Stuff I Use: Old Fashioned Potato Masher

'Round these parts, when it  comes to mashing potatoes, it's a job for my old-fashioned gadget. I love my old-fashioned, or manual, potato masher. It just goes to show that you can invent things that are more innovative (the mixer or the beaters) but they may not always do a better job. That's right, from the Kitchen Aid Mixer to the beaters that you plug in, there is just no better way to mash up taters than by hand. 

I love the consistency I get from this thing, and also, just look at it. It's awesome: 

Unpretentious, unassuming, and giving me the perfect potatoes each and every time. This thing wins the day for me. Here's one funny thing about this piece of kitchen equipment: I have no idea where I got it from. Literally. No idea. It is possible that it came with the house...which I know sounds strange, but there are a few things that were here from the last tenant when we moved in and we just sort of kept them and used them because there was nothing wrong with them. 

It's also possible that it came from one of the MANY roommates we had over the years. At one point, there were six or so people living here. It was more like a frat house than a home at that time. And let me tell you something funny about living in a house for ten years where other people have moved in and out at various times: people leave all sorts of crazy crap. From whole pieces of furniture to boxes of clothes and other random "trinkets" you can never predict what people don't want anymore. 

So while I can't say the exact origin of said potato masher, I can safely tell you hat they still sell these suckers in stores...but if you find one at a thrift shop, you're likely to spend less. Either way, if you are a mashed potato enthusiast, this is a gadget for you for sure! 

YUM! 

So tell me, what's your favorite handy, old fashioned, I have no idea how this thing got here, kitchen gadget?