Potato Masher - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2022
There's never been a better time to cook at home, whether you love preparing healthy meals for your family or enjoy the art of culinary creations. That's because there are almost countless small appliances on the market today that help make life in the kitchen easier for home chefs. And while power appliances that chop, puree, slice and peel help reduce the time it takes to prepare ingredients for recipes, sometimes all you need is a simple hand tool to accomplish a specific task. The masher is a basic tool, but practical for many uses.
The masher consists of a handle with a robust head typically made of metal with openings in the form of holes or slats. It is built to give the user an advantage while pulverizing potatoes and other foods in preparation for being served or added to other components of a recipe. Sounds pretty simple and useful, doesn't it? It's definitely a tool that will come in handy again and again, which is why you'll want to choose a well-made potato masher that can withstand years of use.
Although this cookware has a similar design, there are a few features you'll want to consider before purchasing. Not only have we picked our favorite potato mashers on the market for their durability and user-friendly designs, we've also put together some helpful information and tips to get you started. So keep reading to find the perfect tool that will make it easy for you to perfectly prepare all your puree ingredients.
Considerations to help you Choose a Masher
Before choosing a potato masher, here are some points to consider when shopping for the best one for your needs.
How often do you plan to use your potato masher? If the recipes you make frequently require you to use it regularly, you may want to invest in an expensive model that's more likely to hold up to frequent mashing. Instead, consider an inexpensive potato masher for occasional use.
Do you have limited hand strength? Some potato mashers have horizontal or contoured handles that make them easier to use for people with conditions like arthritis, carpal tunnel, or tendinitis.
Where will you store your potato masher when you're not using it? The masher with small holes on the top of the handles can be easily hung up when not in use. However, the nature of its design takes up more space in a kitchen drawer than a serving spoon or spatula. If you need a potato masher that fits well in a drawer with limited space, opt for one with a compact design.
How finely ground do you need your food to be? Some mashers are better suited for making potatoes and other smooth, lump-free foods, as those have heavy-gauge wire heads that provide reliable shredding power.
How do Potato Mashers Work?
Using a potato masher will possibly be one of the easiest tasks to do while cooking. Once you've chosen the type of soft food you want to shred, simply grab the handle and go to work. Push up and down on utensil until desired consistency is achieved.
Uses of a Potato Masher
The name says it all - a potato masher is the tool you want to mash potatoes. It's silly, but this handy tool has other purposes, including making some of the following tasty concoctions:
- Preparing cooked beans to make bean burgers.
- Crushing chickpeas for hummus.
- Make mashed bananas to bake banana bread.
- Pulverizing sweet potatoes to put them in a saucepan.
- Break nuts into pieces for a variety of recipes.
- Shredded ground beef for sauces.
- Egg puree for the egg salad.
- Turning avocados into guacamole.
- Making soup with a variety of vegetables.
Parts of a Potato Masher
As we mentioned in the introduction, potato mashers are complicated tools. You basically have a handle and the head that makes the mash, but let's take a closer look at these components and options you'll find when shopping for the perfect mashed potatoes for your cooking needs.
- Heads
The mashing surface of a potato is also called the top or head. They are made of metal, typically stainless steel, and feature thick curved wire loops or plates with holes in them. Wire head mills are usually very sturdy, but typically require a higher degree of grinding to achieve the desired consistency. Metal plate grinders grind large portions of food at one time. However, the downside of this design is that food tends to get stuck in the holes and around the boards.
Some mashed potato heads are also chrome plated. This feature does a good job of preventing food from sticking to the surface of the wires or plates during the mashing process, and also makes it easier to clean.
- Handles
The most common type of potato masher handle is vertical. They are constructed of metal, and some are coated with plastic or silicone to make them easier to grip. Some handles are even curved or contoured to further improve mash performance. Although rarely found on standard potato mashers, some models have wooden handles.
- Materials
Potato mashers that are made of metal such as stainless steel are the most popular, and they are also the most durable. However, purifiers made entirely of plastic, nylon, or silicone are also available. They are best suited for occasional use, and don't offer the same longevity as their metal counterparts.
Tips
Note that mashed potatoes work best on soft foods. When it comes to mashing most vegetables, potatoes, and fruits, you'll need to cook or boil them first. Avocados, berries, and bananas are a few exceptions, as they are already soft and easy to mash raw. Canned beans are also easy to mash.
When food gets stuck in the potato masher, gently tapping on the side of the bowl or pan breaks the pieces free so you can easily continue mashing.
Wash the masher thoroughly after each use and dry before storing.
Potato mashers that have silicone or plastic-coated handles provide a decent grip and reduce the chance of slipping during use.
Do you want creamy results? If so, a potato masher with a plate with small holes in it is a good option, as it will do a good job of squashing larger lumps and chunks.
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