There are a lot of specialty kitchen tools and gadgets, and while you don’t want to get suckered into buying stuff you don’t need, even the most ardent minimalists will admit you need more than just a chef’s knife and a cast-iron skillet. A potato masher might seem like a niche tool, but it’s an affordable one that you’ll actually use. Of course, a potato masher can be used for making mashed potatoes. At this, it excels. A potato masher will get fluffier and less chunky mashed potatoes than you could otherwise get with a fork or some other utensil. But a potato masher’s true star power is in how much more it can do.
You can use a potato masher to mash avocados for guacamole or bananas for banana bread, or as a mixer for pastries, meatloaf and sauces. In short, a potato masher will be right by your side for just about anything you might want to mash or mix. Another tool you might encounter when looking for potato mashers is a potato ricer. Ricers look a lot like oversized garlic presses, and you can put chunks of potato into them to get very fine, fluffy strands of mashed potato. These arguably create a more even result than a masher, but they’re not as versatile. While you can use a ricer for other functions, a masher is a more multifunctional tool.
We’ve rounded up some of the best potato mashers and ricers that you can buy online.
1. OXO Good Grips Smooth Potato Masher
BEST OVERALL
OXO brings a surprising amount of innovation to this seemingly simple tool. What sets the Good Grips potato masher apart from other mashers is the handle. Instead of the standard vertical handle, this one has a handle that’s parallel to the mashing surface. This allows you to take a more natural grip position, which can be helpful for those with joint problems. The stainless steel plate has slots that evenly mash, and you can put this masher in the dishwasher.
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2. J.A Henckels International Potato Masher
MOST INNOVATIVE
J.A Henckels offers a legendary pedigree at a reasonable price — the German brand was founded in 1731. This potato masher has an innovative design that sets it apart from most others on this list. It basically looks like a slotted spatula that’s been bent in the middle of the blade. The advantage of this design is that if you’re mashing potatoes in a bowl, you can more easily scrape the sides to prevent clumps from forming. It’s entirely stainless steel, giving it a classy look, and it’s compact enough to keep in a utensil caddy.
3. ZYLISS Potato Masher
ERGONOMIC GRIP
This potato masher from ZYLISS has an ergonomic, textured grip that makes it easier to use. The round plate has smaller inner holes and larger outer holes that are designed to make it easier to quickly yet evenly mash potatoes and other fruits and vegetables. It’s dishwasher safe, and the hanging loop in the handle makes the masher easier to store.
4. Sur La Table Mini Masher
BEST FOR SMALL KITCHENS
Cooking for one or two people? You probably don’t need a tool that can mash an Idaho farm’s annual output of potatoes. This masher features a traditional wave design and a sleek stainless steel handle. The tool is just over 7 inches long, and has a plate that’s 2 x 2 inches, making it a great compact option for small kitchens.
5. KitchenAid Gourmet Stainless Steel Wire Masher
BEST TRADITIONAL
This option from KitchenAid features a traditional wave design, and it’s a solid, no-frills option for your kitchen. It has a durable stainless steel build and an ergonomic plastic handle. The masher is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The plate is over 5 inches wide, so it’s a large option for making quick work of multiple potatoes.
6. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato Ricer
BEST RICER
If you’d rather use a ricer, this option from OXO is one of the best to get. It has a large cup that allows you to quickly mash multiple potatoes, and the long handles have textured grips for comfort. A knob at the end can be used to hang the ricer, and the knob also serves as a way to keep the ricer in place over a pot. Its stainless steel build makes it durable and rust-proof.
7. Crate & Barrel Potato Masher
BEST 2-IN-1
This masher has a unique design — it’s actually two mashers in one. There’s a traditional wave-shaped masher and a ricer style plate above it, and the spring-loaded design lifts up and down as you mash. This allows you to quickly mash potatoes without as much effort, while also ensuring more even and less lumpy potatoes.
8. Joseph Joseph Helix Potato Ricer
SMOOTHEST
The brand so nice, they named it twice. This ricer from Joseph Joseph features a unique design. Instead of exerting downward force by bringing the two handles together, you simply twist the two components, and this forces the potatoes through the slots. The top and bottom have a helix design, similar to a bottlecap, that helps to ensure smooth movement. The twist design helps save on the amount of force needed to operate it.
9. The World’s Greatest Mix N’Masher Potato Masher
VERSATILE DESIGN
Instead of the traditional wave design, this masher has multiple metal loops that somewhat resemble the shape of a clover. The circular shape allows you to move more evenly around the mixing bowl, without the slotted face of some mashers that can be hard to clean. The stainless steel build is good-looking and durable.