If you are looking for a quick and easy side dish to serve with your main meal, then why not make some instant mashed potatoes?
They can be really helpful to have in the pantry for occasions when you want to create a simple and fast dinner, and you only need to add a few things to turn your instant mash into something special.
Although, one of the ingredients that you do need in order to make instant mashed potatoes is milk, so what do you do if you have run out?
Alternatively, you may have a lactose intolerance or other food restriction that throws milk completely out of the window. If any of these things applies to you, then you will need to find a milk substitute to use instead.
In this article, we are going to tell you everything that you need to know about making instant mashed potatoes without any milk, so you don’t have to panic just yet.
We are also going to briefly tell you what you need to do if you ever find yourself without any butter. Ultimately, we are going to help to solve your instant mash emergency below.
Is It Possible To Make Instant Mash Without Using Milk?
Yes, you can definitely make instant mashed potatoes without using any milk, as there are some other things that you can use instead.
If you are not bothered about the creaminess that you get when you use milk, then you could even use a simple alternative like water instead.
While this may leave your mashed potatoes a little bit bland, you can use a bit more butter or margarine to bulk up the flavor a bite more instead.
The biggest change here will be the flavor, and you might also find that your mashed potato isn’t as thick, but there are some people that actually prefer it this way.
However, if this method is not for you, there are plenty of other milk alternatives that you will be able to use when it comes to making mashed potatoes. You can even try adding various different herbs and seasonings for more flavor while you are at it.
Ultimately, it is mostly about trying out different substitutes and finding what works for you and your personal taste preferences. It might take a bit of trial and error, but you will get there in the end.
We are going to list some of the best ways to make instant mash without using milk below, so you can find out what works best for you.
Can I Make Instant Mash Without Butter?
Before we get into all of the best substitutes to use for milk, we thought it would be worth mentioning that it also wouldn’t be the end of the world if you were to run out of butter as well as milk.
It doesn’t matter if you are missing both of these main ingredients, or just one of them, there are some substitutes that will work just as well.
You can replace butter with another type of fat, like margarine, lard, or olive oil. There are also other options that you will be able to explore and experiment with, and we will take a look at these below.
You can try out the options that you think would work the best for you.
The Best Milk And Butter Substitutes For Making Instant Mash
To help you to find out what works best for you, we are going to list some of the best milk and butter substitutes for when it comes to making instant mashed potatoes below.
We will even mention some dairy-free and vegan options for those of you that face dietary restrictions.
Heavy Cream
One of the best things about using heavy cream is that it is both creamy and fat, which makes it perfect for use when making mashed potatoes.
You may even find that you don’t need to use butter at all when you use heavy cream, but you can add it if you prefer the taste.
Although, you will still need to add in some water in order to hydrate the flakes of potato, but you can go ahead and mix in some warm or hot cream once you have done this.
Cream Cheese
Another substitute that you could use for making your mashed potato extremely creamy and delicious is cream cheese. This is one of the simplest substitutes that you can use.
Again, you will still need to use water, but the cream cheese will work to thicken the mashed potato and make it much more flavorful.
You can also either use more water or more cream cheese to make it thicker or thinner, depending on how you prefer your mashed potatoes to be.
However, you will need to ensure that you do not heat up your cream cheese, as it should only be used either cold or at room temperature.
Extra Butter
If you want to skip the addition of milk all together, you could simply add more butter than you would normally use. The more butter you add to the mixture, the more flavorful and rich your end result will be.
Although, it is definitely possible to use too much butter, and this is something that you should keep in mind.
Lard
Something else that you can try using is lard, but if you do this then you should only add a small amount of butter, if any at all. This is because using both butter and lard will create a very strong taste that might not be preferable.
Margarine
If you are looking for a vegan alternative, you could choose to make it by using only water and margarine. This way, you can still create delicious instant mashed potatoes, while still keeping it vegan.
Olive Oil
If you are out of both butter and milk, then you could try using olive oil instead. It might not be the richest of side dishes, but it will still have a good amount of flavor.
You could also add some additional seasoning to help create a more distinct flavor. Some examples of things that you can add are salt, chili flakes, or even garlic.
Cashew Cream
Cashews themselves are quite creamy, so using cashew cream is another great alternative for milk and butter. Cashew cream is also vegan, which is even better for those on a vegan diet or that can’t have dairy.
Cashew cream is one of the substitutes that will be more likely to need the help of seasoning, but it is up to you to decide what you want to include.
Things That You Can Add To Instant Mash For More Flavor
If you have tried or or multiple of the above options but you still feel like your instant mashed potatoes are missing something in terms of flavor, then it might be worth adding some additional ingredients to change things up a bit.
Garlic And Onion Powder
Two flavors that go really well with mashed potato are garlic and onion, so why not try adding some garlic or onion powder to the mix?
You could even add lightly fried onions or garlic into your mashed potatoes if you want a bit of texture at the same time. This will add some excellent overall flavor. Powdered or granulated varieties can work just as well.
Chives And Onions
You could also chop up some chives or spring onions to add a bit of freshness to your mashed potatoes. You might want to sprinkle some on top of the dish or mix them into the potatoes to add some extra flavor.
Seasoning And Herbs
It doesn’t really matter what herbs and seasoning you want to add to your mashed potatoes as long as they suit your flavor preferences.
This is something that can be influenced by what you are serving as your main. Some things that you can try are rosemary, parsley, chili powder, and more. You could even use a pre-made mixture from the store if you don’t know which combinations work the best.
Summary
There are lots of things that you can use instead of the typical milk and butter ingredients.
You will still be able to create delicious instant mashed potatoes when you want to make a quick and easy dinner, even if you don’t have these ingredients to hand. You can even try mixing a few different combinations if you want to create some unique results.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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