November 2, 2013 - 10:55am
Bosch mixer: what attachment can make good mashed potatoes without...
...bending? My understanding is that the whip attachments are fragile and there's always the risk of bending them if one should have a large bowl full of cooked but dense potatoes or if one's butter isn't adequately soft enough, etc. Sounds like too much work. Has anyone tried any of their other attachments using the Bosch Universal Plus? I'm concerned the other ones wouldn't get the lumps out.
Thanks!
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Hi Theresse. I don't own a Bosch Universal Plus (have a Bosch compact and a KA Artisan), but I imagine you could easily use the cookie paddles if you're going to use the mixer for mashed potatoes. They certainly look sturdy enough. I personally use my hand mixer to mash potatoes. No lumps and less stuff to clean up
Thanks LindyD!
Now I'm leaning in the direction of the DLX... I'm feeling seriously crazy how I can't make up my mind between these two mixers! I was all set on the DLX in fact but then read it can't do mashed potatoes, and that cookie dough may have to be "finished" using a different mixer, whatever that means!
Additional testimony:
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/comment/253789#comment-253789
cheers,
gary
Thanks Gary!
I agree with LindyD's last statement. Do them by hand or with a ricer. The Bosch will turn them into glue unless you are incorporating a whole lot of milk, butter or cream ... or real buttermilk even better. Even then, do them quickly. It is just too easy to over mix them in that mixer.
I don't like them by hand actually (not that I'd turn them away if handed to me!). ;) I do like them with a ricer but only after mixing up first. But yes I do use lots of butter, milk AND cream (or sometimes buttermilk) and I try to do them as quickly as possible. I had luck with my friend's old DLX 9000. Took longer though. Never got gluey though, much to my surprise! I also like to sometimes add just a small splash of white or black truffle oil to the mashed potatoes. Mmmm... right out of the bottle it tastes like melted garlic butter! Also will roast garlic, then mash those on the side then mix in with the mashed potatoes.
I know that is a late comment on using the Bosch for mashed potatoes but I can't let pass the comments about it not working or turning to glue. Not my experience and I have done a lot of potatoes in the Bosch. I don't use it at home, there we just use a hand mixer right in the stainless pan we boiled the potatoes in, but when I feed large groups at the church I use my Bosch. Often 15 to 20 pounds to serve 60 to 100 folks. I drain the boiled potatoes and then add about a 5 pound portion to the Bosch. First use the standard bread kneader followed by the cookie paddles. Don't use the whips, too light. I then remove the mashed potatoes and do another 5 pounds until done. No need to clean the attachments between batches. (I add butter and half & half while mixing but it doesn't take much additional liquid.)
Always a mystery to me but I don't under stand why so many folks think doing mashed potatoes is hard -- and therefore when I fix them for a group they are always a big hit.
deblacksmith.
Thanks deblacksmith! I actually ended up getting the Ankarsrum but my friend just got a Bosch and I'll pass on your info to her. I think if I were going to make that many, I'd probably prefer to keep them in the pot and use first a long fork and knife to break things up, then a manual hand-held potato masher, and THEN an electric handheld mixer...just cause it's easier not to have to remove from the pot! I made mashed potatoes using the Ankarsrum which was fine but honestly for Christmas I just did it that other way in the cooking pot - quick and easy. I guess the only real advantage to using a stand mixer is being able to walk away for a while - especially if it has a bowl scraper attached.