Why You Need to Know This Technique
Boiling potatoes sounds simple, sure, but you’d be surprised how many questions pop up. Do you cut the potatoes or keep them whole? Do you peel them? How long do you cook them for? Do you boil water first, then add the potatoes, or do you add everything at the same time? I could go on, but don’t worry. We’ve made boiling 7 different types of potatoes simple and totally foolproof.Who doesn’t love potatoes? I mean, I definitely do, and in any form I can get them. Boiled potatoes are especially great because they’re the base of some of the best potato recipes (ummm, hello mashed potatoes and sweet potato salad and red potato salad) but they can also be served all on their own with a little butter and salt.Potatoes can get a bad rap because of their starchiness and carb count, and true, they’re not for everyone. They typically have a higher glycemic index score than table sugar, which is definitely not ideal if you’re trying to keep your blood sugar levels in a certain range. That being said, they are still nutritious, and rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Chef’s Tips
I really recommend you wash and scrub the potatoes first, no matter which type of potato you’re boiling. Potatoes grow underground, so it makes sense that they come with a hearty helping of dirt. Some grocery stores will carry pre-washed potatoes, but washing removes some of the protectiveness of the potato peel. Pre-washed potatoes are more susceptible to moisture and bacteria as they sit at the store and then on your counter. You’ll be better off to buy regular dirty potatoes and wash them yourself right before you cook them.Whether or not you peel the potatoes is entirely up to you. Baby potatoes and fingerling potatoes really don’t need it, since their peels are pretty soft and thin to start. Russet and sweet potatoes have tougher skins so they’re pretty commonly peeled, but the skins are fine to eat so it’s not mandatory.Whether or not you cut up the potatoes before boiling is also up to you. I will recommend you halve or quarter the larger, denser potatoes, though. That’ll just help them cook faster and more evenly than if you try to boil a whole russet potato. The smaller types of potatoes are fine to boil whole.Add the potatoes and the cold water to the pot at the same time. If you boil the water first and then add the potatoes, they’ll cook unevenly! The hot water will cook the outsides before the insides, and by the time the centers are ready, the outside layers will be overdone. Bring the water to a boil with the potatoes in it, though, and everything heats up gradually and evenly.How do you know when boiled potatoes are ready? Easy! Just poke them with a fork! You could also use a toothpick or a long skewer. Whatever tool you choose, just try to gently press the utensil into the skin of the potato. If the fork or skewer slides easily through to the center of the potato (or potato cubes) then you’re all set!
Can You Meal Prep with Boiled Potatoes?
Um, ABSOLUTELY! They refrigerate and reheat well, plus cooking a big batch of them at one time is super easy.Portion your boiled potatoes into meal prep containers for each day, or just store them all together in an airtight container. They’ll keep just fine in the fridge up to 5 days! You can also freeze them. Just let them cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight freezer container and freeze them up to 3 months.To reheat the potatoes, just pop them in the microwave until they’re warmed through. You can also roast them in the oven if you’ve got one handy. I like to spread them out on a baking sheet and add a little olive oil and rosemary, then bake them at 325°F for 15 minutes or so.
Ways to Use Boiled Potatoes
Get so excited about knowing how to boil potatoes that you accidentally boil too many? Don’t worry! They can be used a variety of ways! Most of the recipes below don’t call for boiled potatoes specifically, but boiled potatoes can totally be used for them.
Sweet Potato Hashbrowns – instead of shredding the sweet potatoes, use boiled sweet potatoes roughly mashed.Vegan Potato Soup – already-boiled potatoes make this stovetop potato soup SO much faster. You’ll shave 10 minutes off the cook time right from the beginning! Same with this dairy-free Whole30 Potato Soup.Sweet Potato Soup – SO great for boiled sweet potatoes because everything gets puréed to a rich, smooth consistency! Since your potatoes are already boiled, you don’t want to boil them again. Add them in toward the end of the cook time in Step 2, and cook just until they’re heated through.Sweet Potato Pancakes – this recipe starts out with fully-cooked, mashed-up sweet potatoes. It’s a match made in heaven!Mashed Potato Pancakes – like the sweet potato version above, these are made from leftover mashed potatoes. They’re a fun, savory way to use up boiled potatoes that you can serve for breakfast or dinner.Instant Pot Potato Salad – the Instant Pot does all the cooking in the original recipe, but you don’t even need it since you’ve already boiled your Yukon gold potatoes! You can jump straight to the part where you mix the soft, creamy potatoes with all the other ingredients.Mashed Potato Soup with Tarragon – an older recipe, but a delicious classic. It also starts out with leftover mashed potatoes, then adds some rich seasonings and creamy milk for a potato soup that’s unbelievably decadent.Sweet Potato Whole30 Breakfast Bowl – Another incredible way to use boiled sweet potatoes. Did I mention how versatile they are?? Just make sure you reheat the sweet potatoes if you’re using leftovers – they need to be hot in order to cook the eggs completely!Stewed Potatoes – So this one is really great for freshly boiled potatoes, but you could use leftover boiled potatoes, too. You’ll just need to reduce the cook time since the potatoes are already soft.Loaded Baked Potato Dip – OK, so. This dip recipe is actually, technically, potato-free. It’s just a dip made with all the flavors and toppings of a fully-loaded baked potato. BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t make a version that uses potatoes! Just mash your boiled potatoes until they’re smooth, then mix in the rest of the dip ingredients. You can serve it chilled, at room temperature, or warm – whatever you prefer!Irish Potato Soup – Similar to the soups above, this recipe has you blend the boiled potatoes with other ingredients like celery, onion, butter, and chicken stock to get a silky smooth soup texture, then you’ll add a little heavy cream and a topping of parsley, bacon, chives, and cheddar cheese. Delish!
Other Great How To’s You Should Know
The Easiest Way to Dice an Onion (with Video!)4 Ways to Cook Beets3 Different Ways to Freeze CornHow To Boil CabbageHow To Cook Turkey Bacon In The Oven
