Boiled Potatoes Recipe

5 from 3 votes

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

Cook Time15

Total Time15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how long to boil potatoes, how to boil potatoes

Servings: servings

Calories: 92kcal

Author: TipBuzz

Wash and scrub the potatoes gently under running water to remove any surface debris. Optionally you can cut the potatoes into chunks for faster cooking.
Put the potatoes in a medium pot or saucepan. Add the salt and enough cold water to cover by 1-inch. (Note: starting with cold water helps the potatoes to cook more evenly.)
Place on high heat and bring to a boil.
Lower heat to medium and boil uncovered for 12-30 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes.
Check doneness by inserting a fork or skewer. The center of the 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 Gold, Red Gold, Round White, Round Red (Red Bliss) and Fingerling among others.
Use smaller potatoes for faster cooking, or larger potatoes when you need quantity for recipes such as mashed potatoes.
Should you peel potatoes before boiling? Peeling is optional and does not affect boiling time. Note: the skin contains a significant amount of a potato’s nutrition.
Save some boiling liquid to flavor gravy or mashed potatoes with no added fat.
Let whole potatoes cool for at least 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 can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days once fully cooled. For longer-term storage, place the cooled potatoes in a resealable plastic bag for up to 3 months.