How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes Without Drying Them Out

I don’t know about you, but a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy is my favorite side at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I’m definitely one of those people who’s always looking for more mashed potatoes recipes! However, it’s also one of those that ends up with the most leftovers. While I’m not complaining about having too much of this dish in my fridge, cold mashed potatoes aren’t really my thing.

Of course, reheating mashed potatoes can turn them from creamy goodness to dry, grainy mush. It’s important to know how to reheat mashed potatoes so you can enjoy them just the same the next day!

3 Ways to Reheat Mashed Potatoes

How to reheat mashed potatoes on the stove

Reheating mashed potatoes on the stove is probably the easiest method of the lot. Place your mashed potatoes in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, then add a tablespoon of butter and a splash of milk. Heat them for at least eight to ten minutes on low, stirring at least once a minute to keep them from sticking to the saucepan. Check to see if they’re warmed through, and if not, keep them on the heat until they’re done. Make sure to stir them thoroughly to ensure even warming.

How to reheat mashed potatoes in the microwave

Reheating mashed potatoes in the microwave is the quickest method, but you’ll want to be careful about how you do it. If you want to keep things simple, just pop in your mashed potatoes, covered, at high power for one minute, then pull them out and stir them. Keep reheating in 30-second increments, stirring in between to make sure they’re heated evenly.

If you want to dial it up a notch, heat up your covered potatoes with the microwave set to half power for one minute. Repeat the reheating in 30-second increments, stirring in between. Then, once they’re warm, stir in some warm milk and melted butter. You don’t want to use milk and butter straight out of the fridge, as this will drop the temperature of the mashed potatoes. This method keeps the potatoes from losing too much moisture in the beginning and adds more towards the end.

How to reheat mashed potatoes in the oven

If you’ve got some time on your hands, use the oven! Take your mashed potatoes out of the fridge and set them on the counter for about 20 minutes to bring them to room temperature. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, pop them in the oven, covered, for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.

Want to make them more moist and fluffy? Cover them with a couple tablespoons of butter and milk before you put them in (don’t stir, though!). Then repeat the steps above, mixing the milk and butter in once they’re out of the oven and warmed through.

Tips for Reheating Mashed Potatoes

How do I reheat frozen mashed potatoes?

To reheat frozen mashed potatoes, thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating. Avoid reheating them directly from frozen, and keep in mind that your potatoes will likely be slightly watery if you reheat them after freezing. Once they’ve been thawed in the fridge, pop them in the microwave and follow the method outlined above!

How do I keep my potatoes from drying out?

For the methods mentioned here, it’s best to reheat your potatoes low and slow to keep them from drying out. In the microwave and oven, make sure to keep your mashed potatoes covered, and don’t be afraid to add in a bit of butter and milk to bring the moisture and fluffiness back!

How do I use up leftover mashed potatoes?

Maybe you’ve run out of gravy, you’ve just had an overload of mashed potatoes over the holidays or you just want to make a heartier dinner. No matter the reason, there are plenty of ways to use leftover mashed potatoes! You can stick them in pies, turn them into rolls or even make doughnuts out of them. Here’s how you can reheat the rest of your Thanksgiving leftovers so they taste as just as good as the day you made them!