If you want to make mashed potatoes and potato salad, you have to boil the potatoes.If you bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, then cook the potatoes on the stove.You can boil your potatoes in the microwave while you work on other parts of your recipe if you want to make a large meal.The process of boiling potatoes shouldn't take more than 20 minutes most of the time, even if you choose to do it.
Step 1: Rub your potatoes clean after you rinse them.
To warm the water on your sink, turn it on.If you want to turn the potato into water, place it under the water and rub it with your clean hands.After you rinse the potato, put it in a pot or pan.If you have been sitting around for a while, you can use a produce brush to scrub the potatoes.A quick rinse and light rub should suffice.Any kind of potato can be boiled.The cooking time is the only difference between varieties.
Step 2: If you don't want the skin on your potatoes, remove them.
If you want the potatoes to cook without the skin on, peel them with a potato peeler.If you want to tilt the potato up, hold it in your nondominant hand.Put the 2 blades at the top of the potato by holding the peeler in your hand.Pull down towards the bottom and hold onto the strip of skin.You should repeat this process on the other side of your potato.The skin on the potatoes can still be boiled.You may not want the skin in a potato salad or mashed potatoes, but it adds another layer of flavor.If you prefer, you can peel the potatoes after they cook.It is easy to remove the skin when the potato is done cooking.
Step 3: To speed up the cook time, cut the potatoes into cubes or slices.
If you want to use the potatoes as an ingredient where their shape doesn't matter, set them out on a clean cutting board.Use your chef's knife to cut the potato into smaller cubes or slices.The faster the potatoes cook, the smaller the pieces you make.If you want to make mashed potatoes, you should cut the potatoes into cubes.
Step 4: Place your potatoes in a pan or a pot.
If you cook smaller potatoes like new potatoes, you can put them in a saucepan with a taller rim.Put your potatoes in a pot.Place the potatoes in the pot or saucepan with cold water.Don't drop the potatoes above the pot.You will end up splashing water everywhere.To keep the water from spilling out when it starts to boil, there needs to be 2–3 inches of space left at the top.Move your potatoes to a bigger container if your pot is too small.
Step 5: Turn your stove on high by adding a pinch of salt.
Adding salt to the water before boiling the potatoes will make them cook evenly and give you a little flavor as they cook.If you want to cover your pan or pot, turn your burner on high.Bring the water to a rolling boil.The water can be boiled without covering it, but a lid will make the water boil faster.If you want to give the potatoes a little flavor, you can add garlic, bay leaves, or peppercorns to the water.
Step 6: The water should be reduced to a rolling boil.
When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low or medium-low.The potatoes should be cooked in the pot with a lid.The length of time required to boil your potatoes depends on whether you diced them into smaller pieces or not.Smaller potatoes will cook faster than larger potatoes.
Step 7: The potatoes should be boiled for 15-20 minutes.
New potatoes need at least 15 minutes of boiling before they are ready.If you cut a large potato into smaller pieces, you should boil them for at least 15 minutes.If the potatoes are smaller than 2 in, cook them for 10 minutes before checking them.You don't have to worry about testing your potatoes before they're done.After you have taken one out for testing, you can continue to boil them.Red skin or fingerling potatoes are good for boiling.They tend to hold their shape well if they are over-boiled.
Step 8: Bigger potatoes should be boiled for 25 minutes.
If you want to test larger potatoes, you should let them boil for at least 20 minutes.The potatoes should be covered while they cook.Other types of potato take less time than the gold potatoes.They will take about 25 minutes to finish boiling.
Step 9: If you poke a potato with a fork, you can see if it is done.
Use a pair of tongs to take a potato out of the pot.Go to a clean surface and poke the middle of the potato with a fork.If the prongs on the fork slide in and out of the potato, they are done.If the potatoes aren't done, put the test potato back in the pot and cook them for an additional few minutes before checking them again.If your potatoes aren't done but the fork slides into them, try testing them again after 1 additional minute of cooking.
Step 10: You can drain the potatoes in the sink.
Put a strainer in your sink.Take your pan or pot with you to the sink.Carefully pour the pot or pan into the drain.If you want to continue with your recipe, you can either put the potatoes back in the pot or pan and let them cool.A lot of cooks like to put the potatoes back immediately after they have dried.You can keep the potatoes moist by keeping the surface moist.
Step 11: If you want to remove the skin from your potatoes, clean them and peel them.
Rub your potatoes with cold water as you rinse them to clean them.If you want the potatoes to cook with the skin on, leave it.If you want skin off, hold the potato with your nondominant hand.Stick the 2 blades on your potato peeler at the top of the potato and drag it down at a 45 degree angle to peel a length of skin.For each section of the potato, repeat this process.If you want, you can use a produce brush.This is usually unnecessary, but it will leave them really clean.The microwave tends to heat items differently, so boiling potatoes in the microwave is not the best method.If you make a big meal, you can free up a burner with this method.
Step 12: Put your potatoes in a bowl that is microwave safe and fill it with water.
Unpainted ceramic will usually work, and glass is always going to be a safe bet.Check the bottom of a bowl or dish to make sure it says microwave safe.Place the potatoes in the bowl or container with room-temperature water and submerge them.If a dish doesn't say "microwave safe", look for 3 lines and circles on the right.The symbol indicates that a dish is microwavable.When compared to stove-top boiling, you can add a pinch of salt, but it won't make a difference.
Step 13: If you want to poke a few holes in the cover, cover the bowl with plastic.
Put a length of plastic wrap over the top of your bowl.Cut the excess off using the teeth on the plastic wrap container by pressing the wrap around the rim of the bowl.Vents for the steam to escape are created with 4-5 holes in the plastic.The steam won't build up under any section of the cover if you place your holes evenly around the top.If you don't have the container that the plastic wrap came in, you can either tear off the excess plastic or cut it with scissors.
Step 14: Your bowl of potatoes can be microwaved.
Close the door and place your bowl in the middle of the microwave.Allow the microwave to cook for 5 minutes.If you have an 800- watt microwave, heat it up for 6 minutes.There are different heating patterns and temperature settings for microwaves.Depending on your microwave's make and model, you may need to microwave your potatoes a little longer.
Step 15: Put the plastic wrap back on the bowl and stir the potatoes.
If you want to remove the bowl from the microwave, put a pair of oven mitts on it.Carefully fold the plastic wrap back as you set the bowl down.The contents should be stirred with a wooden spoon.The water will circulate and give the potatoes a better chance of cooking.The potatoes should be soft as you stir them.It doesn't mean that they've cooked all the way through.They need more time in the microwave.
Step 16: The potatoes should be returned to the microwave for an additional 5 minutes.
If you remove the oven mitt from the bowl, put it back on.Lift the bowl out of the microwave and close the door.The bowl should be on high for 5 minutes.If you cook potatoes that feel soft when you stir them, try heating them on low for 4 minutes and then testing them with your fork.
Step 17: If you poke a potato with a fork, you can see if it is done.
Once your potatoes have been microwaved for an additional 5 minutes, put on a pair of oven mitts and take the bowl out.To remove a potato from the bowl, use a pair of tongs.To test it, poke it with a fork.The prongs are done if they slide in and out with little resistance.If your potatoes are still firm, you should heat them for an additional 1-2 minutes.The bowl will be very hot.You risk damaging your skin if you touch it with your bare skin.
Step 18: Put your potatoes in a container and let them cool.
While wearing a pair of oven mitts, place a bowl in your sink and lift it.Put the bowl in the colander to drain the potatoes.Use tongs to put the potatoes into the pot or pan that you will use to cook them.