Half & half is commonly used in coffee and similar drinks for the enhancement of taste and texture. However, can it also be used as a substitute for milk in mashed potatoes? Read on to learn about how half & half can be used in mashed potatoes, if at all.
Half & Half In Mashed Potatoes?
Yes, half & half can be used in mashed potatoes. It is made with1/2 whole milk and 1/2 cream so expect your mashed potatoes to be creamier if you typically use milk.
When I use half & half in my mashed potatoes, I am cautious about how much I use given it is higher in calories. I like to add equal parts half & half and 2% milk to them to cut back on calories.
The table below provides a comparison of the nutrition for 1 cup of half & half versus 2% milk. You can see why you may wish to use half & half sparingly given its higher calories, fat, and sodium compared to milk.
| Half & Half | 2% Milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1 Cup (8 fl. oz.) | 1 Cup (8 fl. oz.) |
| Calories | 320 | 120 |
| Total Fat | 24g | 5g |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 3g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 120mg | 20mg |
| Sodium | 240mg | 120mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 8g | 12g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0g |
| Sugar | 8g | 11g |
| Protein | 8g | 8g |
How Much Half & Half In Mashed Potatoes?
Certainly, if you wish to use half & half in your mashed potatoes in lieu of milk, go for it! Generally, you will want to use a 1/2 cup of half & half and 2 tablespoons of butter for 2 pounds of potatoes to start. If needed, add more half & half and/or butter to meet your taste preference.
Some recipes call for up to 3/4 cup half & half and 6 tablespoons of butter for 2 pounds of potatoes. This should give you a good idea of how creamy mashed potatoes can get!
Here are some favorite recipes for mashed potatoes with half & half:
- Salt & Baker – Mashed Potatoes With Half and Half
- Brown Eyed Baker – The Most Perfect Mashed Potatoes
- Life’s Ambrosia – Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Pioneer Woman – Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Jo Cooks – Mashed Potatoes
Half & Half Not Coffee Creamer!
Keep in mind that it is easy to mix up coffee creamer with half & half, especially if you’re not a coffee drinker.
We’ve established that half & half is simply a mix of whole milk and cream. But, what is coffee creamer?
The liquid variety of coffee creamer is commonly made with water and sugar as its primary ingredients. Additionally, it is often flavored with flavors like French vanilla, sweet cream, caramel macchiato, and chocolate mocha.
Coffee creamer gets confused with half & half because they both go in coffee, contain similar packaging, and are located adjacent to each other at the grocery store. Be sure to grab half & half instead of coffee creamer for your mashed potatoes otherwise you may be in for a disgusting surprise when you take your first bite of taters!
Heavy Cream In Mashed Potatoes?
Heavy cream can also be used in mashed potatoes but you will want to use it sparingly. Just a 1/4 cup of it contains about 200 calories, 20 grams of total fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, and 80 grams of cholesterol.
To give you an idea how much heavy cream to use in mashed potatoes, let’s look at some recipes that use it. Here are five popular mashed potatoes with heavy cream recipes with their ingredients to give you examples of the amount of heavy that is commonly used:
- Joyous Apron – Creamy Mashed Potatoes: 3 lbs. potatoes, 1 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 tbsp. salted butter, 1 tbsp. seasoned salt.
- Food Network – Mashed Potatoes: 4 lbs. potatoes, 2 cups heavy cream, 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, 2 tbsp. chopped chives, 1 bay leaf, salt & pepper.
- Tasty – Creamiest Mashed Potatoes: 4 lbs. yukon gold potatoes, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 sprigs rosemary, garlic head.
- All Recipes – Holiday Only Mashed Potatoes: 5 lbs. red potatoes, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup butter, salt & pepper.
- Tastes of Lizzy T – Rich and Creamy Mashed Potatoes: 5 lbs. russet potatoes, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup salted butter, 1/2 cup heavy cream, salt.
Remember that you can always make half & half using an even mix of heavy cream and milk if you prefer your mashed potatoes less creamy.
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Image Credit – David Kessler/flickr