucepan of water and cook over low heat.

Be careful not to stir the potatoes, otherwise they will become sticky. When you do this, it releases a lot of starch, which can make the dish unappetizing.

This method is also convenient because you can leave the potatoes in the steamer after cooking, and they will remain warm for a long time.