How to make mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot

• It takes just 10 minutes to cook silky, fluffy mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot.
• Cubing the potatoes into equal 1.5 or 2-inch cubes ensures they cook evenly.
• Experiment with mix-ins and toppings to elevate the flavor of Instant Pot mashed potatoes.

The perfect mashed potatoes are silky, luscious, and fluffy and you can quickly and easily get that magical consistency by making them in the Instant Pot. Angela Lo, author of My Instant Pot Life likes to use this method because it's faster than the stovetop method and requires no monitoring.

"How many times have you over-boiled water or boiled a pot dry because you had to multitask and forgot all about it?" Lo asks, adding that water boiling over doesn't just create a mess. It's potentially dangerous, too.

For Lo, making mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot is the way to go for a number of reasons.

• It saves time. In a pot, potatoes usually take at least 15 minutes to boil. In the Instant Pot, they cook in 10 minutes.
• Requires minimal cleanup. Cooking mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot requires only one pot. And there's no need to worry about water boiling over, leaving a mess on your stovetop.
• Requires zero monitoring. On the stovetop, boiling potatoes require your attention to keep water from boiling over. With the Instant Pot, you can focus on other meal prep tasks, which is especially helpful when you're making Thanksgiving dinner or another holiday meal that requires a lot of multitasking.
• Creates perfect results every time. You don't have to worry about under or overcooked potatoes. The Instant Pot cooks potatoes to the perfect consistency for mashing.

Quick tip: If you're in the market for a new Instant Pot or multicooker, the Insider Reviews team tested 10 models to find the best ones you can buy.

Ingredients

• Potatoes: Lo's favorite potatoes are Yukon gold potatoes because they create a smoother texture in the end. But any yellow-fleshed potato will also work.
• Water: A cup of water in the base of the Instant Pot will steam your potatoes.
• Butter: Adding butter to your mashed potatoes makes them richer and silky
• Cream (or milk): Adding a splash of cream to the mashed potatoes makes them "pillowy soft," according to Lo.
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
  

What else you need

• An Instant Pot
• The Instant Pot's trivet or steam rack
• Wooden spoon
• Strainer
• Potato masher

How to make mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot

1. Prepare your potatoes. Leave the peels on for added texture, or peel them for a silky smooth mash. Cube the potatoes into 1.5 to 2-inch pieces. Cutting the pieces into similar sizes will ensure even cooking.
2. Prepare your Instant Pot. Pour water into the Instant Pot. Lo recommends at least 1 cup of water for a 6 quart Instant Pot. Make sure to salt the water so the potato cubes soak up some of that briny flavor while they cook.
3. Add the potatoes. Place the Instant Pot's trivet or steam rack into the bottom of your Instant Pot and set the cubed potatoes on top.
4. Set the cook time. Select manual high pressure and set the timer for 10 minutes. It will take a short amount of time for the device to come up to pressure. Once that happens, the timer will start to countdown.
5. Manually release the pressure from the Instant Pot. Using a long utensil like a kitchen spoon, gently push down the Instant Pot's steam valve. Be careful- the escaping steam will be ultra hot.
6. Remove the potatoes with a ladle and strain them. Remove the steamer rack or trivet with tongs, being careful not to burn yourself and dump out the remaining water.
7. Mash the potatoes. You can place the strained potatoes back into the Instant Pot or use a separate bowl. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter and a splash of cream (or milk), along with some salt and pepper to taste. Make sure to try the potatoes before adding salt since you've previously salted the water. If you're also using salted or half-salted butter, you might not need to add more.

Quick tip: Don't overwork your potatoes in the mashing process or they could turn gummy. Mash them just enough to get a smooth, creamy final product.

How to serve your mashed potatoes

Adding additional ingredients to your mashed potatoes isn't necessary, but it's a great way to put a spin on this classic dish. Some of Lo's favorite mix-ins for mashed potatoes include roasted garlic, grated aged cheddar, and crispy bacon bits.

She also likes to garnish her mashed potatoes with garden-grown chives to level them up. "For the ultimate side dish, add them all," Lo says.

Her favorite dishes to serve alongside Instant Pot mashed potatoes include pork roast, beef pot roast, ribs, and barbecue sirloin steak. And, of course, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a fluffy mound of gravy-soaked mashed potatoes right next to the turkey and stuffing.

You can also top your mashed potatoes with gravy, cheese, sour cream, or extra butter to elevate the flavor profile even further.

Quick tip: For vegan mashed potatoes, use a vegan butter substitute and dairy-free milk or coconut milk instead of milk or cream. You can also reserve and use the potato cooking water to mash them with. Serve them with slabs of crispy marinated tofu or tempeh or a tasty bowl of Instant Pot cooked beans.

Reheating and storing mashed potatoes

You can make a big pot of mashed potatoes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container, but expect them to have a slightly different flavor and be less fluffy when reheated.

If leftover mashed potatoes are too dry, try adding a splash of milk and a pat of butter to moisten them. "Mine never last long enough to go beyond one day," says Lo, but leftover or made-ahead mashed potatoes should last around two to three days in the fridge.

Insider's takeaway

Mashed potatoes are ultra-easy to make in the Instant Pot. They require no monitoring and take less than 15 minutes to prep, cook, mash, and serve. For best results, use yellow or Yukon gold potatoes and be careful not to overwork the potatoes while mashing. Gently mashing with a handheld tool will keep the mashed potatoes from turning gummy.