Whether you’re prepping potato salad or pierogi, perfectly boiled potatoes will make your dish shine.

Emily Laurae

Boiling potatoes couldn’t be easier.

It just takes potatoes, water, and lots of salt.

how to boil potatoes

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It’s as easy asmaking pasta, and the tender, perfectly boil potatoes are loaded with possibilities.

you’ve got the option to even use them to make potato chips!

If you have a vegetable brush, now is its time to shine.

cutting potatoes

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Even if you plan to peel the potatoes, it’s still important to scrub them clean before proceeding.

Then, proceed with boiling potatoes.

Smaller potatoes, like new potatoes, may just be halved.

A fork reaches into a colander of peeled, diced, and boiled potatoes, piercing the center of a cube to show doneness.

Credit: Emily Laurae/Southern Living

How Do You Know When Potatoes Are Boiled?

If you get resistance, boil for another few minutes and check again.

How Long To Boil Potatoes

Start checking the boiling potato pieces at the 10-minute mark.

An aerial shot of a blue and white dish full of mashed potatoes with melted butter and fresh herbs on top.

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Check larger potato pieces or whole small potatoes (like fingerling potatoes or new potatoes) after 15 minutes.

That will help you gauge how quickly they’re cooking and how much more time you need.

Also, consider what the final texture will be.

scrubbing potatoes with a brush to clean

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For a dish like mashed potatoes, more tender potatoes will work.

But for something like potato salad, you may want the potatoes to be a little more firm.

Otherwise, for hot dishes, proceed with your recipe.

peeling potatoes with vegetable peeler

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Peel potatoes (optional):

Peel potatoes with a vegetable peeler if you desire.

Add a big pinch of salt.

Boil potatoes:

Bring the water to a boil, and cook for 10-12 minutes.

potatoes in water

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(Larger pieces will require longer cooking times.)

If the fork easily pierces the center of the potato, they are done.

If it meets resistance, boil for another 2 minutes, and check again.

boiling potatoes

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Drain potatoes:

Drain boiled potatoes in a colander.

Use as needed for your recipe.

boiled potatoes

Credit:Emily Laurae