Should water for boiling mashed potatoes be salted?

Question

I saw a recipe on Yahoo that suggested salting water to boil potatoes to be mashed. I was always taught that water should be salted if you want flavor to be evenly distributed between the liquid and what you are boiling. In the case of mashed potatoes, you want the potato flavors to remain in the solid potato, since you are draining and discarding the liquid. Shouldn't the salt be added after the potatoes are cooked and drained?

Answer 1

Yes, salt the potatoes when you are boiling them. The potatoes absorb the salt. If you wait until after the potatoes are cooked, they don't taste very good.

Answer 2

What potatoe flavors? They don't taste like anything so what does it matter if the flavors come out into the water? Just add more salt and butter when you mash them and they will be delicious.

Answer 3

I always add salt to the boiling water,as the potatoes absorb the salt.

Answer 4

I boil my potatoes in chicken broth. The potatoes absorb some of the flavor and give a much better end result.

Answer 5

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, and honestly, I can't taste the difference. The water will come to a boil faster without salt in it, but will boil at a higher temp (cooking potatoes faster) with salt in it.

Take your pick!

Answer 6

Always to the boiling water; then check while mashing to see if more is necessary. Potatoes absorb the saltiness of the water, so don't overdo--probably a couple teaspoons to 2 quarts of water, or a small mound in the center of your cupped palm. Heat your milk/cream and butter before mashing.

Answer 7

Yes, read the box. I'm looking at a box of Idahoan original mashed potatoes, it has directions for the entire box but it is only a13.75 oz box. Also don't boil the milk.

Answer 8

I do add salt. I don't use too much water and in the end I save some of the water they cooked in. That water of the cooking has the vitamins and the minerals of the potatoes.
Take care!

Answer 9

Absolutely, potatoes are bland and need all the flavor as possible and the best time for it is during the cooking process.

Answer 10

i just saw a show that did a comparison between salted and non-salted. The salted was much superior, developed a nice golden brown crust where the unsalted was greasy and not as nice.. I believe you should definately salt the water.