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The essential guide on how long to boil potatoes! With some simple tips, you tin make perfect boiled potatoes faster – in every bit little every bit 12 minutes on the stovetop or 6-8 minutes in the microwave. We cover how to boil potatoes whether for salads, soups, casseroles or other dishes.

Comparison of different boiled potatoes with their corresponding boiling times to make it easy to determine how long to boil potatoes.

How long to boil potatoes

Perfect boiled potatoes agree their shape afterward cooking with a polish texture and skin that comes off easily.

Do you know how to brand perfect boiled potatoes every time? Boil them on the stovetop for 12-30 minutes depending on the size of your potatoes. Or if yous're in a bustle, there's a shortcut for getting them prepare in just 6-eight minutes in a microwave!

Y'all can serve boiled potatoes on their own or add together them to other dishes. Humid is a salubrious option with no added fat and only 87 calories per 100 grams according to the USDA. Plus, in that location's virtually no cleanup!

How to boil potatoes

  • Scrub the potatoes gently under running water to remove any dirt.
  • Place potatoes in a medium-to-big pot.

Round white potatoes in a medium pot before adding water for boiling

  • Encompass with 1-inch (2.v cm) of common cold h2o, adding optional salt for flavour.
  • Place on high estrus and bring to a boil.

Closeup of round white potatoes in a pot full of boiling water

  • Boil for 12-30 minutes co-ordinate to size chart below.
  • Remove potatoes to a plate to absurd for at least five-10 minutes earlier use.

Closeup of a round white potato that has been boiled until tender

Types of potatoes for boiling

While almost whatsoever potato can be boiled, you'll detect that some potatoes are best suited to sure types of recipes:

  • Blistering Potatoes: Starchy potatoes like Russets, Idahos, Majestic potatoes, Yams and Sweet Potatoes have a floury texture that disintegrates easily and is suitable for mashed potatoes only .
  • All-purpose Potatoes: Medium-starch potatoes similar Yukon Gold and Red Gold will agree their shape and are suitable for use in potato salads, soups, casseroles etc. They typically take yellow flesh.
  • Waxy Potatoes: Low-starch potatoes such as Round White, Circular Red (Red Elation) and Fingerling are classic boiling potatoes that will retain their shape and are likewise suitable for use in potato salads, soups, casseroles etc. They unremarkably accept white flesh.

Various sizes and types of potatoes suitable for boiling: baby red potatoes, baby white potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, Round White potatoes, Round Red potatoes, baking potatoes

Boiled red potatoes are called for in many recipes, while Russets and Idahos are top picks for mashed potatoes. Here are a few tips when yous're shopping for potatoes:

  • Await for house potatoes with shine pare and no sprouts. If they're getting soft with dark spots appearing, they're too old and should non be used.
  • Choose like-sized potatoes and then they melt in the same amount of fourth dimension.

Should I peel potatoes before boiling?

No. Potatoes with skin on volition blot less water while being boiled, therefore preserving the starch. If you don't like eating potato skins, you tin peel them After humid. Just make sure to allow them cool down first earlier peeling.

Closeup of peeling the skin off a boiled potato readily with the fingers once cool

How long does it accept to boil whole potatoes?

When you're humid whole potatoes, cooking time depends mainly on the size of the potatoes. Information technology goes without saying that bigger potatoes require more boiling time!

Follow the table beneath to determine how long to boil whole potatoes:

Potato Type Murphy Size Boil Potatoes Time*
Baby potatoes 1 inch (2.5 cm) 12 minutes
Minor potatoes 2 inches (5 cm) xv minutes
Medium potatoes 3 inches (vii.6 cm) xx minutes
Big potatoes 4 inches (x cm) 25 minutes
Extra-big potatoes 6 inches (15 cm) thirty minutes

Notes: Times listed reflect once the water has started to boil.

How long to boil potatoes for mash ? The boiling times in a higher place will work whether you're making mashed potatoes, potato salad or other dishes. However, plan on some cooling time after humid when making potato salad for the best texture (using an ice water bath volition speed up this cooling process).

How to tell when potatoes are done? Just insert a fork into the middle of the potato. The eye should exist fork-tender and have the texture of a ripe pear, or house simply non mushy.

Cutting a raw white potato into quarters with a chef's knife for faster boiling

How to boil potatoes faster on the stove?

To boil potatoes quickly, cut them into smaller, 1-inch chunks and they cook within 15 minutes. You can also pre-boil the h2o to salve a few actress minutes, although the texture of the potatoes volition be slightly inferior to starting with cold water.

How long to eddy potatoes in a microwave (fastest method)

It takes vi-8 minutes to eddy big whole potatoes in a microwave. But place 2 potatoes in a microwave-prophylactic dish and add together ii tablespoons of h2o. Comprehend and microwave on loftier. Let them balance for 2 minutes before serving.

Freshly boiled potatoes served simply with butter and fresh parsley for an easy side dish

Means to use boiled potatoes

You tin can swallow boiled potatoes whole with butter and fresh herbs, or use them to make mashed potatoes, a spud salad or potato casserole. Other ideas include mashed potato balls and irish potato pancakes.

Humid sweet potatoes

Sweetness potatoes and yams are boiled the same manner equally other potatoes. If cut into chunks, they'll unremarkably be washed in xv-20 minutes and volition be soft and fork-tender when done.

Boiled Potatoes

Learn how to easily boil potatoes, whether you're using them for salads, soups, casseroles or other dishes.

  • 1-2 pounds boiling potatoes, waxy or all-purpose potatoes*
  • 2 teaspoons common salt, optional
  • 1 tablespoon butter, optional
  • fresh parsley, minced - optional

  • Launder and scrub the potatoes gently under running water to remove whatever surface debris. Optionally you tin can cut the potatoes into chunks for faster cooking.

  • Put the potatoes in a medium pot or bucket. Add the table salt and plenty common cold water to cover by 1-inch. (Annotation: starting with cold water helps the potatoes to melt more than evenly.)

  • Identify on high heat and bring to a boil.

  • Lower heat to medium and boil uncovered for 12-xxx minutes depending on the size of the potatoes.

  • Check doneness by inserting a fork or skewer. The center of the irish potato will be fork-tender with a pear-like texture when done.

  • Drain the potatoes. Serve with optional butter and parsley, or use as called for in recipes.

  • *Waxy or all-purpose potato varieties include Yukon Gilded, Red Aureate, Circular White, Round Carmine (Cherry Bliss) and Fingerling amongst others.
  • Use smaller potatoes for faster cooking, or larger potatoes when you need quantity for recipes such equally mashed potatoes.
  • Should you peel potatoes before boiling? Peeling is optional and does not affect boiling time. Note: the peel contains a significant amount of a potato's nutrition.
  • Save some boiling liquid to flavour gravy or mashed potatoes with no added fatty.
  • Permit whole potatoes cool for at to the lowest degree 15 minutes before cutting for the best texture and to avoid burning your fingertips. An ice-water bath will help speed this process.
  • Boiled potatoes tin exist stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upwards to 5 days in one case fully cooled. For longer-term storage, identify the cooled potatoes in a resealable plastic bag for upwards to iii months.

Nutrition Facts

Boiled Potatoes

Corporeality Per Serving

Calories 92 Calories from Fatty 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g 3%

Saturated Fatty 1g v%

Cholesterol 4mg ane%

Sodium 166mg seven%

Potassium 516mg xv%

Carbohydrates 18g half-dozen%

Fiber 2g viii%

Sugar 1g 1%

Poly peptide 2g 4%

Vitamin A 44IU 1%

Vitamin C 10mg 12%

Calcium 11mg 1%

Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie nutrition.

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