How to Boil Potatoes: 5 Easy Steps

All of us have tasted potatoes, but unfortunately, there are many unhealthy preparation methods that have ruined the reputation of this particular food. While it is true that French fries are mouthwatering and very famous worldwide, boiled potatoes are much healthier and taste really good when combined with a few spices and serving methods. But if you’re new to cooking and have had problems boiling potatoes, this article is made to guide you through the boiling process, to give you quick tips and recommendations, and to help you serve an appetizing dish for you, your family, and your guests.

There are many types of potatoes, and some countries have a very wide variety to choose from. Some of them are not very good for boiling because they break down quite easily. Some of them should keep the peel, while others are boiled more effectively without it. We will cover that topic as well in our deep dive into the art of boiling potatoes.

How to boil potatoes, step by step

You don’t need many kitchen implements to boil potatoes, just a cooking pot, water, and a knife. We also recommend to add salt and butter, which gives a nice taste to your boiled potatoes, but that’s just the bare minimum, and you can use other spices to your taste.

Start by washing your potatoes. Depending on your country and the market you buy from, you might get very clean or rather dirty potatoes. Regardless, it is better to clean thoroughly before peeling because even if the underneath is what really matters, your knife may also get contaminated as you cut through or peel.

After rinsing with abundant water, this is what we recommend:

Step 1: Peel your potatoes

In most cases, it is recommended to peel your potatoes to reduce cooking time. This way, you will also reduce the chance of contamination. Remember that potatoes are grown in soil, and sometimes they come with abundant dirt that is difficult to wash out. Thus, peeling them is a fundamental safety step.

Step 2: Rinse thoroughly with water

After peeling, you may not notice that the knife touches the outside and carries dirt all over your potatoes. However, that’s almost always the case, which is why we recommend rinsing your peeled potatoes with abundant water before going ahead to the next step.

Step 3: Put in the cooking pot and fill with water

After making sure your potatoes are clean, you can put them in the cooking pot and pour in enough water to cover them; 1 cm of water above the potato level is usually enough for boiling. In this step, we also recommend adding 2/3 of a tablespoon of salt, which gives potatoes a nice taste. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 4: Once tender, drain the water and add butter

You can try your potatoes anytime through the cooking process with a knife. They will be ready when the knife pierces through without any effort. When your potatoes are tender, you can drain the water and add around 100 grams of butter. Keep in mind that some varieties of potatoes are more susceptible than others to the boiling water. Some of them may shred and turn into a mash in the boiling water if you leave them for too long or pierce too often with the knife.

Step 5: Serve or add to your food

After adding some butter, you can serve your potatoes in different dishes and presentations, as we will show you later in this article. You will see that the butter and the salt gives potatoes a special taste, and you can add many other spices and herbs to personalize your taste and to impress your guests.

How long to boil potatoes

If you wonder how long to boil potatoes, the answer highly depends on the variety of potatoes and the heat level you’re using. It also depends if you’re cooking whole potatoes or cubed. In most cases, smaller potatoes and those cut in smaller pieces are ready after 15 or 20 minutes. However, if you’re using very large potatoes and do not want to slice them in smaller pieces, you may need to wait 30 minutes or more.

It also depends on the consistency you’re looking for. If you’re making mashed potatoes, it is better to leave them as tender as possible. But if you’re using cubed potatoes for a salad, you might want a harder texture and will need to continuously try your potatoes until you are happy with the result.

What are the best potatoes for boiling

There are many types of potatoes, but two varieties stand out as the very best if you are planning to boil them instead of frying. They are Russet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes.

• Yukon Gold Potatoes: It is the best variety if you’re planning on mashed potatoes. It has a dense texture and has a natural taste that goes perfect with the dish. It is not grainy, so it is very easy to get a creamy consistency after 20 minutes of boiling time.
• White Potatoes: They are probably the best for boiling and putting in a salad, because they end up with a nice texture that you can turn into smaller slices. It’s a white-skinned potato and has yellow flesh that tends to be a bit waxy.
• Russet Potatoes: These guys are a bit tricky, because they are only good for boiling if you know how to do it properly. They take in a lot of water and might require a higher level of water to complete their boiling without refilling the cooking pot with more water. They are also more susceptible than other varieties, and if you overcook, you might end up with a paste-like mash instead of whole potatoes in your boiling water. However, we included this variety on the list because they are excellent for mashed potatoes when properly cooked.

Here’s some additional data about other varieties you can use for boiling:

Variety name	Flesh color	Skin Color	Shape	Storage
Kennebec	White	Buff	Round	Excellent
French Fingerling	Yellow	Pink	Fingerling	Good
Red Gold	Yellow	Reddish	Round	Fair
Russian Banana	Light yellow	Light yellow	Fingerling	Good
Strawberry Paw	White	Red	Round	Excellent

Whole potatoes or cubed? Skins on or peeled?

As mentioned above, you can cook your potatoes cubed or whole, and the only difference will be your cooking time. Both of them will have the same consistency and texture. However, keep in mind that larger pieces will take longer to cook. So, make sure your potato pieces have a similar size to allow them to cook at the same time.

If you decide to mix larger and smaller potatoes in the same pot, you might need to remove smaller potatoes from the boiling water sooner and leave the larger pieces to cook for a while longer.

On the other hand, the thing with potato skins is that they are tubers grown in the soil, and often come with dirt that is very difficult to wash out. Even if you do, you never know how contaminated the outer peel is. Boiling water takes out the majority of microbes, but you surely don’t want to use water with dirt in it for a casserole. So, your decision depends on the preparation you have in mind, but in most cases, we recommend peeling your potatoes and cleaning thoroughly before boiling.

How to boil potatoes on the microwave

It is possible to use a microwave oven to boil your potatoes. It is actually a faster way to get it done, and it is pretty convenient in some cases. Follow these simple steps to boil potatoes in the microwave:

1. Wash and peel your potatoes
2. Slice them in cubes, each one up to 2 inches
3. Use a microwave-safe bowl and fill with water 3 inches above the potato level
4. Add 1/3 of a tablespoon of salt
5. Add one tablespoon of vegetable oil
6. Activate the medium high intensity for 5 minutes
7. Check for consistency, and repeat for 5 extra minutes if they are not yet ready
8. Dry your potatoes in a colander

How to boil potatoes in a slow cooker

Similar to the microwave, you can also use a slow cooker to boil your potatoes. As the name implies, a slow cooker takes longer to cook, and it is another preparation method you can use if you have enough time. Also, keep in mind that most slow cooker are not made for boiling, so you will need to set them on the highest temperature possible. Otherwise, the water will simmer instead of boil.

Follow these simple steps to boil potatoes in a slow cooker:

1. Wash your potatoes with abundant running water and a vegetable scrubber
2. Peel your potatoes and cut them in small pieces, 1 or 2 inches in size
3. Put water and salt in your slow cooker and set the temperature to high
4. Wait for 4 to 5 hours or until the water starts to boil
5. Once the water starts to boil, it usually takes 20 minutes to be ready. Pierce with a knife to make sure you have the right texture
6. Drain and serve your boiled potatoes

How to serve boiled potatoes

Once you have your potatoes fully cooked, tender and dry, there are many ways to serve them. In most cases, potatoes are served as a side dish, but you can also serve them as mashed potatoes or as part of your favorite salad.

Thus, in this section, we are giving you a few serving ideas you can try for your boiled potatoes:

• Boiled potatoes with spices: Serving boiled potatoes alone might not be very tasty. Adding salt and butter as mentioned in this article will give your boiled potatoes a very nice taste. However, using other spices may be even better. You can try parsley and pepper, and maybe serve them cut into smaller pieces.
• Mashed potatoes: There are many recipes to achieve the perfect mashed potato dish. Using the appropriate potato variety, butter and salt is usually enough for a simple preparation. But you can also add a few tablespoons of milk to get a creamy appearance and to improve the taste. You can serve with cheddar cheese or maybe add a bit of garlic powder to give a unique taste.
• Stew ideas: Serving boiled potatoes in a stew is a fantastic main dish that many of your guests will love. You can serve in a beef stew, pork, or bacon, and add some other vegetables to it, especially carrots and fresh herbs.
• Salad ideas: Potato salads taste incredible. You need to include at least two other vegetables, such as carrots, celery and pickles. You may also include hard-boiled eggs. In these dishes, the seasoning is fundamental, and you can try mayonnaise, a bit of vinegar, paprika, pepper, and salt.

How to keep potatoes from turning brown

Potatoes are usually a side dish, and as you prepare some other things for your guests, your potatoes might start turning brown. Since you don’t want to ruin the taste with an ugly appearance, just consider these recommendations to keep potatoes from turning brown:

• After slicing and peeling your potatoes, store them in cold water until you cook them properly.
• If you need to leave your potatoes overnight or for a longer time, store them in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of vinegar for 2 liters of water.