Marianne Martinez
Boiling potatoes is an essential cooking technique and the first step to making many dishes, including mashed potatoes, french fries, and potato salads. Boiled potatoes can also be served as a quick and tasty side dish. The best potatoes for boiling are waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes, as they hold their shape better when boiled, cook more quickly, and have a nice creamy texture once cooked. Starchy potatoes like Russets can also be boiled, but they tend to absorb a lot of water and fall apart, so it is recommended to boil them whole. The key to making great boiled potatoes is to use equal-sized potatoes so that they cook at the same rate.
Boiling Potatoes in an Open Pan
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of potatoes | Waxy or all-purpose potatoes are best for boiling. Examples include Yukon Gold, red potatoes, purple potatoes, and new potatoes. |
| Potato size | Smaller potatoes are preferable as they cook more quickly and evenly. |
| Potato shape | Cubed or cut-up potatoes will cook faster than whole potatoes. |
| Potato quantity | 1.5-2 lbs of potatoes should be enough for 6 servings. |
| Potato preparation | Wash and scrub the potatoes. If they are larger, cut them into halves or quarters to ensure even-sized pieces. Peeling the potatoes is optional. |
| Use of salt | Add salt to the boiling water. |
| Use of other ingredients | Unsalted butter, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, and parsley can be used to season the potatoes. |
| Cooking time | Boil potatoes for 8-25 minutes, depending on their size. They are done when they can be easily pierced with a fork. |
| Cooking technique | Place the potatoes in a saucepan or pot with cold water. The water level should cover the potatoes by about an inch. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Do not cover the pot as this can make the potatoes mushy. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a saucepan or pot large enough to hold the potatoes with some room on top
When boiling potatoes, it is important to use a saucepan or pot that is large enough to hold the potatoes with some room on top. This is to ensure that the potatoes have enough space to cook evenly and that the water can cover them adequately. If the pot is too small, the potatoes may become overcrowded, causing them to cook unevenly or stick to the bottom of the pan.
Using a pot that is slightly larger than necessary also allows for better heat distribution, as the heat from the burner can circulate more effectively around the potatoes. This helps to prevent hot spots and ensures that all the potatoes are cooked evenly. Additionally, a larger pot provides enough space to easily stir or move the potatoes around during cooking if needed.
The size of the pot will also depend on the quantity of potatoes being cooked. If you are boiling a large batch of potatoes, you will need a bigger pot to accommodate them comfortably. Conversely, if you are only boiling a small amount, a smaller pot may be more suitable. However, it is generally advisable to choose a slightly larger pot to err on the side of caution.
When selecting a saucepan or pot for boiling potatoes, it is crucial to consider the size and quantity of the potatoes to ensure sufficient space for even cooking. Choosing a pot with some extra room allows for better heat distribution, easier stirring, and prevents the potatoes from sticking or cooking unevenly. By using a suitably sized pot, you can help ensure that your boiled potatoes turn out perfectly every time.
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Cover the potatoes with cold water and salt
Covering the potatoes with water is a crucial step in the boiling process. It is important to use cold water, as this helps the potatoes cook more evenly. The amount of water added to the pot will depend on the quantity of potatoes being boiled. Ideally, the potatoes should be covered with about an inch or two of water.
Salt is added to the cold water before placing the pot on the stove. The amount of salt used will vary depending on personal preference and the intended taste. However, it is generally recommended to use a generous amount of salt, as this can significantly improve the flavour of the boiled potatoes. Bon Appetit recommends using a lot of salt for the best boiled potatoes. For a more precise measurement, one source suggests using 1 teaspoon of salt for every cup of water used. The salt should be stirred into the water until it is completely dissolved.
Once the potatoes are covered with salted cold water, the pot can be placed on the stove and heated. The potatoes should not be covered with a lid, as this can change the environment in the pot and cause the potatoes to become mushy.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer
To boil potatoes in an open pan, start by placing the potatoes in a saucepan or pot with water. The amount of water will depend on the number of potatoes you are boiling. Ensure the potatoes are covered by about an inch or two of water. Next, bring the water to a boil by placing the pot over medium-high heat. This should take a few minutes.
Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low-medium heat to bring the water to a gentle simmer. You want to see small bubbles breaking slowly and gently on the surface of the water. Depending on the size of your potatoes, they should be done in about 10 to 20 minutes. Smaller potatoes will cook faster, while larger potatoes will take longer. Check the potatoes after 5 minutes of simmering and adjust the heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer.
The potatoes are done when they are fork-tender. This means that you should be able to easily pierce the potatoes with a fork or knife without much resistance. The cooking time will depend on the size and type of potatoes you are boiling. Smaller potatoes will be done in about 10 to 15 minutes, while larger potatoes will take about 20 to 25 minutes.
Remember, the key to evenly cooked potatoes is to ensure they are all roughly the same size. If you are boiling larger potatoes, you may need to cut them into halves or quarters to ensure even cooking. Additionally, starting the potatoes in cold water helps them cook more evenly, so avoid the temptation to add the potatoes to already boiling water.
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Cooking time depends on the size of the potatoes
The cooking time for potatoes depends on their size. Smaller potatoes will cook more quickly than larger potatoes. Tiny potatoes can be boiled in as little as 8 minutes, while larger potatoes can take up to 18 minutes or even 25 minutes. Small or cubed potatoes will typically take between 10 and 15 minutes to boil, while larger, whole potatoes will take between 20 and 25 minutes. If you're boiling whole potatoes, you may need to remove smaller potatoes from the water sooner and leave larger potatoes to cook longer.
To ensure that your potatoes cook evenly, it's important to make sure that they are roughly the same size. If you're boiling larger potatoes, you can cut them in half or even into quarters to ensure they cook at the same rate as smaller potatoes.
The cooking time will also depend on the type of potato you are using. Starchy potatoes, like Russets, tend to take longer to cook than waxy potatoes. This is because waxy potatoes are usually smaller and thinner-skinned, so they cook more quickly. However, starchy potatoes can be boiled successfully if they are boiled whole, as this prevents them from becoming waterlogged.
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Drain and cool the potatoes
Once the potatoes are boiled, the next step is to drain and cool them. Drain the potatoes in a colander. If your recipe calls for cooled potatoes, you can rapidly cool the potatoes by submerging them in an ice bath. This method is best for small batches of potatoes.
If you are in no rush to cool the potatoes, simply let them cool in the colander. You can also return the potatoes to the pot or transfer them to a mixing bowl. If you are planning to season the potatoes with butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper, it is best to return them to the pot or mixing bowl.
Drizzling melted butter and olive oil over boiled potatoes brings out their natural creamy and buttery flavor. If you are using butter, it is best to use unsalted butter and drizzle it over the potatoes while they are still hot. You can also add olive oil to the potatoes. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the cooked and drained potatoes.
If you are seasoning the potatoes, sprinkle kosher salt and black pepper over them, adding both to taste. You can also add herbs such as parsley, fresh dill, or chives, or a combination of herbs.
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Frequently asked questions
First, scrub the potatoes clean. You can peel them, or leave the skin on, which some say helps the potatoes hold their shape. Cut them into evenly-sized pieces, which will ensure they cook at the same rate. Place the potatoes in a saucepan or pot and cover with an inch or two of cold water and a generous amount of salt. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Check the potatoes after 5 minutes and cook until fork-tender. Depending on the size of the potatoes, they should be done in 10 to 20 minutes.
Depending on the size of the potatoes, boiling potatoes in an open pan can take anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes. Smaller potatoes will take less time, while larger potatoes will take longer.
Waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold or red potatoes, are a good choice for boiling as they hold their shape better and cook more quickly. However, you can also boil starchy potatoes like Russets, but these tend to absorb more water and may become waterlogged, so it is recommended to boil them whole.
You can test if the potatoes are done by inserting a knife or fork into the centre of the potato. If it slides in easily and the potato is soft all the way through, then they are done. They should be fork-tender but not mushy.
