Boiling a potato the right way?

[Samuel]

I can't seem to boil a potato the right way. They're too soft when I boil them too much, and still raw if I boil them less. I follow the "fork tender" rule, but someone told me that potatoes continue to boil even after you take them out. Any suggestions?

[mcnerd]

The experts say:
How do you determine which way to boil them? You can't. It's hard to please everyone and there's not much you can do about it.

But check out this link for some hints:
http://www.akiskitchen.ca/techniques/potatoes_boiling/potatoes_boiling_1.html

[Samuel]

Wow, I've never imagined that there are so many details to look after. I mean, my mother always boils them the right way. I guess I need to keep a better eye on them. Is Yukon Gold the best choice for mashed potatoes? Or the new, red ones?

[NOCHEF&JUSTLOVESFOOD.YUM]

I think a lot of the problem is whether or not you use a starchy potato or a baking potato, you get different tastes and cooking times. If the potato felt hard or looked a little wrinkled and dried out, My Mom would soak them in cold water for 30 minutes before she started the cooking. One of my favorites, and a little different:

Crushed Yukon Gold Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:
1 Pound (500 g) Yukon gold potatoes or new small red potatoes
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

PREPARATION:
Cover potatoes with cold water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat; add 1 tablespoon salt. Reduce heat to medium-high, and simmer until potatoes are just tender when pierced with a fork, 10-15 minutes; remove potatoes as they are done.

Drain, and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.

Place potatoes on a cutting board. Lightly crush potatoes with the side of a large knife or your palm. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add potatoes, and cook, flipping once, until crisp and golden brown, 4-5 minutes per side. Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle with parsley.

[she_cookie]

Hmm.. boiling potatoes is indeed a bit of a problem for me too :D I think this is why i don't cook this to often, they always seem to boil to much, and when i let them stay less time, they seem to be to hard..
I managed to boil the right a few times, but i don't always do.
________
Honda VTX1800R (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_VTX1800R)

[Advoca]

I can't seem to boil a potato the right way. They're too soft when I boil them too much, and still raw if I boil them less. I follow the "fork tender" rule, but someone told me that potatoes continue to boil even after you take them out. Any suggestions?

This is because of the particular type of potato you are cooking. Some go too soft, others require longer cooking. You will have to experiment with different varieties to find the one you like and the one (ones) you can cook with. There is no alternative.

PS
Potatoes do not go on cooking once they are removed from the water!

[kastal]

I have never faced such problem while boiling potatoes, and I boil frequently and every time they are perfectly boiled. Always use hot boil water to boil the potatoes and cut each of them into two pieces longitudinally, and then boil for 20 minutes. Through this method you surely get rid of your problem with boiled potatoes.

[Big Daddy's House]

The way that I like to do it is to cut the peeled potatoes into medium to large cubes, start off with enough cold water to just cover the potatoes and a little salt.

Let the water come to a rolling boil, then turn the burner off, but let the lid stay on and let the potatoes sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. Check after that and they should be fork tender.

Works every time!

[chrisandcindy]

Another way is to cook them until fork tender and then shock them in ice water to stop the cooking. This works for potato salad and other cold potato dishs

[Semigourmet]

I bring mine to a boil (I usually use russets, but have done the same with Yukon golds too) let boil on a low boil not a hard fast boil,(meaning slower bubbles) and just as the start to soften I turn off the burner and let them set on the burner in the water for about another 5-10 minutes and then drain, and pour back into the hot pan to dry them out.

[Big Daddy's House]

I also like russets and Yukon Golds. Much less dirt to have to clean off of them as well!

Chrisancindy, that might be a good idea, but I've tried that once, and found the potatoes to be very water-logged and way too soft and mushy.

When the cut potatoes are hot, they tend to still have a dry surface from the heat after draining. It's that same dry surface that helps keep the boiled potatoes at the right texture and firmness for whatever you plan to use them for.

Letting them sit in the collender after draining helps set them up to be perfectly dry on the surface but still soft inside. The slight dryness on the outside helps keep them from falling apart. I usually make my potato salad warm and a little bit mashed anyway, and when it's made, I then refrigerate it.

My mom would peel the whole potatoes AFTER boiling them. I found that to be a very awful and sticky mess!! I like to peef them BEFORE boiling them. Saves a lot of mess and headaches later!

[Big Daddy's House]

Another way to cool boiled cut up potatoes is to spread them out on a cookie sheet or sheet pan, put them in the fridge for a few minutes and viola! - You've got perfectly cooled potatoes.

[cubshaju]

Interesting thought, i completely agree with your perspective

[Big Daddy's House]

Thank you.

I've been cooking for a very long time - ever since I was nine years old, and over the years, I've learned and managed to master the art of cooking and culinary cuisine.

[Advoca]

I use a timer. 15 minutes from the time I put them on the stove.

Ah, but what size are the potatoes being cooked? Whole potatoes take longer, and are difficult to cook right through. Cut your potatoes reasonably small and you will get rid of most problems.

The small potatoes I buy, supposedly new potatoes, take much longer if they are unpeeled - at least 20 minutes.

[munbibgid]

This great pictures, thank you for sharing them. I will return to post the picture on this forum and you'll find them great.

[Starliteny]

If you're talking about boiling them for mashed potatoes, I learned that cutting the potato in half, longways, cooks them quickly and evenly.

[samue1eb]

I like boiling fingerling potatoes in water that is loaded with rock salt (the kind used for ice cream). The potatoes are then perfectly seasoned. I got the idea from Alton Brown.

[mathbrick]

I have tried the method of boing the peeled and cut potatoes with some salt (the tip given by the user "big daddy house") and it worked for me. Thanks a lot!

Bises,
7jades.

[leebingate]

I accept with information:
The way that I like to do it is to cut the peeled potatoes into medium to large cubes, start off with enough cold water to just cover the potatoes and a little salt.

Let the water come to a rolling boil, then turn the burner off, but let the lid stay on and let the potatoes sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. Check after that and they should be fork tender.

[Big Daddy's House]

I accept with information:
The way that I like to do it is to cut the peeled potatoes into medium to large cubes, start off with enough cold water to just cover the potatoes and a little salt.

Let the water come to a rolling boil, then turn the burner off, but let the lid stay on and let the potatoes sit in the hot water for 15 minutes. Check after that and they should be fork tender.



Is there an echo here? Or is it just me?

I posted this same post a while back.

[Elizabeth]

I usually put potatoes into a microwave steamer. It cooks perfectly- not as dry as normal microwaved potatoes and not as soggy as boiling in a pot. This works good for both poatoes you wish to mash or you can brush with olive oil then when they are golden brown like my gold bracelets (http://www.postalgold.com/white-gold-bracelets) I take them out of the oven.

[HattoriHanzo]

Is there an echo here? Or is it just me?

I posted this same post a while back.

Feel proud Sherm !

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" :)

[Big Daddy's House]

Feel proud Sherm !

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" :)



Thank you.

But as you and I already know, it becomes spam, and it then becomes annoying. Sad. :(

[Nancysid]

I have a question. When boiling the potatoes, does it really have to be drowned in water? How much cup of water should be necessary to boil the potatoes?

[samue1eb]

I recommend just adding another water to cover the potatoes and when they reach a boil, lower the temperature and simmer until done.

[HattoriHanzo]

I have a question. When boiling the potatoes, does it really have to be drowned in water? How much cup of water should be necessary to boil the potatoes?

If you like you can equip each potato with a tiny aqualung so they don't drown during that tortuous process. Well how much cup of water depends on how much potatoes you dill !! And that ain't the herb !

[Big Daddy's House]

I recommend just adding another water to cover the potatoes and when they reach a boil, lower the temperature and simmer until done.



Enough cold water to just cover them.