Potatoes have long been considered a European staple. A Lot of people living in Ireland and Poland would probably swear that the starchy tuber got its start there. However, actually, potatoes are a New World food, native to the Americas and only introduced to Europe around 1536 by Spanish explorers.

              Of all the Indian people in the Americas who ate potatoes, the Incas seemed to prefer their mashed. Some sources say the actual recipe for mashed potatoes originated in 1771 when a French man named Antoine Parmentier, As a prisoner of war, he was forced to live on rations of potatoes. Following his release at the end of the war, the pharmacist began to proselytize to his countrymen about the wonders of the tuber. One way he did this was by demonstrating all the delicious ways it could be served, including mashed. Today, the tuber is common in dishes and beverages the world over, in everything from potato chips to french fries, and of course, mashed potatoes.

              The earliest mashed potatoes recipes were English author Hannah Glasse who instructed readers to boil potatoes, peel them, put them into a saucepan, and mash them well with milk, butter, and a little salt. But, no country embraced potato like Ireland. Irish people also liked their potatoes mashed, often with cabbage or kale in a dish known as colcannon. Potatoes were more than just a staple food there, they became part of the Irish identity.

              So, how to make the perfect mashed potatoes then?  It’s all in the potato masher, the right kind of potatoes, and a little butter, salt, milk and elbow grease. An electric mixer, food processor, or ricer can make the potatoes overly sticky because over mashing activates the starch in the potato. Some experts say you can use a handheld electric mixer, but most agree the old fashioned, original design works best. Mashed potatoes are one of the simplest staple food which we can make at home every time we want it.

Source:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/627023/mashed-potatoes-history

https://kingsriverlife.com/10/09/history-of-the-potatoe-masher/#:~:text=Some%20sources%20say%20the%20actual,gravy%2C%20somewhere%20in%20the%201600s.

Pict source:

https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2017/11/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes_.jpg