Mashed potatoes are universally beloved, and for a good reason — they’re cheap, tasty, and relatively easy to make. What’s more, they’re adaptable to just about every dietary regimen, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-intolerant. And they’re a staple for holidays such as Thanksgiving. There are all kinds of recipes and theories about how to make a perfectly fluffy mash. However, many of them involve elaborate amounts of butter, cream, or other assorted dairy products. Turns out, there are astonishingly easy and cheap ways to get your mashed taters to a perfectly fluffy and cloud-like state without adding unnecessary calories to the recipe. Joe Gough/ShutterstockAdd a Leavening IngredientThe answer to perfect mashed potatoes? Sprinkle a pinch or two of baking powder atop your potatoes before you start mashing them. Just make sure your baking powder is fresh. Gabrielle Taylor/WonderHowToBaking powder and baking soda are both chemical leaveners that make batters rise, which…more