History of the Wire Potato Masher

Of all the implements used to mash potatoes and other vegetables, the wire potato masher, with its signature wavy shape, is among the most familiar.

Pharoah's Potatoes?

Archaeologists have found implements for mashing foods among the items in ancient Egyptian tombs. Of course, they were not used for potatoes, as potatoes are a New World crop that would have been unknown to the Egyptians. Their mashers, basically blunt sticks, would have been used for grinding grains and seeds and mashing root vegetables. One important use would have been mashing grains to make beer. The Egyptians knew how to brew.

American Cookery

The ubiquitous wire potato masher, with its sturdy form that looks like a series of U's strung together, has a place in 19th Century American cookbooks, such as "Mrs. Lincoln's Boston Cook Book: What to Do and What Not to Do in Cooking‎," published in 1883. "History and Commerce of New York," a book published in 1891, lumps wire potato mashers with other wire contraptions, including squirrel cages, mousetraps, chicken coops and train conductor's punches.

Other Ways to Mash Potatoes

Besides the blunt masher of the Egyptians and the simple wire potato masher, cooks use other implements. Ricers and flat-bottomed mashers both force the potatoes through small holes. Food mills can also be used, but they are a bit messy. Even a fork will serve in a pinch, although you may end up with some lumps.
Avoid using electric mixers, blenders or food processors to mash potatoes. You could easily over-beat the potatoes, turning them into a mess that resembles wallpaper paste in both taste and texture.

Other Uses for Wire Potato Mashers

Wire potato mashers can crush all sorts of root vegetables, such as parsnips, rutabagas or carrots. Use them to crush berries for jam or grapes for juice or wine-making.
Outside the kitchen, use them for mixing paint or even as a hand tool to help loosen garden soil for planting.
Make your own wrapping or decorative paper by dipping the masher in poster paint or against a moist ink pad, and pressing it against the paper of your choice.

What to do With a Dead Potato Masher

If you do not have a mummy with which to bury your worn-out potato masher, you could recycle it along with other metals if your garbage hauler allows.
You can also save bits and pieces of found metal, especially intricately shaped ones like a potato masher would be, to make into metal sculptures.

Resources

• Text of "History and Commerce of New York, 1891"
• Text of "Mrs. Lincoln's Boston Cook Book"
• Giant metal bird sculptures

Who Can HelpSponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.