Let’s face it: cooking for the holidays can be overwhelming. With the pressure of selecting the right recipes and ensuring everything tastes delicious, home cooks have a lot on their plates—especially when it comes to timing. This is particularly true on Thanksgiving, when dishes need to be coordinated to come together seamlessly.
Mashed potatoes, often a beloved staple, can easily be underestimated. After peeling and boiling, they’re almost ready; all that’s left is to mash and season. Yet, many of us find ourselves scrambling to prepare them at the last minute, leading to cold, congealed potatoes that no one wants to serve.
Fortunately, Rachael Ray has a simple and effective trick for keeping mashed potatoes warm throughout Thanksgiving. In an interview with Allrecipes, she shared her method: “Hold your mashed potatoes in a bain-marie, or water bath, with a lid on top [and] they stay for hours—days really.”
Here’s how it works: Prepare your mashed potatoes according to your favorite recipe. Then, take a larger pot or pan that can accommodate the pot holding your mashed potatoes. Fill the larger pot with about an inch of water and bring it to a gentle simmer on the stove. Once the water is simmering, cover your mashed potato pot with a lid and carefully place it inside the water bath. Keep the heat on low, and your potatoes will remain warm and fluffy for as long as you need.
This method not only prevents your mashed potatoes from cooling down but also keeps them light and airy. With this technique, you’ll never have to worry about the dreaded question, “Do you remember that Thanksgiving where you ruined the potatoes?”
In addition to her mashed potato hack, Ray has a valuable tip for ensuring you have enough gravy—mashed potatoes’ perfect partner. On Thanksgiving, it’s common for guests to pile their plates high with gravy, so it’s essential to have plenty on hand. Ray advises that the drippings from your turkey may not suffice, so it’s a good idea to prepare a base gravy in advance. You can then incorporate the turkey drippings later or simply use the base gravy and save the drippings for leftovers.
By preparing your gravy ahead of time, you can easily reheat it on Thanksgiving, streamlining your meal prep. While you may end up with extra gravy, your guests will appreciate the generous portions.
With Rachael Ray’s tips, you can tackle holiday cooking with confidence, ensuring that both your mashed potatoes and gravy are a hit at the table.
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