Seven of the Best Potato Mashers for Creamy Spuds Every Time

To make creamy mashed potatoes at home that mimic the rich, buttery kind you'd find at your favorite steakhouse or French bistro, there are a few key things to keep in mind: First, make sure you're using the right type of spud (our editors prefer Yukon golds), then get ready to add the hot milk, melted butter, and plenty of salt. But beyond flavor, there's one tool that will help you achieve a batch of luscious lump-free mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes time and time again: a potato masher or ricer. These inexpensive but efficient tools help to break up cooked potatoes and turn them into the decadent purée everyone knows and loves.

The Best Potato Mashers

• Best Ricer Press: Chef'n FreshForce Potato Ricer
• Best Stainless Steel Option: The World's Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher and Ricer
• Best Food Mill: OXO Stainless Steel Food Mill
• Best Potato Masher for Kids: Sur La Table Stainless Steel Mini Masher
• Best Versatile Potato Masher: Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer with Interchangeable Discs
• Best Wire Potato Masher: OXO Good Grips Potato Masher
• Best Perforated Potato Masher: Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Potato Masher

Potato Ricer Press

For silky smooth mashed potatoes every time, this powerhouse potato ricer is the tool for the job. Cook whole unpeeled potatoes, then press them through the sturdy ricer base, creating streams of thin spuds. It's a larger, bulkier model than most, but the results it creates are well worth the space it'll take up in your drawer.

Shop Now: Chef'n FreshForce Potato Ricer Press, $33.99, amazon.com.

Food Mill

The hand crank on a traditional food mill helps to break down cooked potatoes to create a creamy texture and consistently sized spuds. The benefit of owning a food mill is that you can also use it for other recipes, such as applesauce, fruit jam, or puréed soup.

Shop Now: OXO Food Mill, $49.99, bedbathandbeyond.com.

Versatile Potato Masher

Do you like to switch up your potatoes between smooth and chunky? This heavy-duty potato ricer comes with three interchangeable discs so you can change the texture based on your current preferences. And with over 1,400 four- and five-star reviews, you it's guaranteed to create a lump-free bowl of mashed potatoes every time.

Shop Now: Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer with Interchangeable Fineness Discs, $19.95, amazon.com.

Kid-Friendly

Whether you're making a small batch of mashed potatoes or have tiny hands helping you in the kitchen, this petite-sized potato masher is one of the best in its category. It's made entirely of stainless steel, so it's dishwasher safe. And at under $10, what's not to love?

Shop Now: Sur La Table Stainless Steel Mini Masher, $9.95, surlatable.com.

Stainless Steel

This innovative potato masher features the best of both worlds—a wavy, stainless steel wire masher that breaks up cooked potatoes into manageable pieces, while a perforated ricer turns the lumps into a silky side dish.

Shop Now: The World's Greatest Dual-Action Potato Masher and Ricer, $14.99, amazon.com.

Wire Potato Masher

A classic potato masher, this stainless steel tool features a single wire base and cushioned ergonomic handle that makes mashing a large batch of potatoes simple and pain-free.

Shop Now: OXO Good Grips Potato Masher, $12.99, bedbathandbeyond.com.

Perforated Potato Masher

With a wide, perforated masher and soft-grip handle, create uniform mashed potatoes with this essential prep tool. It features a one-of-a-kind teardrop-shaped masher, which doubles as a serving spoon.

Shop Now: Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Potato Masher, $34.95, williams-sonoma.com.