Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of warm, buttery and velvety mashed potatoes? All signs point to no — and you certainly don’t need a holiday like Thanksgiving as an excuse to eat them.

Mashed potatoes are so much more than an indulgence in carbohydrates — they’re a necessary component to a variety of dishes like meatloaf, shepherd’s pie and Salisbury steak. But my favorite preparation of all is with a bowl, a spoon and pants with an elastic waistband.

Boiling potatoes and mashing them yourself is not a difficult feat and many chefs may call my decision to purchase refrigerated varieties blasphemous and textbook laziness, but sometimes life gets stressed and complicated and if it’s refrigerated mashed potatoes I want, then it’s refrigerated mashed potatoes I will get.

Surprisingly, Amazon Fresh only tends to sell three premade options (in the NYC area, at least), so if you’re hoping to satisfy that hankering in a pinch, you’re not going to get much diversity. The lineup, however, does include self–proclaimed No. 1 (they literally use this accolade to advertise the product), Bob Evans, tried-and-true Hormel, and then a brand that I had never heard about: Reser’s.

Which of these smooth spuds reigned supreme in the ultimate taste test? The results surprised me and they’ll likely surprise you, America. Check out my full ranking below.

The national chain may want to rethink their marketing campaign as "America’s no. 1 refrigerated mashed potatoes." While the creamy consistency was present and palatable, I felt like it was entirely too potato-forward with virtually zero notes of butter, cream or even salt. In fact, these tasted downright healthy, which is the last thing I want to experience when partaking in carbohydrate bliss. To salvage the recipe that, frankly, doesn’t stand on its own, incorporate these into a dish like the aforementioned shepherd’s pie where ingredients like meat and vegetables will help to complement and enhance the flavor. Otherwise, you’re better off going to an actual Bob Evans restaurant and ordering their fresh mashed potatoes in person (which I can say are certifiably delicious and an upgrade to the packaged variety).

While Hormel earned points for creaminess, there was a slight tang to its recipe that reminded me of sour cream. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you like your mashed potatoes to taste like heavy cream, you’ll be disappointed by the overall flavor profile. That said, these are the easiest to zhuzh up with your own additions like chives, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic or bacon bits. They’ll easily take on any topping and since the foundation isn’t potato-heavy like Bob Evans, these toppings will actually shine on their own. Just be mindful of not over-doing it — adding lots of fatty ingredients can make you feel physically ill after noshing on something that’s already so dense and filling.

This was, hands down, the best premade mashed potato of the bunch. It may even be the best premade mashed potato product I’ve ever tasted. The recipe was smooth, buttery and had a perfect amount of black pepper for added spice. You really don’t have to add a thing, which is why I was able to house almost an entire tray in one sitting (#dangerous). If you’re scrambling to find a side dish, quickly toss this into the microwave and serve it with a spoon in an oversized bowl. Nobody needs to know that you didn’t labor over peeling, washing, boiling and mashing to achieve something that is totally tuber-lar.

Of course, you can always make your own mashed potatoes at home, when you're feeling a bit more motivated. Here are a handful of my favorite TODAY recipes:

Creamy Mashed Potatoes by Kristen Kish

A classic, high-rated recipe that incorporates chicken stock for an added depth of umami flavor.

Carson's Mom's Cloud Nine Mashed Potatoes by Carson Daly

Carson dresses up his taters with booze, which sounds absurd until you realize how well it pairs with roasted garlic and crumbled bacon.

Slow-Cooker Mashed Potatoes by Elizabeth Heiskell

Is there anything a slow cooker can’t do? Apparently not, which is why I love this quick and easy recipe that uses cream cheese for extra decadence.

Sweet Potato and Plantain Mash by Kevin Curry

This sweet potato and plantain iteration is so sinfully sweet that it’s practically dessert. Serve it with salted butter to bring in some balance.

Ukraine's military said they have destroyed a heavily-armed Russian tug boat on the Black Sea using a Harpoon missile supplied by the US.

And there's also that issue of "poop tweeting"

Tell us how you really feel, Chuck.

A royal source said Prince Harry and Meghan Markle invited Prince William, Kate Middleton and their kids to Lilibet's birthday party, but were snubbed.

Riley Whitelaw, 17, who was killed in a Walgreens employee break room, had previously complained to management that her coworker's advances made her uncomfortable.View Entire Post ›

Stephen Curry's first extension with the Warriors became a steal when he became an MVP and allowed them to build a super-team.

Courtney and Nick live with their two teenage daughters in a 5-bedroom house in the suburbs with a pool and a waterslide in the backyard.

It’s not a big secret that Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage was an unhappy one. So it’s not a surprise Diana allegedly developed a crush on one of her A-list friends back in the 1980s — specifically with George Michael. In the upcoming biography by James Gavin called George Michael: A Life, he explores […]

Mark Jackson doesn't hold back when it comes to throwing a little shade at his former team.

Andrew Wiggins was incredible on the court during the NBA Finals, but even he knows Steph Curry had the performance of a lifetime.

President Joe Biden fell when he tried to get off his bike at the end of a ride Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in Delaware, but wasn't hurt in the tumble. Biden, 79, and first lady Jill Biden were wrapping up a morning ride when the president decided to pedal over to a crowd of well-wishers standing by the bike trail. Biden, who was wearing a helmet, took the spill when he tried to dismount, apparently falling on his right side and rolling on to his back before being helped up.

Airlines have had difficulty keeping up amid skyrocketing travel demands and the ongoing labor shortage, which have contributed to growing flight disruptions.

Singer Camila Cabello shows off her strong core and sculpted booty in a tiny, blue string bikini on a Miami beach. She was also spotted with a new guy in LA.

Behind the raw public frustration and anger over election security that has played out this week in New Mexico was a hint of something deeper -- a growing divide between the state’s Democratic power structure and conservative rural residents who feel their way of life is under attack. In Otero County, where the crisis over certifying the state’s June 7 primary election began, County Commissioner Vickie Marquardt struck a defiant tone as she relented under pressure from the state’s Democratic attorney general, Democratic secretary of state and a state Supreme Court dominated by Democratic appointees. “If we get removed from office, nobody is going to be here fighting for the ranchers, and that’s where our fight should be right now,” said Marquardt, the commission chairwoman in a county where former President Donald Trump won nearly 62% of the vote in 2020.

Tell us how you really feel, JT.

Ayesha Curry had the perfect mic-drop response to end the Finals feud with Boston fans.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katherine Schwarzenegger (@katherineschwarzenegger) Eloise Christina Schwarzenegger Pratt has officially made her Instagram debut. On Saturday, June 18, Katherine Schwarzenegger shared a roundup of photos from May and June, including two shots featuring her second daughter with Chris Pratt, Eloise.

Moscow has been taking steps to bolster defenses against sanctions since 2014, when Russia was hit with trade restrictions over its annexation of Ukraine.

Elizabeth Hurley once again turns everyone’s heads as she rocks another sexy bikini on Instagram. On June 17, Hurley posted a video of herself looking sensational in her “favorite” bikini, captioning the video: “My favourite Ebony bikini is 30% off this weekend only on www.elizabethhurley.com ❤️❤️❤️.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by […]

A TikToker explained why she was forced to spend two weeks on vacation with her ex-boyfriend.