One of the most traditional dishes is mashed potatoes, which is perfect for Thanksgiving as well as the colder winter months. Nothing beats a heap of piping-hot, buttery mashed potatoes to go with dinner! But for mashed potatoes, what are the best butter alternatives? To replicate the mouthwatering, creamy flavor of butter, use other dairy ingredients like mayonnaise, buttermilk, or Greek yogurt. Use refined coconut oil, canola oil, or extra virgin olive oil as a vegan substitute.
If you’re making mashed potatoes for dinner, but your butter dish is empty, what should you do? Or perhaps you require a dairy-free or vegan alternative to butter in mashed potatoes? Don’t worry; we have some excellent alternatives to butter in mashed potatoes that will ensure your meal still tastes great.
Why Put Butter On Mashed Potatoes?
If you have a knack for making perfectly creamy and fluffy mashed potatoes, your family and friends will beg you to make it again and again! The addition of butter is one of the secrets to making the perfect mashed potatoes. Butter not only improves the flavor of mashed potatoes, but it also improves the texture. It changes the starchy texture of mashed potatoes, making them smooth, rich, and delectable.
Along with butter, many people add milk to their mashed potatoes, along with the standard seasonings of salt and pepper. Milk and butter work together to soften the texture of the mashed potatoes, transforming them from stodgy lumps to a smooth, light mash.
What Do Mashed Potatoes With Butter Taste Like?
There aren’t many tasty treats that wouldn’t benefit from a dab of butter. You can’t go wrong with a pat of garlic butter on top of a sizzling steak or a hunk of butter melting into your steamed vegetables. A sauce can be made silky smooth by adding a small amount of butter. But what is it about butter that makes it so special?
The method of production, of course. Butter has a high fat content because it is made by churning heavy cream. It melts easily and has a subtle sweetness that complements other flavors. The starchy particles are coated with melted butter, which contributes to the silky texture. To illustrate, consider the luscious, silky consistency of many sauces that start with a roux made of melted butter and flour.
Can You Make Mashed Potatoes Without Butter?
There’s no reason why you couldn’t make mashed potatoes without any additional ingredients, but why would you? Without the addition of butter (or any other ingredients), mashed potatoes can become dry and stodgy. This makes them less appealing to eat, but they can be tolerated if served with gravy or in a casserole with plenty of liquid. Mash potatoes without butter aren’t as creamy and fluffy as you’d like. However, there may be times when you need to omit the butter or substitute something else.
This could be as simple as forgetting to stock up on butter at the store. Or you may be unable to use butter in your mashed potatoes due to dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, butter, like most things that make food taste delicious, is not good for us! Butter contains a lot of saturated fat, which some people avoid because it raises their risk of heart disease and obesity.
If you are lactose intolerant or follow a vegan diet, you must also find a substitute for butter. To replicate the flavor and texture of buttery mashed potatoes, we must find a substitute that has the same creamy, velvety mouthfeel. Fortunately, we have some great butter substitutes for mashed potatoes to meet all dietary needs!
Best Butter Substitutes For Mashed Potatoes
We need to think about what you can use in place of this crucial ingredient now that we’ve got you all excited about hot, buttery mashed potatoes. Don’t be discouraged if your butter dish is empty when making mashed potatoes because there are many options available. The best alternatives to butter for mashed potatoes are listed below!
1. Mayonnaise
Our top pick for the best butter substitute in mashed potatoes is not the healthiest option, but it will provide a delicious creamy texture! Mayonnaise can be used to replace both the butter and the milk in mashed potatoes, resulting in a deliciously moist and creamy mash. 12 cup mayonnaise for 1 pound potatoes; if the mixture appears slightly dry, add a splash of milk to loosen it up.
Because mayonnaise is not as sweet as butter, the flavor will not be quite the same as when butter is added to mashed potatoes. Your mash, on the other hand, will be rich, creamy, and incredibly decadent!
2. Olive Oil
Our second option is a healthier alternative that can be used by anyone on a dairy-free or vegan diet and will undoubtedly replicate the velvety, smooth mouthfeel of buttery mashed potatoes! For the best flavor, use extra virgin olive oil if you can find it. In a pinch, however, any kind of olive oil could be used in place of butter in mashed potatoes.
Olive oil has a buttery, nutty flavor, but it won’t give mashed potatoes the same level of creaminess as butter. This means that it functions best when combined with milk, whether it be dairy or a plant-based alternative that isn’t sweetened. For every 112 pounds of potatoes, add 14 cup of olive oil, 14 cup of milk, and the customary seasonings.
3. Buttermilk
Another ingredient that can be used to replace both butter and milk in mashed potatoes is buttermilk, which has a slightly tangy flavor and lacks the sweetness of butter but provides a great creamy texture. Buttermilk mashed potatoes are incredibly light and fluffy. Many people prefer the flavor of buttermilk potatoes because they are not as rich as buttered potatoes! For every pound of potatoes, use 12 cup buttermilk. If the mash is too thick for you, add a splash more water. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice for 1 cup of milk.
4. Coconut Oil
Although coconut oil’s popularity has skyrocketed recently, many of us still don’t think of it as a useful cooking ingredient. This multipurpose oil is a much healthier vegan substitute for butter because it is high in medium-chain fatty acids. Coconut oil melts into food with the same rich, velvety mouthfeel as butter. Unscented refined coconut oil might be preferable because unrefined coconut oil does have a faint coconut scent.
You might want to add milk, either dairy or non-dairy, along with coconut oil in mashed potatoes because it lacks a creamy flavor and also has a slight hint of natural sweetness. A little coconut oil goes a long way when using it. For every pound of potatoes, start with 1 tbsp of coconut oil and increase as needed.
5. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is an excellent way to add creaminess and richness to mashed potatoes. This makes it an excellent substitute for butter in mashed potatoes, especially if you like to add a dollop of heavy cream on top! So, instead of butter, milk, and cream, try some unsweetened Greek yogurt—you might be surprised! For every pound of mashed potatoes, use 14 cup yogurt. Make sure to use unsweetened yogurt, and for a healthier alternative, choose a low-fat or fat-free variety.
However, because Greek yogurt can be quite thick, a dash of olive or canola oil may be required to loosen the mashed potato mixture. This will also give your mashed potatoes a more velvety texture, bringing them as close to the traditional butter and milk version as possible.
6. Applesauce
Applesauce has been successfully substituted for butter in numerous recipes, despite the fact that it may not seem like an obvious solution. Smooth applesauce can be a fantastic healthy substitute for this dairy product because it has the same velvety texture and subtle sweetness as butter. Use only 1 tablespoon of applesauce per pound of potatoes and make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. To loosen the mixture and give it a creamier texture, you will also need to add some milk.
7. Canola Oil
When making mashed potatoes, use canola oil instead of butter for a similar texture but not quite the same flavor. Canola oil provides a velvety richness without the sweet, buttery flavor. To enhance the creamy flavor of your dish, add some milk, either dairy or nondairy. Canola oil can be used in the same way as olive oil, with 14 cup of oil for every pound of potatoes.