The Best Way to Reheat Mashed Potatoes, According to Chefs

Not all leftovers are great, but leftover mashed potatoes sure are. The smooth spuds make a great side with pretty much any protein. Top them with butter, drown them in gravy or even bread them in a little flour and panko breadcrumbs and pan-fry them for a fun alternative to hashbrowns.

To help you bring your chilled or frozen potatoes back to their former smooth and creamy glory, we reached out to a few chefs for their tips and tricks. Whether you have surplus spuds from your weeknight dinner or your Thanksgiving feast, we can help you reheat them the right way.

Related: The Grandma-Approved Trick to Smooth, Creamy Mashed Potatoes

How To Thaw Mashed Potatoes

This is for the folks who put their mashed potatoes in the freezer to last longer, rather than the refrigerator. Like most foods, the best plan is to thaw the frozen potatoes overnight in the fridge. This slow chill will help them retain their original texture. If you forgot to plan ahead (we're familiar with that), you can use a faster method (see below) or you can use the cold water method.

Chef Leo Davila of Stixs & Stones restaurant in San Antonio Texas explains that you can put the sealed bag of frozen potatoes in a small bowl and place it under running cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. This method wastes a lot of water, so you can also put the bag in a bowl of cold water and switch out the water every 30 minutes. Better yet, you might want to fire up the stove, oven or microwave.

Related: The Secret Ingredient to Better Mashed Potatoes

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes on the Stovetop

If you guessed that the best method for reheating mashed potatoes would be the stovetop, you’d be correct. Grab a saucepan and turn the stovetop to medium-high heat. Former Hell’s Kitchen contestant Chef Sakari Smithwick says that low and slow is the way to go when reheating spuds on the stove. If you overheat the potatoes they can get gummy and starchy.

As the potatoes heat up, whisk in some butter and/or milk or cream. Adjust the seasoning and you can even add in a few extras, like chopped rosemary or some grated garlic.

The stovetop method is also a good way to dry out mashed potatoes that got a little watery from being in the fridge or freezer. The heat will help them thicken back up.

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes in the Microwave

While the stovetop was the chefs' preferred reheating method, you can also use the microwave to reheat your mashed potatoes. Put the potatoes in a microwave-safe dish, add a bit of butter and heat the potatoes in bursts. The timing will depend on the amount of potatoes you have, but Chef Davila advises heating the potatoes on high power for two minutes, stirring them, and then heating them for another two minutes. Continue to do this until the potatoes are heated through.

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes in the Oven

Over at Queen Martha Stewart’s website, she suggests reheating mashed potatoes in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350° and add some butter and milk or cream to prevent the potatoes from drying out. Place them in the oven until they are thoroughly reheated. For food safety, they should register 165° degrees in the center. Check the seasoing and adjust as needed. Now bring on the gravy!

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