Fluffy Buttermilk-Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2024)

By Molly O'Neill

Fluffy Buttermilk-Mashed Potatoes Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 20 minutes
Rating
4(791)
Notes
Read community notes

Buttermilk and a smidge of baking soda work together here to create an impossibly fluffy potato side dish. We like to finish ours with an extra pat of butter that melts into a golden pool while we set the table.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • pounds potatoes (like Yukon Gold), peeled and sliced
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • ½cup buttermilk
  • ½teaspoon baking soda
  • 2teaspoons unsalted butter
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

140 calories; 2 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 27 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 409 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Fluffy Buttermilk-Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place the potatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt in a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid.

  2. Step

    2

    Place the potatoes in a large bowl and mash partly. Cook the buttermilk in a saucepan over low heat to just barely warm it; do not let the buttermilk get too hot or it will separate. Add it and the baking soda to the potatoes and mash completely.

  3. Step

    3

    Stir in the butter, additional salt and the pepper to taste. If you like very creamy mashed potatoes, add the reserved cooking liquid. Serve immediately.

Ratings

4

out of 5

791

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Kate

I didn't bother with moving the potatoes to a separate bowl and warming the buttermilk, I just dumped it all in the pot together after draining the potatoes. Added 2 tablespoons instead of teaspoons of butter. And it was fantastic! Very fluffy, light, and creamy. Ideal mashed potatoes.

DJ

It came out a little more cement-y/thick than some of my guests preferred, especially when cooled. The flavor was nice, but I suggest using a ricer or something to fluff them up.

kris

Yukon Gold potatoes are not good for mashing. They don't "dry out" the way the brown baking potatoes do...

Randy G

I've noticed in Houston, many restaurants prepare their mashed potatoes with buttermilk. In theory, I presume to lower the calories. However, I used Borden's whole milk Bulgarian cultured buttermilk, doubled the butter because I like butter. Otherwise, I followed the recipe exactly and the mashed potatoes were a smashing hit!

Mari

Here is an Irish girl's recipe for perfect mashed spuds:Take 4 Large floury potatoesCut the potatoes up so that each piece is about 2 in X 1.5 in approxSteam them until soft in the middleHeat up about 1 cup whole milk and about 1.5 oz butter with a little salt in a saucepan until almost boiling.Tip in the soft steamed potatoes, and mash - adding more milk and butter and salt to tastePut mash in a shallow ovenproof dish, fork over, dot with a little butter, and bake at 325F for 20-30mins

Lauren Spark

Delicious and easy. I cooked the potatoes in water with some chicken bouillon instead of salt. And doubled the buttermilk. Perfect mashed potatoes.

gail

Loved this! Thank you, Molly!

ReginaB

These potatoes were bland and a bit gluey. They also had a green hue much like others who wrote notes. I have a recipe from Pioneer Woman that is my go to mashed potato recipe. I’ll stick with that in the future.

Nicole N

Really enjoyed the flavor with the tang of the buttermilk, but mine turned out far from fluffy - much denser and paste-like. I'll stick to my usual no recipe method next time I want mashed potatoes.

Es

These were nice, particularly if you have the buttermilk in the refrigerator. Flavor was good.

anna frances

i made this in a food processor, as me and my brother are both recovering from wisdom teeth surgery. i added: another potato, 1 TBS miso, 1 TBS nutritional yeast, 1/2 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp rosemary, 1/3 cup sour cream & 1 green onion. it was delicious, but if i was remaking it for a normal occasion i’d make it in a stand mixer to avoid a soup-like consistency.

Chabe San Diego

I could taste the baking soda. I did not like that.

Mari

Here is an Irish girl's recipe for perfect mashed spuds:Take 4 Large floury potatoesCut the potatoes up so that each piece is about 2 in X 1.5 in approxSteam them until soft in the middleHeat up about 1 cup whole milk and about 1.5 oz butter with a little salt in a saucepan until almost boiling.Tip in the soft steamed potatoes, and mash - adding more milk and butter and salt to tastePut mash in a shallow ovenproof dish, fork over, dot with a little butter, and bake at 325F for 20-30mins

Anna

When it came to boiling the potatoes, I salted 1 qt water with 2 tbsp Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt (thanks Samin Nosrat!) and added the potatoes once the water reached a boil. I checked after 10 min, found them still hard, then forgot about them for maybe 5 min when they were a little past fork tender.I didn’t heat the buttermilk (didn’t really see a point) and used low-fat buttermilk. I then used a hand mixer to mash, added in 1 tbsp unsalted butter, and a dash more of salt. Perfection!

John

Everyone found these potatoes bland, and I added more buttermilk and butter. Very disappointed.

Dave Snow

Very easy to prepare and delicious. I used a ricer because I couldn't find my masher and was really pleased with the results. One strange thing, though... They turned a sickly green color as they cooled after dinner. Could the baking soda have something to do with that?

Marg

Buttermilk is added for its zippy flavor.

Anja Parker

These were very easy and delicious! I added an additional ounce of buttermilk (just my preference), and they were perfect.

Juliette

This is more involved than I thought it would be.It would simply if I would take the time in the morning or afternoon to mis en place, but since I didn’t, and was handling a long phone call from a dear friend right in the prep time, I used a bag of small mixed potatoes from TJ’s and ended up with green mashed potatoes! Not particularly off-putting but entirely novel!This recipe is very good, but I think I still prefer my thirty year old recipe that is a riff on someone else’s original. ***

Anna

I doubled the recipe, except for the baking soda, I kept it at 1/2 t. It really does fluff up the potatoes. The only thing different I would do next time is use a ricer- there were just too many lumps for our taste using the masher. I also adder an extra dollop of butter as I plated.

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Fluffy Buttermilk-Mashed Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why use buttermilk in mashed potatoes? ›

Dr. Potato of the Idaho Potato Commission says buttermilk can make mashed potatoes creamier than milk, bringing out a more tangy flavor thanks to the higher lactic acid found in buttermilk. Using buttermilk gives "impossibly fluffy" when mashed potatoes combined with baking soda.

Is buttermilk a good substitute for milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Buttermilk mashed potatoes have the same consistency as traditional mashed potatoes. Buttermilk is substituted for the typical milk, half and half, or heavy cream. Buttermilk lends them a slight tang while keeping the overall dish a tad bit lighter, due to its lower fat content.

How do you keep mashed potatoes fluffy? ›

Removing the potato starch both before and after cooking ensures fluffy, not gluey, mashed potatoes. Milk and butter give the potatoes richness.

How do you make mashed potatoes fluffy without gummy? ›

Ricer or Colander

Start as you would any mashed potato recipe—by boiling the potatoes until tender—then allow them to cool before adding them to a ricer. "If you rice them right away, you're not allowing excess moisture to evaporate off the potatoes," Greg says. Skipping this step can lead to dense, gluey potatoes.

Why use buttermilk instead of milk? ›

Buttermilk is used primarily for its pleasant tangy flavor, but it can also help tenderize and leaven certain baked goods.

What's better in mashed potatoes, sour cream or cream cheese? ›

Sour Cream: The sour cream helps keep the mashed potatoes fluffy. Cream Cheese: This adds a bit of creaminess without being too overpowering.

How much buttermilk can I substitute for milk? ›

You can substitute buttermilk for regular milk in just about any baking recipe, cup for cup - but some experts advise making sure the recipe includes at least ½ teaspoon baking soda per cup of buttermilk. If the recipe calls for only baking powder, replace enough of the powder with baking soda to meet this requirement.

What's better for mashed potatoes, milk or heavy cream? ›

Heavy Cream - While you, hypothetically, could use whole milk or something, I don't recommend it. Part of what makes these the creamiest mashed potatoes is the CREAM! Use the cream, we aren't eating mashed potatoes for our health. Sour Cream - This recipe is rich and it needs some tanginess for balance.

Can you use sour cream instead of milk in instant mashed potatoes? ›

Yes, you can substitute sour cream for all milk. But you won't get that “tang” associated with sour cream. Also, the milk quantity is really just a starting point. You can add more milk for thinner potatoes or less milk for thicker mashed potatoes.

What is the 1 ingredient upgrade for the fluffiest mashed potatoes? ›

The secret ingredient is just ice-cold water.

You soak the potatoes in iced water before they are cooked. This eliminates much of the starches in the potatoes, resulting in a super light and fluffy mash.

What should you avoid when making mashed potatoes? ›

10 Mistakes You're Making With Mashed Potatoes
  1. Using the Wrong Potato.
  2. Not Washing Your Potatoes Before Peeling.
  3. Dumping Your Cubed Potatoes Straight Into Boiling Water.
  4. Not Seasoning the Water.
  5. Not Allowing Them To Drain and Dry.
  6. Overworking the Potatoes When Mashing or Whipping Them.
  7. Not Using Enough Butter.
Oct 17, 2023

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

Why are my mashed potatoes not fluffy? ›

Using the wrong type of potato.

Because these varieties have a low starch content, they don't break down or absorb dairy as well as other starchier varieties, and often result in a gluey or gummy texture when mashed. Follow this tip: For fluffy mashed potatoes, use starchy potatoes, like Russets or Yukon Golds.

How long should you boil potatoes for mashed potatoes? ›

Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer, and cover. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until you can easily poke through the potatoes with a fork.

What adds flavor to mashed potatoes? ›

Garlic – For savory depth of flavor. Unsalted butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Milk – It smooths the starchy potatoes into an incredibly creamy mash. Use whole milk for the creamiest results.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

As always, better quality ingredients equals better tasting food. Heavy Cream - While you, hypothetically, could use whole milk or something, I don't recommend it. Part of what makes these the creamiest mashed potatoes is the CREAM!

What can I substitute for sour cream in mashed potatoes? ›

Yogurt is your best substitute for sour cream. Whether you're baking or making a dip or sauce, yogurt is a 1:1 sub. That means if your recipe calls for 1 cup of sour cream, you can replace it with 1 cup of yogurt. Full-fat Greek or natural yogurts work best, but low-fat or even nonfat can be used, too.

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