# Mashed potatoes--red or baking potatoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490 "2005-01-19T03:21:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490/21 "2005-01-19T17:20:16Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Also consider mashing sweet potatoes… OK, now we’re into a whole new thing here. Mashed sweet potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes. You can do lotsa stuff to 'em. My current fave is to chop up a couple of them canned chipotle chiles and throw in a few spoonfuls of that lovely adobo sauce that they come packed in. Deeeelish. Thanks to Alton Brown for that one. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490/22 "2005-01-20T08:36:45Z")
Well, if we go with sweet potatoes, I’m all about boiling the heck out of the, mashing them with butter and brown sugar, a bit of molasses and then salt to taste. And maybe a little more butter. Or brown sugar. Or molasses… ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490/23 "2005-01-20T14:31:45Z")
av8rmike beat me to it…but [here](http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season1/Potato/PotatoTranscript.htm) Alton explains the reason behind using both Russett (starchy) and Red (waxy) potatoes together…see scenes 3 and 5. BTW, I find that a hunk of cream cheese mashed in adds a subtle flavour… ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490/24 "2005-01-20T16:03:31Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > … Also consider mashing sweet potatoes (flavour with a little honey, nutmeg and spicy chilli flakes) … Or mash with butter, pack into a pan, sprinkle some toasted slivered almonds, add brown sugar and cinnamon, and finish under the broiler. On the other hand, I might have to try **Ass For A Hat** ’s version next time. For tonight I think ordinary baked potatoes (Russets), unless I mash them up with some cheese (but what kind?), or scalloped. I think I’m making chicken somehow, unless I change my mind and raid the freezer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mashed-potatoes-red-or-baking-potatoes/285490.md?page=1)