- This article is about the food. For the dance craze see Mashed Potato.
Mashed potato (mashed potatoes in US English) is a common way of serving potato in many countries, including Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is made from mashed boiled potatoes (peeled or unpeeled), with milk or cream and butter or vegetable oil added. Some recipes also add egg yolk. The consistency of the dish depends on how finely and how fast the potatoes are mashed. If the potato cells are damaged in the process, the starch they contain makes the mashed potato sticky.
Mashed potato is also an ingredient of various other dishes, including Shepherd's pie, Pommes duchesse and potato croquettes.
Mashed potato may be seasoned with salt, pepper and nutmeg. In the US, mashed potatoes are often covered with gravy.
In the UK, mashed potato is sold at pie and mash shops. It is often served with sausage, in this form being called bangers and mash. Mashed potato was the primary source of humour in the children's television series Bodger and Badger.
Powdered mashed potato mixes are also available. A campaign for one such product (Smash) memorably launched the business of advertising agency Boase Massimi Pollitt.
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