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Overhead view of several varieties of boiled potatoes in bowls arranged together on a table.

How To Boil Potatoes (7 Different Types!)

40aprons.com/how-to-boil-potatoes/
These foolproof and easy-to-follow instructions will have you mastering perfect boiled potatoes in no time!
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 35 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 6 servings

Equipment

  • vegetable scrub brush or dish towel, optional
  • Cutting board and sharp knife optional
  • potato peeler optional
  • Large pot no lid needed
  • Fork
  • colander
  • Slotted spoon optional, see Notes

Ingredients

For Baby Potatoes

  • 1 pound baby potatoes (whole or halved)
  • cold water (enough to cover potatoes in pot)
  • 1 large pinch salt (to taste)

For Fingerling Potatoes

  • 1 pound fingerling potatoes (whole or halved)
  • cold water (enough to cover potatoes in pot)
  • 1 large pinch salt (to taste)

For Yellow, Yukon Gold, and Red Potatoes

  • 1 pound yellow, gold, or red potatoes
  • cold water (enough to cover potatoes in pot)
  • 1 large pinch salt (to taste)

For Russet Potatoes

  • 2-3 large russet potatoes (approximately 2-3 pounds)
  • cold water (enough to cover potatoes in pot)
  • 1 large pinch salt (to taste)

For Sweet Potatoes

  • 2-3 large sweet potatoes (approximately 1-1 ½ pounds)
  • cold water (enough to cover potatoes in pot)
  • 1 large pinch salt (to taste)

Instructions

  • Regardless of potato type, begin by washing potatoes well under running water and scrubbing potatoes with scrub brush, dish towel, or hands to remove any dirt.

For Baby Potatoes

  • If desired, use sharp knife to halve baby potatoes. No need to peel.
  • Add whole or halved baby potatoes to large pot. Add cold water to cover potatoes completely, then add 1 large pinch salt.
    Overhead view of baby potatoes in a large pot with handles on a neutral background.
  • Heat pot over medium-high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes, or until baby potatoes can easily be pierced with tines of fork.
    Overhead view of boiling baby potatoes in a large pot on a neutral background.
  • Carefully remove pot from heat. Pour water and potatoes into colander to drain. Serve boiled baby potatoes as-is or use in recipe of choice.
    Overhead view of boiled baby potatoes in a large colander on a neutral background.

For Fingerling Potatoes

  • If desired, use sharp knife to halve fingerling potatoes. No need to peel.
  • Add whole or halved fingerling potatoes to large pot. Add cold water to cover potatoes completely, then add 1 large pinch salt.
    Overhead view of fingerling potatoes in a large pot with handles on a neutral background.
  • Heat pot over medium-high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, or until baby potatoes can easily be pierced with tines of fork.
    Overhead view of boiling fingerling potatoes in a large pot on a neutral background.
  • Carefully remove pot from heat. Pour water and potatoes into colander to drain. Serve boiled fingerling potatoes as-is or use in recipe of choice.
    Overhead view of boiled fingerling potatoes in a large colander on a neutral background.

For Yellow, Yukon Gold or Red Potatoes

  • If desired, use potato peeler to carefully peel yellow, gold, or red potatoes. Chop peeled or unpeeled potatoes into 2-inch cubes.
  • Add cubed potatoes to large pot. Add cold water to cover potatoes completely, then add 1 large pinch salt.
    Overhead view of cubed potatoes in a saucepan on a neutral background.
  • Heat pot over medium-high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes, or until cubed potatoes can easily be pierced with tines of fork.
    Overhead view of boiled, cubed potatoes in a saucepan on a neutral background.
  • Carefully remove pot from heat. Pour water and potatoes into colander to drain. Serve boiled yellow, gold, or red potatoes as-is or use in recipe of choice.
    Overhead view of boiled potato cubes in a large black colander on a neutral background.

For Russet Potatoes

  • If desired, use potato peeler to carefully peel russet potatoes. Chop peeled or unpeeled potatoes into 2-inch cubes.
  • Add cubed potatoes to large pot. Add cold water to cover potatoes completely, then add 1 large pinch salt.
    Overhead view of cubed russet potatoes in a saucepan on a neutral background.
  • Heat pot over medium-high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, or until cubed potatoes can easily be pierced with tines of fork.
    Overhead view of boiled, cubed russet potatoes in a saucepan on a neutral background.
  • Carefully remove pot from heat. Pour water and potatoes into colander to drain. Serve boiled russet potatoes as-is or use in recipe of choice.
    Overhead view of boiled, cubed russet potatoes in a saucepan on a neutral background.

For Sweet Potatoes

  • If desired, use potato peeler to carefully peel russet potatoes. Chop peeled or unpeeled potatoes into 2-inch cubes.
  • Add cubed potatoes to large pot. Add cold water to cover potatoes completely, then add 1 large pinch salt.
    Overhead view of raw, peeled, cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot.
  • Heat pot over medium-high heat. Once water begins to boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes, or until cubed potatoes can easily be pierced with tines of fork.
    Overhead view of boiling, peeled, cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot.
  • Carefully remove pot from heat. Pour water and potatoes into colander to drain. Serve boiled russet potatoes as-is or use in recipe of choice.
    Overhead view of boiled sweet potato cubes in a large black colander/

Recipe Notes

  • If your pot is too full or heavy for you to comfortably pour the water and potatoes into a colander, use a slotted spoon to remove the potatoes from the pot instead.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1serving of baby potatoesCalories: 58calProtein: 2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 318mgTotal Carbs: 13gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gNet Carbs: 11gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Recipe By: Sam Guarnieri
https://40aprons.com/how-to-boil-potatoes/