Dear Kitchen:
I was reading one of my many kitchenware catalogues yesterday, and I saw that they were having a sale on ricers. I sort of want one, but I dont know how practical they are. Its not like Im making mashed potatoes all the time. Do I really need a ricer?
Love,
Jessica
Good Question: Do I Need a Ricer?
Dear Jessica,
In my opinion, a potato ricer has to be one of the least essential tools one needs in a kitchen, especially if storage space is a concern. Having said that, they are sort of fun to use. For those who dont know, a potato ricer is similar to a garlic press (another pointless tool, as far as Im concerned), but bigger. The idea is you place boiled potatoes into the ricer and give it a squeeze, forcing the potato through the many tiny holes and into a bowl. You then add warm milk, buttermilk, cream, melted butter, what-have-you and give the riced potato a stir and what you are left with are incredibly smooth, velvety mashed potatoes, without even the suggestion of a lump.
Of course its a matter of taste, but I feel that lump free mash is appropriate primarily in certain circumstances, most of which I would say are formal. In fact lumpy potatoes have a rustic appeal that I think most people rather like. Unless smooth mashed potatoes are very important to you, I wouldnt recommend getting a ricer. A good old-fashioned masher is fine.
Comments (13)
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if you want to make gnocci or applesauce . . .
but a mouli is way better. The thing that looks like a seive with a hand crank on the top.
formerly by Moulinex, who now seems deep in the small electronics biz
I drop the potatoes from my steamer basket into my kitchen aid and I have to be very careful not to mix too much so that I'll have lumps and a little bit of skin left. Otherwise people start to assume that I'm using rehydrated aka "fake potatoes"
I find using a ricer is quite useful as you don't have to peel the potatoes before boiling/steaming them... Just press the potatoes through and the skin will be left in the ricer! I'm not sure if this affects the taste or anything, but I find it speeds up the process quite a lot.
No.
You do not need a ricer.
If you really care about mashed potatoes all you need are full fat dairy products and a bit of ambition.
They do look cool though.
i'll tell you, my mother's been begging for a ricer for awhile now, and when i finally bought her one, i thought why didn't i buy this sooner?? a ricer makes mashed potatoes in seconds, is so easy, and they really are damn, damn good. granted, it's totally not a necessity, but if they're on sale, you should absolutely give it a try!
I got one as a gift and will regularly forget about it for months. But when I crave light and fluffy mashed potatoes, I can ALWAYS find it. So I'd say get a cheapo and don't invest big $$$ but get it. That and full-fat dairy products will make you some heavenly taters.
No you do not need one, if you want good mashed potatoes, use a mixer if you want smooth potatoes.
I second guido on this, a food mill is much more practical. Not just for potatoes and apples, but tomato sauces, chestnuts (Mont Bianco is a wintertime classic at our house), seedless berry syrups, jams and sauces, hard squash purees for risotti or ravioli, etc. etc.
regards,
trillium
i'm with trillium and guido. i had a ricer but i never used it. i found the food miller more precise and elegant for small items like small potatoes & chickpeas for making faux mont blanc (when the craving comes on and i can't find chestnuts)
I think, skip it...it will most likely go unused.
it was not totally unused in my house. It was used for make steamed rice noodles. Grated coconut and sugar was used as a garnish
used for = used to make (Ref Above)
the ricer is also used to make fried chick pea noodles . When it is hot garnish them with roasted cumin and chili flakes ( optional )
Ricers can be usefull for non potato items too. They work well to get the extra water out of thawed from frozen/cooked spinach (spanakopita anyone?), and when making mashed cauliflower. Just a couple hints for those with them and not making tons of mashed potatos so it's not quite so useless.