Features of the choice of masher

Mashed potatoes are a fairly simple dish to prepare. However, to make the side dish tender, you need to try. The masher helps to knead the product to a uniform and airy mass. How to choose such a device, and will be discussed in this article.

Potato masher is a special kitchen utensil. It allows you to turn boiled tubers into a single soft mass. The device is easy to use and easy to clean. Regardless of the variety, the cost of products is low, which is good. The disadvantages of using hand tools include only large costs of time to process the product.

Modern manufacturers offer various options for potato masters. The pressing surface is solid or has holes. In shape, it is usually a circle, a semicircle, a square, a rectangle, a zigzag. It can also be a metal spiral. The latter option resembles a whisk for whipping.

In order to choose a suitable device from a wide range, it is necessary to consider each option in more detail.

The wooden tolkushka familiar to many is correctly called the potato masher. The product is a solid item. The best examples are tolkushki from juniper. This tree almost does not absorb moisture. Wood products can even be used to process very hot tubers. Adaptations are not deformed and do not harm the dishes. Even if you knead the potatoes in a bowl of fragile ceramics, it will not suffer.

The disadvantage of such models can be called small work surface. This item will not work if you need to knead a large amount of root crops. Also worth noting the ability of wood to absorb odors. This problem can be dealt with by soaking the powder in soda solution.

Aluminum products weigh little and are inexpensive. However, they have a big disadvantage. In the process of interaction with the product, the metal enters into a chemical reaction with it. To prevent this, the product is coated with a protective coating. Over time, the top layer is erased. Because of this, the object becomes unusable.

There is one more thing. Masher itself will not deteriorate even if in contact with very hot potatoes. But if you knead the tubers in ceramic or teflon dishes, you can damage it.

Medical stainless steel is an excellent material. A great option would be a product made of material marked 18/10. If you are cooking only for yourself or your family are few, you can choose a compact masher with a small diameter of the pressing surface. If you often have to handle a large amount of product, You will suit the option with a zigzag plate.

The main advantage of stainless steel - resistance to temperature extremes and a neutral effect on the product (it does not affect the taste of the dish).One has only to remember that such an item can damage fragile glass and Teflon coating of containers.

Metal products with a teflon coating allow you to cook mashed potatoes directly on the stove. Such devices are not deformed at high temperatures. They are also suitable for processing large portions of potatoes. However, it is worth remembering that the coating is easily damaged mechanically. Besides, it is adversely affected by aggressive detergents.

Light and inexpensive plastic kitchen utensils are available in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They can be used on any surfaces. They will not be able to damage the non-stick coating.

However, the disadvantages are still more. With this device you can only knead a modest portion of the product.. Plastic does not tolerate high temperatures (it deforms and releases toxins). Also stuff prone to scratching, breaks easily.

Silicone and food-grade nylon are safe materials. They have absolutely no effect on the taste of the dish, do not give foreign smells. They are durable, resistant to oxidation and heat. Such kitchen appliances can be cleaned in the dishwasher. They can be used even if the potatoes are in fragile ceramic or teflon dishes.

Only one minus - The shelf life of such products is 5 years. After that, they can not be used. When heated, the material will begin to emit toxic substances that are dangerous to humans.

If the manual processing of potatoes seems tiresome to you, you can pay attention to the special kitchen tool - the press. The fixture resembles a large garlic press. It can facilitate the preparation of mashed potatoes thanks to a carefully thought out mechanism. With it, even the hardest roots easily turn into a gentle homogeneous mass.

The classic version of the press includes several elements. It is a lever, a kneading piston and a perforated container at the bottom. There are also 2 holders. Due to them, the device is fixed on the container in which it is planned to place the finished dish. Some models have removable internal discs with a different number of holes of a certain diameter.

The second option is equipped with a rotating handle. This design resembles a mill. The principle of operation is a little different. The device has a container at the bottom of which there are holes. In the middle is a flywheel with blades. To make the mechanism work, you need to start turning the knob.

Manufacturers offer presses of iron, stainless steel and aluminum. Sometimes plastic is used, however, such models are considered unreliable, because they quickly break. The best option - stainless steel. It is durable, resistant to heat and mechanical damage, does not oxidize.

The advantages of the device are obvious.

• Perfect result. Mashed potatoes turn out air, without lumps. Uniformity of mass is achieved due to the small holes in the housing. They divide potatoes into identical, very small particles. At the same time, air enters the mass, due to which the prepared dish is especially tender.
• Speed. One easy movement can get a whole portion of perfectly delicious side dish. In this case, water flows through the holes in the device.
• Ease of use. You just need to put the potatoes in the press and press the lever or twist the handle. The thought-over ergonomics allows to minimize physical efforts. The main thing is to fill the device not completely, but 2/3.
• Versatility. The press can be used not only for processing boiled potatoes. With it, you can easily make any vegetable and fruit puree, mousses, jellies, juices.

In order not to be disappointed in the purchase, it is better to give preference to products of famous brands that have earned the trust of customers. it Gefu, WMF, Rondell, Vitesse, Tupperware, Tescoma. You can also highlight several important criteria for a good kitchen fixture.

• Quality. The working surface must be perfectly flat and free from any damage. If it is a press, the levers and discs should be securely fixed. The sides should be cast, without gaps. Also, no chemical odors can emanate from the item.
• The size. This parameter depends on the volume of the processed product. If you are cooking for two, you have enough tools with a working surface with a diameter of about 8 cm. The optimum length of the masher is from 30 to 36 cm.
• Weight. The product should be light and easy to use.

Review the Smood Dreamfarm masher in the next video.