Do you use hot milk or cold milk when creaming/mashing potatoes?
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
May 29, 2009 3:29pm CST
My elder sister called me yesterday and we were reminiscing on how our Irish Grandmother had this reverence for potatoes. She had special white cloths that she would place the potatoes in before she put them on a serving dish on the dining room table.
This was because she knew from her grandmother about the potato famine in Ireland and how hundreds of thousands of people had died there in the last century.
My sister reminded me that she always added hot milk and then butter to the potatoes as she mashed them. I tried this last night and the hot milk really did makes a difference. They were creamier. I had forgotton and all these years used cold milk and butter to mash the potatoes.
Do you mash/crush your potatoes with hot milk or cold?
6 people like this
24 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
30 May 09
The last time I made mashed potatoes (yesterday) I put 4 oz of creamed cheeses in them them add about 1/2 cup of cold milk. My family has always used cold milk.
I have read about the potato famine. It had to be a terrible time to have lived through.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
It was a terrbile time in Irish history. This caused mass immigration as families would try to send out even one son to the USA to save even one life in the family. It was usually a son to keep the family line going. The creamed cheese sounds so good.
These memories live on as in our tough economic times I am growing potatoes in tyres in my garden!
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 May 09
I think that it's cold milk we use here, but I'm not really sure. I don't do the cooking, we're just learning. I think my grandmother used cold milk, and she used her Kitchen Aid Mixer. We don't use one here, but oddly enough I think we have one. In any case, if it makes them creamier then I think that's great. My grandmother's was always creamier.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
30 May 09
I sat on the cabinet as a child watching her cook and helping her when I could. She doesn't cook anymore, but when she does everyone laps it up!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
Don't we all have fond memories of our grandmother's cooking. I remember sitting on the kitchen step eating her lemon curd tarts straight from the oven!
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
31 May 09
wow I never heard of hot milk in potatoes but I am going to try it, it does sound very good and I have just got to try them. yummy.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
28 Jun 10
I prefer the ho tmilk - so you should try it as it does make difference. I am now a convert 
to hot milk
to hot milk
@babyjesus (277)
•
31 May 09
We only use evaporated milk so it comes straight from the can. I don't know what could be the special effect of the hot or cold milk. Can you tell me about it. thanks
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
1 Jun 09
The Irtish - who adore potatoes - always made it with hot cow's milk. It makes it creamier
@anniefannie (1737)
• United States
31 May 09
i have always used cold milk never heard of using warm milk i will try it next time when i make mashed pototoes.i love them.
@sharone74 (4837)
• United States
30 May 09
I normally use room temperature canned evaporated Borden's milk, or I use half and half. Usually if that cools it too much while mixing it in, then you just put it back on the burner. It occurs to me to wonder whether it would matter whether your milk were hot or cold as long as you put it back on the burner so that your potatoes were steaming hot when they got to the table. Most people dont take the time to mash their own potatoes, they just buy processed flakes and call that good. I like boiling whole potatoes and then using a hand mixer to mash them. The hand mixer makes the potatoes light and fluffier and it eliminates those annoying lumps.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
My sister uses a ricer for the potatoes too but that is quite a lot of work. I boil the potatoes too. If you reheat the potaotes after adding cold milk then I don't think there would be much of a difference
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
30 May 09
I have used cold milk and butter for many many years. I do it when my potatoes are just done so they are good and hot and everything melts or mixes good.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
I've always used cold milk too but liked it when I used the hot milk
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
1 Jun 09
I know that I responded to you - but I must have sent it to computer heaven instead. I adore potatoes - any way - just gove me potatoes. The big white fluffy ones. I only use the waxy ones for salads
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 May 09
I have always used cold milk and, temporarily, I am using soy milk. Will try the warm milk though.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
1 Jun 09
I've never used soy - I mean that I do not like the taste. Try it warm though and let me know if it makes a difference
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
30 May 09
i usually use cold because i am usually rushed for time but i know using it warmed up is better and makes more sense. i just do not take the time to warm it up most of the time but have done on a rare occasion. i also think warming up maple syrup before putting on pancakes is way better too.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
I hadn't thought about warming maple syrup but this also makes sens. many thanks for responding
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
30 May 09
Hi ya cynth
I nearly always use cold milk and butter to mash my spuds on rare occassions I will use cream but only if it is in the fridge and it needs using up. I never heat the milk first before adding it as I don't see what difference it would make apart from keeping the potatoes hot!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
I expecxt it was just the custom to serve straight fromn the pot - this is why they used hot milk. I dunno!
@marguicha (223885)
• Chile
30 May 09
I put hot milk but I mash them over the range so it warms up. And I use butter , not margarine. And no skim milk eiteher.
And a tip of mine: never use an electric beater to cream potaots: the potato flour makes them sticky. Hand mashed is best.
Take care
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
No, skim milk does not cut it. I have never used an electric beater - always by hand too.
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
30 May 09
I use cold milk when I cream mash potatoes. When the potatoes are done I just use my masher and the butter and milk from the refrigator and then serve them. That is how my mom used to do it so I just do it the way she use to and it works for me. If I want creamier mash potatoes I would use my hand mixer it work I just add a little more milk.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
I had used cold milk all of my long life but the hot milk does taste better to me. Why not try it and let me know?
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
29 May 09
I've always used cold milk - never considered warming it since the stove is usually already full of pans at the time. But, one other thing is that when making gravy, my mother, and I when I boil potatoes, use the potato water to make the gravy. It adds starch to help thicken the gravy as well as any nutrients that leached out of the potatoes. Plus, it's often salted from cooking the potatoes, so some seasoning is already there.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 May 09
I always use cold milk. i'll have to try that. Thanks for the tip. have a happy weekend.
@galileo2008 (1168)
• Philippines
29 May 09
Really? I have tried the cold milk in maing mashed potatoes, but I have never tried using warm milk. Next time, i'll try making another mashed potatoes and I'll see if it will work. Thanks for sharing..
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
30 May 09
MASHED POTATOES!! My favorit food...I could make a meal just on mashed potatoes...lol. Shepherd pie is one of my favorite meals. My son makes them the best, and he seasons them perfectly, but we've always used cold milk, never thinking to warm it up first. I must tell him the next time. Thanks for the suggestion.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
30 May 09
I lolve shepherd's pie too. I add bacon bits anbd crushed corn flakes about 20 minutes before it is ready. So good.
@ilikepeopl (5)
• United States
30 May 09
I use cold milk because I was taught that was how you mad e it but il switch it up a bit.:)
