The Reason You Should Be Adding Sour Cream To Mashed Potatoes

Nothing in this world is better than smooth and creamy mashed potatoes. This classic side dish can go with any meal you're preparing, whether it be a whole Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and corn or a simple spread of steak and a nice glass of wine. Mashed potatoes are the ideal side dish if you want something easy, as they barely require a recipe. However, there are some expert mashed potato tips you need to know.

Nailing the perfect dish of mashed potatoes can be hard since there are so many unexpected mistakes you can make. You could use the wrong type of potato, leading to a weird mouthfeel. You could undercook them, leaving you with a lumpy texture in the end. You could also forget to salt your water, resulting in under-seasoned and bland spuds. But even if you commit one of these mashed potato errors, one little trick could at least somewhat save their flavor: Just add a little sour cream to be left with the fluffiest and creamiest mashed potatoes you've ever seen.

When whipping up those perfect mashed potatoes, don't forget the sour cream. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but a dollop (or two) of sour cream in your spuds will help create that coveted silky texture. While sour cream isn't a requisite mashed potato ingredient, many online recipes insist that it should be — thanks to its tangy flavor that helps cut some of the creaminess in the potatoes, butter, and other ingredients. After all, adding acidic ingredients to brighten dishes is a classic culinary trick, per America's Test Kitchen. Sour cream falls into the middle range of acidic ingredients, far less puckery than lemon juice, but with enough zing to add a more vibrant flavor to regular ol' mashed potatoes.

If you're worried that adding sour cream to your favorite mashed potato recipe could be overpowering, don't be: Commenters on Ina Garten's recipe for sour cream mashed potatoes said the secret ingredient offers the "perfect background tang to cut through the creamy richness," while another said it gave the dish "body" and a smoother texture. Some said they used Greek yogurt for a similar effect. But if you're ready to embrace the sour cream, really lean in by making our loaded mashed potatoes, which include other baked potato fixings like bacon and scallions.