OXO Potato Ricer: Smooth Mash Without a Food Mill

The decision is less about how much you like mashed potatoes than how you like them to feel. If small lumps and pieces of skin are welcome, a conventional masher may already do the job. The OXO Good Grips Potato Ricer, model 26981, is for the cook who wants a finer starting texture and accepts an extra loading step to get there. It is a hand press, so the appeal is control rather than automation.

A press changes the preparation routine

A ricer pushes cooked potato through small openings instead of repeatedly crushing it against the bottom of a bowl. OXO's guide to mashing tools describes the resulting small, rice-like pieces. Those pieces can then become the base for the finished dish.

That does not make the tool a substitute for cooking the potatoes properly or following a recipe. Start with potatoes cooked until suitably tender, and add the other ingredients as your recipe directs. The ricer performs one preparation step; it does not choose the right balance of liquid, fat or seasoning for you.

There is also a practical sequence to consider. Load the cup, bring the handles together, release them and repeat. For an occasional side dish that may be an acceptable exchange for a finer texture. For a large holiday batch, the number of repetitions matters more than the small size of the tool in a drawer.

The support knob needs a suitable landing place

This model has a stainless steel body, soft handles and a non-slip knob at the far end. OXO designed that knob to rest over a pot or bowl while you squeeze. The useful detail is the support point: you are not simply holding the entire tool above an empty space.

Look at the receiving vessel before assuming the arrangement will be comfortable. Its rim and opening should let the tool sit securely, with the pressed potato falling inside. The manufacturer's overall dimensions are 11.5 by 5 by 4 inches, which also give you a starting point for checking storage.

The support is helpful, but it does not remove the need for hand pressure. If gripping and squeezing are difficult for you, do not infer from the soft handles that this will be effortless. Compare the motion with a straight-down masher or a crank-operated food mill before deciding.

Cleanup belongs in the buying decision

OXO lists the ricer as dishwasher-safe. That is a useful distinction for someone who wants a metal press without adding a hand-wash-only item to the kitchen. Still, the perforated cup is where food passes through, and it deserves attention after use.

Inspect the openings and the pressing surface when cleaning. Leaving potato to dry in small holes can make the next cleanup less convenient. Follow the product's care directions and arrange it so the surfaces can actually be cleaned, rather than treating a dishwasher-safe label as a promise that every loading position works equally well.

This is the standard Potato Ricer, not OXO's separate adjustable model. Do not buy it expecting a dial for several textures. Its value rests on a straightforward pressing action, the supported position and the care routine, not a long list of interchangeable functions.

Match the tool to the amount you make

For someone who regularly makes a modest amount of smooth mash, the 26981 offers a clear reason to add a dedicated tool. The soft handles and pot-resting design are relevant to that repeated task. A drawer full of rarely used accessories is a weaker reason to buy another one.

For larger quantities, OXO's own tool guide points to a food mill as an alternative with a larger working bowl. For a rustic result, a simple masher avoids loading a small cup repeatedly. Neither alternative is automatically better; they change the work you do.

Before purchasing, confirm the standard stainless steel 26981 and check the current delivered price. Buy it because the pressing routine suits your meals, your hands and your cleanup preferences—not because a photograph of perfectly smooth potatoes guarantees the same result in every kitchen.