My kids, in particular, have a soft spot in their hearts for mashed potatoes; they ask for it on a near-daily basis. I cook mashed potatoes at least once a week despite my best efforts to increase their intake of vegetables and greens. My spouse and I are equally enthusiastic about this cherished dish, which is somewhat surprising.

I was looking through TikTok and Instagram for recipes when I came across a suggestion from a user named Jourdyn (@jeauxp) for an unusual ingredient: chicken stock. I chose to investigate the possibilities of this surprising addition since I was fascinated by this discovery.

Leaving the potato skins on is the first unorthodox step in Jourdyn’s approach. The skins are oiled and washed before being boiled in a mixture of chicken stock and water. I was intrigued by her method and decided to try it out for myself because it was different from the usual formula.

I followed Jourdyn’s instructions to the letter, boiling the potatoes in their skins before mashing them with butter, the broth that had been set aside, and black pepper. The outcome was absolutely mouth-watering—the potatoes were subtly umami-flavored from the broth, and the skins added a wonderful rustic texture.

Discovering New Flavors
I felt encouraged to continue experimenting after this achievement. Following the suggestion of another TikTok user, I improved the dish’s flavor and aesthetic appeal by adding sour cream and chopped chives to the subsequent batch.

I continued my exploration of TikTok cooking hacks beyond mashed potatoes. Other suggestions, such as seasoning spinach with nutmeg or reducing brown sugar with toast, were ones that I took to heart. My culinary abilities and repertoire have been greatly enhanced by these straightforward yet powerful techniques.