Stop making lumpy mash! Secret tool for ultra-fluffy potatoes this Thanksgiving

A FLAWLESS bowl of mashed potatoes could be the real star of the Thanksgiving table, but only if it’s whipped into cloud-like perfection.

Cooks chasing that ultra-fluffy texture are turning to a simple, budget-friendly tool that quietly delivers restaurant-quality results.

According to Serious eats, the secret to great mash is breaking down the potatoes without beating them into a gluey, lumpy mess.

The key is removing excess starch every step of the way. Russet potatoes are peeled, diced and rinsed in cold water before hitting the pot.

After boiling until tender, they’re rinsed again to wash off more starch clinging to the surface.

But the real magic happens during the mash.

Instead of using blenders or food processors that are notorious for overworking starch and turning Thanksgiving’s favorite side dish into paste, home cooks are swapping in ricers and food mills.

These gadgets press the potatoes gently, creating light, delicate strands that fold effortlessly into the fluffiest mash.

One tool in particular is earning attention for delivering airy, lump-free results without the fuss.

Walmart shoppers are snapping up the PriorityChef Large 15oz Potato Ricer, a heavy-duty stainless-steel model built to churn out perfectly smooth potatoes in seconds.

The handheld press promises consistent texture, minimal effort and none of the gummy aftermath caused by high-powered kitchen appliances.

The ricer is currently listed at $22.99, and Walmart is offering free 90-day returns, making it an easy last-minute grab before the holiday rush.

With a simple rinse, boil and press, and the right tool doing the heavy lifting, Thanksgiving mash can finally earn its place beside the turkey without any lumps overshadowing the feast.

Thanksgiving cost increase

Experts are warning that shoppers will have to search around to score a bargain for turkey as prices for the holiday birds soar.

The turkey supply chain is highly stressed due to the highly pathogenic avian influenza that first appeared in February 2022 – the same virus that sparked record-high egg prices at various points in recent years.

The contagious viral disease has caused the turkey flock in the US to plummet to its smallest size in nearly four decades, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, resulting in a sharp increase in prices for the Thanksgiving staple ahead of the holiday season. 

As a result, wholesale turkey prices have spiked by 75% since October last year, climbing from 94 cents per pound at that point to $1.71 per pound last month, per an analysis by the Purdue University College of Agriculture.

The analysis projected that the average retail cost of the bird will reach roughly $2.05 per pound this month for this Thanksgiving season, which is 25% pricier than the same time last year.

As a result, a typical 15-pound turkey could run shoppers about $31.

Consumers set on having turkey on their dinner tables can consider visiting a butcher or store that sells dark turkey meat or parts like turkey breast halves or drumsticks rather than a whole bird in order to cut down their costs.

Cut the costs

Although the average cost of a Thanksgiving turkey is expected to jump, Purdue analysts emphasized that a number of factors will impact the amount of money that consumers fork over for their holiday bird.

For example, organic or pasture-raised turkeys will command higher prices than your average bird.

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Retailer discounts also contribute to the variation in turkey prices at the grocery store, with the competitive nature of the industry pushing some stores to offer big discounts on the bird to lure in shoppers.

“For example, Walmart is currently selling whole turkeys for $0.98/lb., less than half of our predicted average price. Consumers with time to compare prices across retailers may find substantial savings this season,” wrote the Purdue analysts.