Marianne Martinez
Steaming potatoes is a simple, healthy, and gluten-free way to cook this versatile vegetable. It is also one of the healthiest methods of preparation, as steaming requires very little time in the kitchen. To steam potatoes in a pan, start by scrubbing the potatoes under running water to remove any dirt or chemicals. Next, add about one inch of water to the bottom of a large pot with a fitted steamer basket. Place the potatoes in the basket, with the largest potatoes at the bottom and the smallest on top. Cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat to high. Once steam starts to escape from the lid, reduce the heat to medium and steam until the potatoes are tender.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Wash the potatoes thoroughly. |
| Step 2 | Add 1-3 inches of water to a pot with a steamer basket. |
| Step 3 | Place the potatoes in the steamer basket, with the largest ones at the bottom and the smallest ones on top. |
| Step 4 | Cover the pot with a lid and cook over medium heat. |
| Step 5 | Check the potatoes after 15-30 minutes, depending on their size. |
| Step 6 | The potatoes are ready when a knife or fork slides into them easily. |
| Step 7 | Remove the potatoes from the steamer and season with butter, salt, and herbs as desired. |
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What You'll Learn
Wash potatoes
To steam potatoes, it is important to start with clean potatoes. Wash the potatoes thoroughly by scrubbing them under running water to remove any dirt, debris, or chemicals. You can use a scrub brush to dislodge any stubborn dirt or chemicals. If you are using a steamer basket, it is not necessary to peel the potatoes. Leaving the skins on will help the potatoes retain their shape once they soften and protect their flavour. However, if you are cutting the potatoes into even-sized pieces to ensure even cooking, it is recommended to peel them using a potato peeler to avoid an awkward and hazardous peeling process after cooking.
After washing the potatoes, you can proceed to the next steps of steaming. The size of your potatoes will affect the cooking time, with smaller potatoes cooking faster. For even cooking, it is recommended to cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces. Place the potatoes in the steamer basket, with the largest ones at the bottom and the smaller ones on top. Cover the pot tightly with a lid to trap the moisture and create an environment conducive to steaming. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes, but generally, it ranges from 15 to 30 minutes.
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Add water to the pan
To steam potatoes in a pan, you'll need to add water to the pan. The amount of water you add will depend on the size of your pan and the number of potatoes you're cooking. A good rule of thumb is to add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan by about half an inch to one inch. You can use a pot with a steamer basket or a metal sieve or colander to hold the potatoes above the water. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can create a makeshift one by crumpling three pieces of aluminum foil into golf ball-sized wads and placing them in the pot with a heat-proof plate resting on top. Make sure the water isn't touching the plate or steamer basket.
It's important to note that you don't need a lot of water to steam potatoes. In fact, adding too much water will only increase the time it takes for the water to boil. You just need enough water to create steam when the pan is covered with a lid. The lid plays a crucial role in trapping the steam and creating a moist environment for the potatoes to cook in.
When adding water to the pan, you can also add a sprinkle of sea salt. This will not only season the potatoes but also make the water boil at a higher temperature, reducing the overall cooking time.
After adding water to the pan, the next step is to bring it to a boil. Depending on your stove and pan, this can take a few minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on the pan to prevent the water from evaporating completely. If needed, add a little more water to the pan while it's boiling to maintain the desired level.
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Place potatoes in the steamer basket
Once you have washed your potatoes thoroughly, it's time to place them in the steamer basket. If you're using a variety of potato sizes, place the largest potatoes at the bottom of the basket and the smallest ones on top. This will help them cook evenly. If your potatoes don't all fit in the steamer basket at once, you may need to cut the larger potatoes down to size or cook them in batches.
It's important to note that you should not fill the pot with too much water. The water level should be just below the steamer basket, and you should make sure the water is not touching the steamer basket. If you're using a plate instead of a steamer basket, the water level should be about half an inch high, and you can place the potatoes directly on the plate.
Cover the pot tightly with a lid to trap the moisture and create steam. This step is crucial, as steaming potatoes in an open pot will not yield the desired results.
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Cover the pan
Covering the pan is an essential step in steaming potatoes. It is important to use a tight-fitting lid to trap the steam and moisture inside the pan. This helps to cook the potatoes faster by maintaining a higher temperature inside the pot. The lid also prevents steam from escaping, which is crucial for effective steaming.
When using a steamer basket, ensure the water does not touch the basket. This is because the potatoes should not come into direct contact with the water. Instead, they will be cooked by the steam rising from the water.
If you don't have a lid for your pan, you can use a baking sheet or aluminium foil to cover the pan. To use aluminium foil, form three wads the size of golf balls and place them into the pan with about half an inch of water. Then, place a heat-proof plate on top of the foil balls and put the potatoes on the plate before covering the pan with foil.
It is important to maintain a boil while steaming potatoes. You can reduce the heat slightly once steam starts to escape from the lid, but the water needs to be boiling to create steam effectively.
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Season and serve
Once your potatoes are steamed, it's time to season and serve. You can season your potatoes with salt, pepper, butter, oil, yogurt, herbs, or any other seasoning of your choice. For example, you could add melted butter and a generous sprinkle of salt, or you could toss the potatoes with butter, oil, yogurt, salt, herbs, and pepper. You can also add fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or oregano.
If you want to keep the skins on, it's best to leave them on during cooking as well, as this will help the potatoes retain their shape. If you do keep the skins on, serve the potatoes with the skins on as well. If you want to peel the potatoes, it's best to use a potato peeler.
You can serve steamed potatoes plain or with seasoning. They can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature. If you're adding butter and yogurt, it's best to do so while the potatoes are still hot so that the butter melts properly.
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Frequently asked questions
To steam potatoes in a pan, first wash the potatoes thoroughly. Then, add 1-3 inches of water to the pan and bring it to a boil. Place the potatoes in a steamer basket inside the pan, with the larger potatoes at the bottom and the smaller ones on top. Cover the pan with a lid and steam for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. They are done when a knife can easily slide into them.
It is not necessary to peel the potatoes before steaming. Leaving the skins on will help the potatoes retain their shape and flavour.
You should add enough water to create moisture when the pan is covered with a lid. This is typically around 0.5 to 3 inches of water.
The steaming time depends on the size of the potatoes. Smaller potatoes will take around 15-20 minutes, while larger potatoes can take up to 40 minutes. Check the potatoes by piercing them with a knife or thin skewer—they are done when the knife slides in easily and the centre is not hard.
Yes, it is important to cover the pan with a lid when steaming potatoes. This traps the moisture inside and creates the steam needed to cook the potatoes.
