The Michelin Chef-Approved Technique For Microwave Mashed Potatoes
It's no secret that there are all sorts of methods of making mashed potatoes. You can make them on the stove, in an Instant Pot, with a ricer, or baked in a casserole dish in the oven. It's one of the reasons why they're such a beloved and beginner-chef-friendly dish. Some folks add spices and other secret ingredients; Julia Child's mashed potato recipe called for a whopping 30 cloves of garlic.
When you think about "microwaved" mashed potatoes, a packet of powdered potato flakes and a bowl of warm water might come to mind. But, according to Michelin-starred chef David Chang, your microwave can be the perfect vehicle for the ultimate mashed potatoes in less than 10 minutes from start to finish.
Chang is the founder of the world-renowned Momofuku restaurant group which has grown to encompass 14 restaurants as of 2021, reports Fine Dining Lovers. His first restaurant, Momofuku Noodle Bar, has received Michelin Guide recognition. In 2010, Chang made Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" list alongside figures like Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, and Prince.
Today, he is the host of the Netflix food travel series "Ugly Delicious" and author of a New York Times Bestselling Momofuku cookbook. Suffice it to say, this is a chef who knows his stuff — and he gives microwaved mashed potatoes a seal of approval. Here's how he does it.
Eight minutes and a pinch of special seasoning
David Chang took to Instagram to share his technique for microwave mashed potatoes worthy of a Michelin chef. "I doubt there is a better or faster home mashed potato recipe," writes Chang — and he might have a point. Chang simply peels and chops raw potatoes into medium-sized chunks, seasons them, then microwaves them in a lidded bowl for eight minutes. After microwaving, he adds a few tablespoons of butter and a splash of milk, then mashes with a potato masher. That's it.
Seems too easy to be true? Chang agrees. "I remember when we used to boil potatoes," teases the chef in the post caption. However, there is one key ingredient that takes Chang's microwave mash to the next level: the seasoning. Momofuku's Savory Seasoned Salt is a blend of kosher salt, tamari, garlic, kelp, and mushroom powder, a fitting creation from the team that pioneered modern Asian cuisine.
The company lauds the salt as "our answer to 10 years of flavor research in the Momofuku Culinary Lab." A four-ounce jar runs for $12 — but ready-in-minutes meal fans might argue that it's a small price for a consistently killer bowl of mash.