Secrets for How to Make Mashed Potatoes Perfectly Every Time

Learn how to make mashed potatoes with our 5 tips for classic, fluffy mashed potatoes.

My grandmother used to make the most amazing smooth-as-silk mashed potatoes that were never gummy, lumpy or dry. What was her secret? Tons of butter and whole milk. I would love to follow in her footsteps and make her recipe as is, but I would have to spend the next month on the treadmill working those potatoes off.

So this year for Thanksgiving I've decided to forgo my grandmother's version of classic, fluffy mashed potatoes, my favorite Turkey Day side dish, and look into healthier ways to get the same result. We've tested and developed many mashed potato recipes in the EatingWell Test Kitchen, discovering a few tips to getting the classic fluffy result without the aid of tons of butter and full-fat milk.

—Hilary Meyer, Associate Food Editor

Next: Tip 1. Pick the Right Potato »