This Tool is the Secret to the Smoothest Mashed Potatoes (and It’s Not a Masher)

The real reason to wear extra-comfy pants on Thanksgiving is a big bowl of buttery, fluffy, luxurious mashed potatoes. The right variety of potato, herbs, and creamy ingredients are all important elements for top-notch taters, but the real test of superior mashed potatoes is their texture — no one wants a gummy, lumpy side. Whether you’ve volunteered for the company pot luck or want to impress your discerning in-laws this holiday season, we promise this is the only tool you need for smooth sailing.

What is a potato ricer?

A potato ricer is a handled tool with a lever to push potatoes or other soft foods through a perforated plate for a rice-like consistency. (It looks kind of like a big garlic press.) Using it is simple: Take your cooked potatoes, fill the basket with one or more pieces, and clamp down on the lever. Passing the potatoes through the chamber does all the work, leaving you with soft, thin strands of potato, similar in texture to spaghetti squash.

How it works

A classic pitfall in the quest for smooth mashed potatoes is overworking them, which is easy to do when you vigorously smash your potatoes with a regular masher. As the potatoes break down, they release starch, and too much starch results in gummy and gluey potatoes instead of fluffy and light ones. Using a potato ricer makes overworking potatoes nearly impossible. Once the pieces pass through the basket holes, you can easily mix your potatoes, butter, milk, and herbs with no resistance. Even better, it requires less work for your arm than a potato masher.

How to prep your potatoes

You need very little extra prep work to use a potato ricer — you don’t even need to peel the potatoes if you’d prefer not! Just make sure the potato pieces are small enough to fit inside the basket. Before boiling the potatoes, cut them into small cubes (about one inch) to ensure they cook evenly.

Potato ricers are versatile kitchen tools — you can also use one for homemade applesauce, guacamole, or crushed tomatoes for marinara. And you don’t have to spend much to get one: you can find good-quality options starting anywhere from $15. It’s one more thing to be thankful for!