How To: Make mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving

This video is a demonstration on how to make simple mashed potatoes. Start with russet potatoes and peel them into even-sized chunks. They can be peeled and cut ahead of time and put into a pot of cold water. Bring salted water to a boil and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender. After the potatoes are cooked, drain them and put them back into the pan. Turn the heat back on for a few seconds under the pan to make sure the pan is dry. Use a potato masher or mixer, but never a food processor. She uses warm milk and melted butter. Mash them with a potato masher while the potatoes are hot. Some options for flavoring are garlic or herbs. After the potatoes are mashed, add the butter. Put the butter in first and it will be absorbed into the potatoes and they will have a more buttery flavor. After mixing in the butter, add warm milk and mix with the masher. Adjust the amount of milk according to your taste. Add some salt and pepper if you like. Transfer the potatoes to a heat proof bowl so they can be reheated in the microwave if necessary. This is a good tutorial for learning how to make basic mashed potatoes.