Everyday Food editor Sarah Carey teaches you the best techniques for scoring fluffy, delicious mashed potatoes.
In a large pot, cover potatoes by 2 inches with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly and pass potatoes through a ricer or food mill into pot.
Over low heat, add butter and stir until melted. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until potatoes are stiff, about 1 minute. Gradually add cream, stirring constantly to combine. Using a rubber spatula, pass potatoes through a fine-mesh sieve. Season with salt and pepper.
Martha should be ashamed of herself for suggesting that people need to make mashed potatoes that have 53 grams of fat and 35 grams of saturated fat PER SERVING, which by the way is 68% and 175% of recommended Daily Values. One can make terrific, satisfying mashed potatos with a couple of pats of butter and low fat milk; I do it regularly. This over-indulgent recipe is why there is an epidemic of heart disease in our Western diet.