Kitchen gadget: Potato masher

I consider this a must-have in my kitchen drawer but I have never figured out why it is called a potato masher yet it mashes more than just potatoes. The one I have is more than 15 years old; they are definitely durable and the basic design has not changed much over the years. They consist of a single upright handle connected to a stainless steel mashing head which is usually a round stainless steel plate with holes. That describes my masher which is still available in shops today. The newer versions have what looks like a sideways handle. Others have an arch handle and a mashing head with a zig zag coil. Whichever you chose to buy, they all do the same thing.