Ingredients
Yellow, red bliss, or russet potatoes
Kosher salt
Preparation
Step 1Scrub potatoes clean. If you’re making potato salad or mashed potatoes, cut potatoes into evenly-sized large chunks. Step 2Add potatoes to a large pot then pour over enough water to cover potatoes by 1". Season with a teaspoon of salt per pound of potatoes. Bring water to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cook at rapid simmer until potatoes are easily pierced with a paring knife, about 10 minutes for chopped potatoes and 20 minutes for whole potatoes. Step 3Drain potatoes in a colander.
No doubt they’re simple and more bland than preparing just about every other way. But, there is something to be said for a totally creamy, perfectly cooked potato, especially when sprinkled with salt, pepper and olive oil. Obviously though, knowing how to boil a potato, if you are crazy and want to eat them straight up or more likely if you’re using them in a recipe, is a very important life skill to have. Need a reason? How about 3: potato salad, mashed potatoes, and smashed potatoes. Why boil and not roast? The oven draws out moisture, which is great for crispiness but not good when you want something like fluffy whipped potatoes on Thanksgiving. The Best Type Of Potatoes To Boil Like Yukon gold or red bliss. They hold their shape better in the water, which is v important for potato salad. Russet potatoes also work well for mashed potatoes, but they tend to absorb tons of water. To prevent this as much as possible, keep them whole while boiling. The Knife (or fork) Test And be honest with yourself. The fact that you can pierce a paring knife through a potato doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready. The knife should slide in easily. The Rapid Simmer Once you bring the water to boil, you want to cook the potatoes at a rapid simmer. Boiling them too aggressively will break them down and make them mealy. If you tried boiling a batch of potatoes yourself, let us know if your tips were of any help in the comments below!
