Salt & Vinegar Mashed Potatoes Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why do people put vinegar in mashed potatoes? ›

Vinegar is also a natural preservative and can help to keep the potatoes fresh for a longer period of time. Additionally, the acidity of the vinegar can help to break down the starch molecules in the potatoes, making them creamier and easier to mix with other ingredients.

The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying. Additionally, the vinegar can contribute to a golden-brown color on the exterior of the fries.

Soak the potatoes in water for at least 4 hours, up to overnight. This step is crucial to really get all of the excess starch off. Fill a large pot with water, rinse off the potatoes one last time and add them to the cold water. Salt the water, place the pot on the stove and turn on the heat.

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Once you've established that you're using the right ‌potato for boiling, adding vinegar to the water will help the potatoes maintain their form. In order to use this trick, you must boil potatoes for 30 minutes and add a little salt and vinegar to the boiling water at the 13-minute mark.

When an acid reacts with base it forms salt. Vinegar is acetic acid CH 3 COOH and simple salt is sodium chloride . The reaction between acid and the salt takes place as follows: Hence from the above reaction, we can say that when vinegar reacts with salt hydrochloric acid is produced.

This is why you should be adding a splash of vinegar to the water each and every time you boil potatoes. A little will go a long way, so just a tablespoon will do for every four cups of water. Keep the ratio going and double the vinegar for eight cups, and so on.

Of course, you can spray each potato with a little lemon juice or white vinegar, but if you don't want to flavour your potatoes, simply add about 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to about 2 litres of water.

They just taste rich (almost impossibly so). They do, however, feel creamy, because egg yolks are also emulsifiers (and are, in fact, the ingredient in mayo that makes it an emulsifier). The yolk emulsifies water and fat to create a cohesive, velvety bite, while providing a little fat and body of its own.

Why add butter before milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Overworking the potatoes will cause them to get gummy, potatoes should still be light and fluffy. 6. Add the butter first. Adding the butter first helps to coat the starch in the potato, resulting in a creamier potato.

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

For most potato dishes it's important to add the potatoes to cold water and allow the water to come to a boil with the potatoes in the water. The potato starch can react as soon as it comes in contact with hot water, which will promote uneven cooking and mealy potatoes.

Plan on 1/3 to 1/2 pound potatoes per person for your feast.

"Vinegar is an inherently acidic material, so if we add a few drops of vinegar into that boiling water that is going to increase the rate of denaturing and it's going to make that happen faster and help the poached egg hold its shape better."

While some studies suggest that apple cider vinegar may have modest effects on metabolism and satiety, its impact on breaking down starch or fat in the stomach is limited. Incorporate it into a balanced diet, but don't rely solely on it for fat breakdown.

Any vinegar will do

This crust is what's necessary to help them keep their shape and not become mushy or fall apart when boiling. The home cooks over at Reddit say this is because vinegar's acid prevents the pectin in potatoes from breaking down too quickly.

This is why you should be adding a splash of vinegar to the water each and every time you boil potatoes. A little will go a long way, so just a tablespoon will do for every four cups of water. Keep the ratio going and double the vinegar for eight cups, and so on.