Potato Ricer – Perfect Mashed Potatoes Every Time
Everything you need to know about choosing the right potato ricer masher.
So what’s the obsession with the potato ricer? Recently it seems to be all the rage with celebrity chefs and stay-at-home moms and for good reason as well – it delivers perfect mashed potatoes (with no lumps) every time.
Why is it called a potato ricer? Well, perhaps the name potato masher was already taken as essentially that’s what it does. It compresses potatoes in a similar way to a garlic press producing strands of rice-like potato mash, hence the name potato ricer.
Of course a potato ricer doesn’t just have to be for potatoes, although this is its primary purpose. Potato ricers are also useful for mashing up other vegetables such as swede, carrots and turnips – basically all of the root vegetables. In other countries it is also used to produce foods such as gnocchi and spatzle, a popular type of noodles in Germany.
Of all the different makes of ricers out there, one of the most popular is the stainless steel model.
Stainless Steel Masher/Ricer
When you’re mashing potatoes constantly, (or ricing them one might say), you need to make sure your equipment isn’t going to rust. This is particularly important if you are going to be putting your ricer through the dishwasher. Most stainless steel models are dishwasher-safe although it’s always wise to check with the manufacturer beforehand. You can usually find this information on the side of the box or on their website.
Heavy Duty or Heavy Usage Equipment
If you are going to be using your potato ricer constantly, perhaps for small catering or just with a family who love their mash, it may be worth considering a heavy duty or heavy usage model. A heavy duty model is also suitable for making larger amounts of mashed potatoes as it is generally designed to hold more potatoes than a regular model.
Professional Potato Ricer
Of course if you are planning on using your potato ricer for larger events regularly, such as at a restaurant or in a professional kitchen, the best option for you is probably a professional ricer. These ricers are designed for continuous use at a commercial or professional level. They are also designed to mash several potatoes or other vegetables at once in order to accommodate large food orders.
Good Grips – One of the Best Sellers
One of the most popular potato ricers out there is the good grips model, famously made by Oxo. This model, although not specifically designed for either professional or home usage, has a particular focus on the grips or handles, making the ricer easy to hold and very easy to use.