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How to boil potatoes. Perfect boiled potatoes recipe! If you are looking for how to boil potatoes on the stovetop or microwave that are fluffy and delicious in easy, quick steps then you are in the right place. This recipe is simple, straightforward and you will learn how to cook potatoes as a side dish, to mash, for roasting, for salad, and more.
Boiled Potatoes is probably the simplest side dish to make and it also forms the basis for recipes like roast potatoes, potato salad, mashed potatoes, Parmentier potatoes, and some other potato dishes.
There are many ways of boiling potatoes including boiling in the microwave, on the cooker, and instant pot boiled potatoes which I already shared the recipe a while ago. Today I will show you how to boil potatoes on the stove to get a perfect outcome.
Boiled Potatoes Recipe
This recipe is simple and straightforward. You only need 2 ingredients to make boiled potatoes but you have the choice of additional ingredients like butter, parsley, and black pepper to take it up a notch.
I normally boil potatoes with the skin peeled off except in the case of baby potatoes where I cook it skin on. Mary piper potatoes, King Edwards and are some of the potatoes I use for this recipe as I am in the UK. If you are in the US, Australia, and the rest of the world, you will be familiar with russet potatoes, red potatoes, Idaho, etc. Those ones are great too and this recipe works fine with those ones too.
Should I peel the skin off potatoes before boiling?
Not necessarily. If you are not peeling off the skin before cooking, make sure you wash and remove any dirt from the skin before boiling.
Which potatoes are good for boiling?
Firm and waxy potatoes are best for boiling.
Should I boil whole or cut?
You can do any of the two however cooking times will slightly vary. The bigger the potatoes, the longer the cooking time. Also, make sure the sizes are similar so they cook at the same time. If they are unequal, the smaller ones will cook faster.
Can Potatoes be boiled too long?
Yes. If boiled for too long the potatoes will become mushy and fall apart.
Ingredients
Potatoes
Salt
Butter (optional)
Parsley (Optional)
Black pepper (Optional)
How to Boil Potatoes
Wash the potatoes with a soft sponge or peel off the skin with a potato peeler.
Leave the potatoes whole or cut into chunks however make sure the sizes are similar so they cook evenly.
Rinse the potatoes and add them into a pot. Add water in the pot to cover the potatoes. The water should be about 2 inches above the potatoes.
Add salt then cover the pot and leave the potatoes to boil for 10-15 minutes depending on the size.
After the time, insert a knife or fork to check if it’s done inside. If done, drain the water.
Serve plain or add butter and parsley on the potatoes.
Toss to combine the butter/parsley with potatoes, serve and enjoy.
How to boil potatoes in Microwave
Use a soft sponge to wash the potatoes or peel the skin off.
Use a fork to pierce each potato in 3 places if whole or cut into chunks.
Place the potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl, add water 2 inches above the potatoes then cover with microwave cover.
Using the high heat setting of the microwave, microwave for 5 minutes intervals until it’s cooked.
Pierce with a knife to check for doneness, drain water if done, and serve.
What to eat with boiled potatoes
Boiled potatoes make a great side dish and can be paired with many dishes including
Scrambled eggs, Omelette
Beef curry, shrimp curry,
How to Store
When you cook ahead or have leftovers, you can safely store. To do so, leave to cool completely, add in an airtight bowl or freezer bag, and store in the fridge where it will last for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Easy Recipes on the blog
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How to Boil Potatoes-Boiled Potatoes Recipe
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 500 g (1lb) Potatoes
- 2 tablespoons Butter optional
- 1 tablespoon Parsley chopped (optional)
- Black pepper to taste (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Water
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes with a soft sponge or peel off the skin with a potato peeler.
- Leave the potatoes whole or cut into chunks however make sure the sizes are similar so they cook evenly.
- Rinse the potatoes and add them into a pot. Add water in the pot to cover the potatoes. The water should be about 1 inch above the potatoes.
- Add salt then cover the pot and leave the potatoes to boil for 10-15 minutes depending on the size. After the time, insert a knife or fork to check if it's done inside. If done, drain the water.
- Serve plain or add butter and parsley on the potatoes. Toss to combine the butter/parsley with potatoes, serve and enjoy.
Definitely 40mins required to cook the potatoes and not 10-15..otherwise good.