Mashed potatoes are a classic comfort food that can be kept warm and ready to serve for hours in a crock pot or slow cooker. With some simple tips, you can keep your mashed potatoes tasting fresh and fluffy for your next potluck, family dinner, or holiday feast.
Quick Answers
– Mashed potatoes can be kept warm in a crock pot or slow cooker for 2-4 hours on low heat.
– To keep mashed potatoes from drying out, stir in butter, cream, or milk and keep the lid on the crock pot when not serving.
– For best results, transfer freshly made mashed potatoes to a preheated crock pot or slow cooker to keep warm.
– Add extra liquid like broth or gravy to the crock pot to help keep mashed potatoes moist.
– Check mashed potatoes hourly, stir and add more liquid as needed to prevent sticking or burning on the bottom.
How Long Do Mashed Potatoes Last in a Crock Pot?
Properly prepared mashed potatoes can hold for 2-4 hours on the “Keep Warm” or “Low” setting in a crock pot or slow cooker before drying out or losing quality. The key is starting with hot, freshly made mashed potatoes and keeping the crock pot lid on between servings.
Here are some tips for keeping mashed potatoes warm and tasty in a crock pot:
- Transfer piping hot, freshly made mashed potatoes into a preheated crock pot to retain heat.
- Keep the crock pot settings on low – high heat will overcook the potatoes.
- Stir in 1-2 Tbsp butter, cream, milk or broth per cup of mashed potatoes to add moisture.
- Keep the lid on and avoid removing it frequently to maintain even heat.
- Gently stir and taste mashed potatoes hourly, adding more liquid as needed.
- Add extra hot gravy, broth or cream when serving to moisten.
- Discard any leftovers after 4 hours to prevent spoilage.
Tips for Keeping Mashed Potatoes Moist
The main challenge with keeping mashed potatoes warm in a crockpot for hours is preventing them from drying out. Here are some tips to keep your spuds moist and flavorful:
Start with moist, well-seasoned potatoes
For creamy, moist mashed potatoes, start with starchy, floury potatoes like russets. Thoroughly cook potatoes until fork tender before mashing. Mash the potatoes while still steaming hot, leaving some lumps for texture. Season well with butter, salt, pepper and milk or cream when initially mashing.
Transfer to a preheated crockpot
For best results, transfer freshly made piping hot mashed potatoes immediately into a crockpot that has been preheated on low for at least 15 minutes. This helps prevent a drop in temperature that leads to dried out potatoes.
Add extra liquid
Stir in 1-2 Tbsp of butter, cream, milk, broth or gravy per cup of mashed potatoes when transferring to the crockpot. The extra moisture prevents drying out and adds flavor. Avoid adding too much liquid which can make potatoes mushy.
Keep crockpot lid on
Opening the lid frequently leads to moisture loss. Keep the lid on and remove only when serving. Check and stir every hour, adding more liquid if needed.
Add moist toppings
When serving, add extra hot gravy, sauce, or melted butter on top of each portion to add moisture and richness back to the mashed potatoes after hours in the crockpot.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps for perfect mashed potatoes kept hot and tasty for hours in your slow cooker:
- Prep crockpot: Grease crockpot and preheat on low setting for 15 minutes.
- Make mashed potatoes: Peel, dice and boil potatoes until fork tender. Drain and return to pot.
- Mash and season: Mash potatoes while hot. Add butter, milk, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well until creamy.
- Transfer to crockpot: Gently transfer mashed potatoes to preheated crockpot.
- Add extra liquid: Stir in 1-2 Tbsp broth, cream or gravy per cup of potatoes.
- Keep warm: Cover and cook on low heat for up to 4 hours, stirring hourly.
- Moisten before serving: Add extra hot gravy, sauce or butter when serving to moisten.
Mashed Potato Crock Pot Cooking Times
Refer to this cooking time chart as a guide when keeping mashed potatoes warm in your slow cooker:
| Crock Pot Setting | Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| High | 1-2 hours max |
| Low | 2-4 hours |
| Keep Warm | 2-4 hours |
- High heat can overcook mashed potatoes. Use low or keep warm settings only.
- Check potatoes and stir hourly, adding liquid as needed.
- Maximum recommended holding time is 4 hours for food safety.
Serving and Storing Leftovers
For food safety, discard any remaining mashed potatoes after holding for 4 hours in the crockpot. Do not try to save and reheat crockpot mashed potatoes later.
When ready to serve, stir mashed potatoes, taste, and adjust seasonings as needed. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with extra gravy or sauce.
For the best flavor and texture, allow mashed potatoes to be out of the crockpot for no more than 30 minutes during serving before returning to the heat or refrigerating promptly in shallow containers.
Easy Crockpot Mashed Potato Recipes
To boost the flavor of basic mashed potatoes, stir in any of these ingredients when first mashing, or serve as tasty toppings:
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Add 3-4 minced garlic cloves.
- Ranch Mashed Potatoes: Stir in 1 packet Ranch seasoning mix.
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes: Mix in 1 cup shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack or crumbled feta.
- Bacon Mashed Potatoes: Top with crumbled cooked bacon.
- Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes: Mix in 1/2 cup sour cream and 2 Tbsp minced chives.
- Chicken Gravy Mashed Potatoes: Serve with hot homemade chicken gravy.
Conclusion
With a few simple tips, you can easily keep mashed potatoes warm and creamy for up to 4 hours in a crockpot without drying out. Be sure to start with hot, freshly made mashed potatoes and add extra moisture as needed while keeping the lid on. Serve your hot mashed potatoes in a crockpot with tasty mix-ins or toppings for a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish!