Learn How to Boil Potatoes of all sizes, quickly and easily. Use them in mashed potatoes, potato salads, scrambled eggs, and and burritos. Or, enjoy them plain or with your favorite toppings. You can do a lot with the humble potato!
Potatoes are an economical, nutritious side dish for any meal of the day. Boiled, baked, roasted, fried, mashed, scalloped, they’re all delicious! I never met a way with a potato I didn’t love.
Boiled potatoes are the basis of many potato side dish recipes. And even if recipes don’t call for it, sometimes the recipe is quick and tastier if you boil the potatoes first, anyway.
Start with cold water and salt (so the potato gains flavor as it cooks). And whatever size or type of potato you’re boiling, you’ll want everything to be of a similar size so they cook evenly. For large potatoes like russets, I like to chop them first. Peeling is optional depending on your goals, and some people prefer to peel after boiling.
Peeled, cubed potatoes cut into small, one-inch pieces should cook in 10 to 12 minutes, once the water reaches a boil. Larger pieces (about 2 inches across) may need longer, around 15 minutes. Medium whole potatoes should boil 20 minutes before they’ll be tender.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: 1 pound of potatoes will make about 4 side-dish servings. You can double the recipe without having to increase your cooking time so long as the pieces are approximately 1 to 1 ½ inches in size.
- Storage: Store leftover boiled potatoes in the refrigerator for up to 4 days (cool completely before chilling and never wrap in foil). Chop up leftovers and add to scrambled eggs and burritos or as a thickener in soups and stews.
- Make ahead: Peel and cube the raw potatoes up to 24 hours in advance. Cover with water and chill in the refrigerator.
- Doneness: Ready to go when they potatoes are tender and a fork (or tip of a sharp knife) can be slipped into the center with very little resistance,
- Par-boiling: Pre-boiled potatoes (especially snappy fingerling potatoes) can be roasted later with a little olive oil and salt or pan-fried in a skillet with butter or rendered bacon fat.
Always start potatoes in cold water, turn on the heat, and bring them to boil. Adding potatoes to already-boiling water can cause a reaction with the starch and result in a mealy potato. Here is a rule to remember: If it grows below the ground, start it in cold water. If it grows above the ground, add it to boiling water.
It will take between 10 and 25 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes or chunks that you are boiling. Always start with cold water to cover the potatoes.
The quantity of potatoes in a pound always depends on the size of your potatoes, but in general, 1 pound of potatoes 1 large potato, 2 to 3 medium potatoes, 3 small potatoes, or 8 to 10 baby potatoes.
1 pound of potatoes is about 3 ½ cups chopped potatoes.
All the mashed potatoes
How to Boil Potatoes
FAQ
How long does it take for potatoes to get tender when boiling?
Do you cover potatoes when boiling?
How do you soften potatoes quickly?
How long does it take to soften potatoes?
The time it takes to soften potatoes depends on the size and shape of the potato. Smaller one-inch cubes will take approximately 10 to 12 minutes to become tender when boiled, while larger pieces measuring around 2 inches across may require around 15 minutes. Medium whole potatoes will typically take around 20 minutes to cook until they are soft.
Is it beneficial to soak potatoes in cold water?
Yes. Soaking potatoes in cold water before frying can have some benefits, such as: Remove the starch from the surface of the potatoes, so that they do not stick and become soft during frying; Hydrate the potatoes, improving moisture retention and leaving them soft inside and crispy outside; Prevent potatoes from browning, as cold water prevents surface oxidation.
How long to boil potatoes?
Cover the pot with a lid. For how long to boil potatoes, you should place them in gently boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes for small red potatoes, new potatoes, or cubed large russet potatoes, and 20 to 25 minutes for quartered potatoes. Remember, the size of the potato pieces is a huge factor in how long to boil potatoes.
Do boiled potatoes become soft when cooked correctly?
Yes, boiled potatoes do indeed become soft when cooked correctly. The process of boiling potatoes involves submerging them in salted water and cooking them until they are fully cooked through. This method results in potatoes that are soft, tender, and easy to mash or eat.