There are so many recipes based on boiled potatoes, including those of mashed potatoes and potato salad. The best way to boil them is to cook them in a pot in boiling water. If there are already too many pots on the stove, you can boil the potatoes in the microwave and take care of the other ingredients in the recipe in the meantime. Whichever method you choose, boiling potatoes is a simple process that in most cases takes no more than 20 minutes.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash and Prepare the Potatoes
Step 1. Wash the potatoes with hot water
Scrub them one at a time under warm running water with clean hands. Spend 15-20 seconds on each potato to remove all traces of soil. Once clean, put the potatoes in a saucepan.
- If the potatoes are covered with soil, it is best to scrub them with a vegetable brush. Brush them gently under running water for a few seconds.
- You can boil potatoes of any variety. The only variation is the cooking time.
Step 2. Peel the potatoes if you do not intend to eat the skin
If you want, you can peel the potatoes before boiling them. Grab them one at a time in your non-dominant hand and tilt your wrist forward. Grab the peeler with your free hand and place the blade on the end of the potato farthest from your wrist. Hold it steady with your hand as you move the peeler towards you to remove a strip of peel. Turn the potato slightly and repeat the process on all sides.
- If you prefer, you can also boil the potatoes in their skins, which will give the pulp more flavor; you can remove it after cooking if the recipe requires it, for example if you are preparing mashed potatoes or potato salad.
- Peeling the potatoes after boiling them is very simple; you will be able to remove the peel very easily with the help of a simple knife.
Step 3. Cut the potatoes into slices or cubes to reduce cooking time
If you are short on time or if the recipe does not require the potatoes to keep a particular shape, slice them before cooking. Place a potato on the cutting board, hold it steady with your non-dominant hand, and carefully cut it into slices or cubes using a sharp knife. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook.
Cut the potatoes into cubes if you intend to use them to make mashed potatoes; you will have much less trouble crushing them once cooked
Method 2 of 3: Boil the Potatoes on the Stove
Step 1. Put the potatoes in the pot and cover them with cold water
Choose a pot that is suitable for the size and number of potatoes. For example, if you intend to boil some new fries you can use a medium sized pot. If the potatoes are large, use a large, high-sided pot. In both cases, after putting them in the pot, submerge them with cold water.
- If you've already filled the pot with water, add the potatoes carefully so it doesn't overflow or splash.
- Do not fill the pot to the brim but leave 5-7 cm of free space to prevent the water from overflowing when it boils. If you find that the pot is too small, replace it with a larger one.
Step 2. Salt the water and light the fire
Before turning on the stove, pour half a teaspoon or a full teaspoon of salt into the water. In addition to giving flavor, the salt ensures a more even cooking of the potatoes. Cover the pot and heat the water over high heat to quickly bring it to a boil.
- The use of the lid is optional, but allows you to trap the steam inside the pot for faster cooking.
- If you want you can also add garlic, bay leaf or peppercorns to give more flavor to the potatoes. Pour them into the water along with the salt.
Step 3. Turn down the heat when the water is boiling
Wait for it to boil briskly, then adjust the heat to medium-low. Put the lid back on the pot and let the potatoes cook. The cooking time required depends on the variety and size of the potatoes, the smaller they are, the faster they cook.
If you have cut the potatoes into slices or cubes, the cooking time is further reduced
Step 4. Red potatoes and new potatoes should boil for 15-20 minutes
Generally, red-skinned potatoes and new potatoes must boil for at least a quarter of an hour. The same goes for potatoes of other varieties cut into cubes or small pieces. Cook them in boiling water for at least 15 minutes. If you have sliced them into pieces no wider than 5 cm you can check if they are cooked after 10 minutes.
- Since it does not affect the result, you can check if the potatoes are cooked at any time and, if necessary, let them boil again.
- Potato varieties that have very thin skin, such as red potatoes or new potatoes, are best suited for boiling, as they tend to keep their shape intact even if they are cooked for too long.
Step 5. Large potatoes should boil for 20-25 minutes
Typically large potatoes, such as Russet Burbank or Ratte, should be left to cook in boiling water, with the pot covered, for at least 20 minutes. Yukon Gold potatoes tend to take a few minutes longer to cook than others, so wait 25-30 minutes before checking if they are done.
Step 6. Use the fork to evaluate the doneness of the potatoes
Take the tongs and remove a potato from the pot to check if it is cooked. Place it on a clean surface and stick it in the center with a fork. If the prongs go in and out easily, the potato is cooked. If it's still tough, put it back in the pot and cook for another 2-3 minutes before checking again.
If the potato is still not fully cooked, but you managed to pierce it with your fork, check again after 1 minute
Step 7. Drain the potatoes
Place a large colander in the center of the sink, hold the handles of the pot with your oven gloves on and drain the potatoes carefully. Pour the potatoes into the colander slowly to keep the water from splashing, then return them to the pot to season them or let them cool.
Many cooks prefer to put the potatoes back in the pot right away, before they have time to drain. The water on the peel will keep them moist during the subsequent processing steps
Method 3 of 3: Boil Potatoes in the Microwave
Step 1. Wash and peel the potatoes if you do not intend to eat them with their skins
Place them in the sink and scrub them under cold running water to remove any dirt residue. You can choose whether to cook them with or without peel. Grab them one at a time in your non-dominant hand and tilt your wrist forward at 45 degrees. Grab the peeler with your free hand and place the blade on the end of the potato farthest from your wrist. Hold it steady with your hand as you move the peeler towards you to remove a strip of peel. Rotate the potato slightly and repeat the process on all sides.
- You can scrub the potatoes with your hands or with a vegetable brush. Using the brush you will be able to clean the peel perfectly, but it is not strictly necessary.
- Boiling potatoes in the microwave is not the best choice, as the heat is not distributed evenly. The advantage of this method is that you will have an extra stove at your disposal if you are working on several preparations at the same time.
Step 2. Place the potatoes in a large container suitable for microwave use, then submerge them with water
Glass and ceramic (unglazed) are generally safe materials when using the microwave oven. In any case, make sure that the bottom of the container clearly states that it is suitable for use in the microwave. You can use a square or rectangular bowl or bowl. Place the potatoes in the container and submerge them in water at room temperature.
- If the bottom of the container does not clearly indicate that it is suitable for use in the microwave, look for a symbol consisting of 3 parallel wavy lines, usually flanked on the right by 2-3 circles. This is the symbol that indicates that the container is suitable for use in the microwave oven.
- You can add a pinch of salt if you wish, but unlike when you use the stove it will not significantly affect the taste of the potatoes.
Step 3. Cover the container with cling film and drill a few holes for the steam to escape
Tear off a piece of plastic wrap and adhere it to the edges of the container to seal it. Drill 4-5 holes in the cover to allow the steam to escape. Distribute the holes evenly to prevent steam from accumulating in one section of the cover.
Shape the film sheet using scissors or the serrated blade on the package
Step 4. Cook the potatoes on high for 5 minutes
Place the bowl in the center of the oven and close the door. Turn on the microwave on maximum power and cook the potatoes for 5 minutes. If the oven does not exceed 800 watts, let the potatoes boil for 6 minutes.
Each microwave oven model has different settings and features. You may need to cook the potatoes a little longer, depending on the characteristics of your appliance
Step 5. Remove the bowl from the oven and mix the potatoes
As it will be hot, don't forget to put on oven mitts. Place the container on a heat-resistant surface, temporarily and carefully lift the plastic cover and stir with a wooden spoon for 30-45 seconds. It is important to mix the water to distribute the heat and to ensure a more even cooking of the potatoes.
While stirring, you should notice that the potatoes have softened, but that doesn't mean they are fully cooked. They need to boil again
Step 6. Return the potatoes to the oven for another 5 minutes
Put the plastic cover back on the bowl and put your oven mitts back on if you took them off to mix. Put the container back in the center of the microwave and close the door. Turn the oven back on at maximum power and let the potatoes cook for another 5 minutes.
If the potatoes are small and felt quite soft when you mixed them, cook them for another 4 minutes, then check if they are ready by sticking them with a fork
Step 7. Evaluate the doneness of the potatoes
After the additional 5 minutes, put on oven gloves and remove the bowl from the microwave. Remove a potato from boiling water using kitchen tongs and place it on a plate or cutting board. Take a fork and skewer the potato: if the prongs go in and out easily it means that it is cooked.
- If the potato is still tough, extend the cooking time for a couple of minutes, then check again.
- At this point the container will be hot, so do not touch it with your bare hands at all so as not to risk being seriously burned.
Step 8. Drain the potatoes and let them cool
Place a colander in the center of the sink and hold the edges of the bowl while wearing oven mitts. Slowly pour the potatoes into the colander to drain them from the water. At this point, let them cool or use them immediately as indicated by the recipe.
