Uses for a Potato Masher

I’m a firm believer in the saying, “necessity is the mother of invention.” It manifests itself in my cooking by finding unique ways to use common kitchen tools beyond their intended purpose. Case in point is the Potato Masher and its many uses, outside of mashing potatoes. I’ve discovered that it’s a versatile tool for many other things.

Mashing Beans

When making bean dip or refried beans, a Potato Masher is a handy tool. Sure, you could use a food processor to break down the beans, but sometimes they get overprocessed and goopy. To leave some texture in them, a Potato Masher works great.

Making Guacamole

I love guacamole, but I like mine more on the chunky side. A Potato Masher allows me to get the consistency I want because I am in control. For that reason alone, it’s a great tool for mashing avocados.

Rough chop some avocado, toss into a large bowl and mash away to your desired chunkiness.

Try using the Potato Masher when making our Fresh and Easy Guacamole recipe.

Making Egg Salad

If you’re making egg salad for a crowd, the Potato Masher can chop down a bunch of hard-boiled eggs at once. Just cut the eggs in half lengthwise with a Table Knife, lay the halves flat on the cutting board and mash. Voilà, they’re ready for the mayo!

Breaking Down Tomatoes

When making homemade sauce, use the Potato Masher to break down cooked tomatoes. Again, you could use a food processor, but if you like to control how chunky your sauce is, reach for the Potato Masher instead.

Smashing Berries

Some recipes call for smashing berries after they’ve been cooked, like our recipe for Blueberry Cheesecake Dip. In that recipe, blueberries are cooked down with some cornstarch and sugar to release their juices, and then lightly mashed. The technique creates a syrup and gives the berries texture that incorporates flavor.

Okay… Mashing Potatoes

With all that said, the Cutco Potato Masher’s best use really is for mashing potatoes. Its ample three-and-one-eighths-inch diameter mashing head, sturdy stalk and comfortable handle make it a rugged, easy-to-use tool.

Others ideas for using the Potato Masher include mashing cooked yams, parsnips and cauliflower, or mashing ripe bananas for bread.

That’s my list of the many uses for a Potato Masher. What are some of yours?