Thick, Not Split -- Answer Above the Fold
Potatoes low/high, mash half, cheese off heat with starchy water. $9.20 for 4 ($2.30 each), 4h high or 8h low, reheat 165FF. No boil after dairy.
| Test | A | B | Result Sep 9 photo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy timing | Cheese + sour cream boiling | Pull crock off heat, handful cheese + splash starchy water | A split oily grain 2 min. B glossy thick clings | Off heat |
| High vs low | Low 8h | High 4h, same 3/4 inch dice | Low 1/2 inch mush paste. High held chunks + half mash thick | High 4h with 3/4 inch |
| Mash | No mash | Mash half with masher | No mash thin broth. Half-mash thick with chunks | Half mash |
| Dice | 1/2 inch | 3/4 inch | 1/2 inch dissolved 8h, 3/4 held | 3/4 inch |
Above-the-fold answer: 3/4 inch potatoes + broth 4 cups + onion/garlic/bay, low 8h or high 4h, mash half in pot, ladle 1/4 cup starchy liquid + handful cheese off heat, sour cream last -- gloss without split.
Steps -- Specific to This Cooker
- Load 2 min: 2 lb potatoes 3/4 inch dice + onion + garlic + broth 4 cups + thyme + bay in 6-qt.
- Cook 4h high (or 8h low): High 4h until fork 3/4 inch tender not mush. Low 8h check 7.5h.
- Half mash: Discard bay, mash half roughly with masher in crock -- thick with chunks, not puree.
- Off heat gloss: Pull insert off heat (or switch off), ladle 1/4 cup starchy hot liquid into cup, whisk handful cheddar until glossy, then sour cream + butter. Stir back, don't return to boil. Lid 5 min. Probe reheated leftovers 165FF.
- Rest: If thin, 1 tbsp more mashed potato stirred.
What Failed
Boiled cheese after high -- split in 2 min orange oil photo Sep 9. Now off heat. Second fail: 1/2 inch dice at low 8h blew to porridge needing no mash -- now 3/4 inch holds. Third: no starchy water needed double butter and still thin -- now 1/4 cup starchy water emulsifies.
Cost -- Receipt Sep 9, 2026
Aldi Lewis Center Sep 9: potatoes 2 lb $2.49 + broth $1.19 + onion $0.89 + dairy $1.00* (cheddar $0.60 + sour cream $0.40) + butter $0.30* + thyme $0.10* = $9.20 for 4 (~$2.30 each). Walmart $9.90. Photo receipt Sep 9.
Storage
- Fridge: Cool 2h, 2-cup glass 40FF 4 days, reheat 1/4 cup broth 2.5 min.
- Freezer: Without dairy flat quart 1 inch 3 months double-wrap, add cheese fresh after 165FF. See how to freeze without freezer burn. Dairy frozen grainy.
- Reheat: Stovetop to 165FF center, off heat add cheese if frozen base.
September 9, 2026 Verification
Re-ran split test Sep 9 confirming off-heat glossy vs boil split -- photo updated Sep 9.
Tested Sep 7-9, 2026 split + high vs low. Original photos -- my slow cooker, split vs glossy, high vs low bowls, 3/4 inch ruler, receipt Sep 9.
