Skip to Content

How to Boil Potatoes

10 MINUTES and it’s ready! Delicious, Tasty, Healthy and ready for your recipe OR add a little butter and spices and your dish is READY! How To Boil Potatoes.

This boiled Potato recipe is ready to use for Stewed Potatoes  or just to add butter, salt, pepper and enjoy!

sliced potatoes in pan with lid on

Why This Recipe Works…

  • EASY!
  • FAST! Ready in under 30 minutes total time.
  • Prepares you for so many other recipes OR ready to eat as is! 

Here’s How To Boil Potatoes…

STEP 1. Peel the potatoes (no need to do this if using red or yukon gold potatoes) and slice if that’s how you will use them.

thinly sliced potatoes and knife on cutting board

STEP 2. Place them  in a saucepan and add enough water to cover. 

Twice Fired Potatoes www.loavesanddishes.net

Boiling Potatoes (You already knew what that looked like, didn’t you?)

STEP 3. 

Bring to a full boil and boil till fork tender 5-7 minutes. Boiling happens faster if you put the lid on! 

sliced potatoes in pan with lid on

What Is the Healthiest Way to Cook Potatoes?

Boiling Potatoes is the healthiest way to cook Potatoes. Boiling adds no calories but can add immense flavor if you use the appropriate seasonings.

Frequently Asked Questions about How To Boil Potatoes (FAQ’s)

How To Boil Potatoes

Place the Potatoes into a medium sized saucepan, large frying pan or stock pot and cover with 1 quart of water. Bring water to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat. Boil at a simmer for 5-7 minutes until the Potatoes is fork tender. Drain Potatoes. Top with butter or flavored oil. Add seasoning. Serve hot.

How Long To Boil Potatoes? 

Boil Potatoes 5-10 minutes depending on how big the pieces are and how tender you want your Potatoes. Boil sliced potatoes 5 minutes and boil large pieces for 10. When fork tender, it’s done. 

Do Boiled Potatoes Lose Nutrients? 

Any boiled vegetables can lose nutrients if you boil it to death! Only boil Potatoes as long as it takes to make it tender, then remove it from the hot water. You can submerge it in cool water to stop the cooking if needed. 

What Can I Use Boiled Potatoes For? 

Use Boiled Potatoes for…

  • A delicious way to make a simple Potatoes side dish.
  • Delicious recipes like preparing to Fry Potatoes.
  • Prepped for Stir fry

How Long To Boil Potatoes?

This depends on several factors….

Fresh Potatoes…

  • A WHOLE Potato will be ready when fork tender 10-15 minutes.
  • Sliced Potatoes will be done in 5-10 minutes. 

Frozen Potatoes…

  • will be ready in about 5 minutes (follow the instructions on the package). 

Can I Boil a WHOLE Potatoes?

Sure!  

  • Peel the potatoes.
  • Place in a large boiling stock pot of water with enough water to cover. 
  • Boil for about 10 minutes until completely fork tender. 

How To Boil Potatoes in the Microwave

  • Cut the Potatoes into slices.
  • Place in a large microwave safe bowl of water. 
  • Microwave on high for 2 minutes. 
  • Stir
  • Repeat at 1 minute intervals until fork tender. 

What About Those Spots on My Potatoes Head? 

  • Most of the spots are called “eyes’ they can go a little deep into the potato flesh, just cut them out if you are concerned. 
  • Sometime a potato will have a gray spot on the inside. That’s normal, just cut it out. 
  • Simply use a sharp knife to cut that area off. 

How Can I Tell If My Potatoes Is Bad?

  • If the spots go through the Potatoes, then the Potatoes is bad.
  • Do you notice a rotten smell and does the Potatoes feel slimy? Then, it’s bad. 

What Can I Serve with Boiled Potatoes? 

Potatoes is a great side dish to almost any meat! 

Try this crockpot pot roast or this garlic rosemary pork loin!

You could also eat it as your main dish if you are going lighter and it tastes excellent with Tennessee Onions and Potatoes

spoonful of creamy scalloped veggies in red dish

Tips & Tricks for Boiled Potatoes.

  • If you plan to eat right away, then you will want your Potatoes more tender (so that the fork easily goes through the entire piece). 
  • Are you using it in a recipe that will be cooked more? Then only boil it until a fork can pierce the Potatoes but doesn’t want to go completely through. 
  • You will notice that it turns a slightly different color when cooked, a pearly translucent color. This is normal. 
  • Save the water you make these in if you are making a sauce, it can be used to thin, thicken and flavor the sauce.
  • More info on potatoes!

PRO TIP: The smaller the pieces of Potatoes are, the more quickly they will cook, no matter HOW you are cooking them. Be careful so as not to overcook the Potatoes. Drain it well to remove the extra water. 

If You Enjoyed This Recipe for How To Boil Potatoes, You Might Also Enjoy…

How to Boil Broccoli

How to Boil Cauliflower

Boiling Hot Dogs

OR try ANY of our DELICIOUS Side Dishes!

veggies and knife on cutting board

Chop up Baked Potatoes into bite sized pieces

YA’LL HELP ME OUT, OK?

Be sweet and leave me a 5 STAR COMMENT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 below, please. It helps others to find the recipes here at Loaves and Dishes. 

thinly sliced potatoes and knife on cutting board

How To Boil Potatoes

READY in LESS THAN 30 MINUTES! Boiling potatoes is an essential skill for many recipes.  Learn how right here PLUS, in case you didn't know, it's delicious just eaten this way too! 
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: boiling potatoes, how to boil potatoes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 124kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 whole potatoes
  • 1 quart water or enough water to cover the cauliflower
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Peel and slice the potatoes if that is how you will be using them in the completed recipe. Whole, skin on potatoes can be boiled too.
  • Place the potatoes into a medium sized saucepan and cover with water.  Add more water if 1 quart doesn't cover all of the pieces. 
  • Add 1 tbsp of salt to the water.  Heat on high for 5-7 minutes until the water is simmering. 
  • Allow to simmer for 5-7 minutes, then check by piercing it with a fork for slices. If whole potatoes, the simmering will take about 10 minutes.  If you plan to eat these as is, cook it until a fork goes easily through the entire piece (10 minutes or so). 
  • When cooked the way you want, pour into a colander to drain.
  • Once drained, use for your dish or add topping that is listed in the notes.  Serve hot. 

Notes

  • If you plan to eat right away, then you will want more tender (so that the fork easily goes through the entire piece).
  • Are you using it in a recipe that will be cooked more?  Then only boil it until a fork can pierce but doesn't want to go completely through.
  • You will notice that it turns a slightly different color when cooked.  This is normal.
  • Save the water you boiled  in if you are making a sauce, it can be used to thin and flavor the sauce.
  • To make a great sauce for these potatoes to eat as is, mix 2 Tbs butter with 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 Cup milk, 1/4 parmesan cheese and heat over medium heat until butter is melted and all the ingredients are liquid.  Pour this over your hot potatoes.  YUM!
PRO TIP: The smaller the pieces  are, the more quickly they will cook, no matter HOW you are cooking them.  Be careful so as not to over cook.  Drain it well to remove the extra water. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How To Boil Potatoes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 124 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 1777mg74%
Potassium 880mg25%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 5g20%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin C 24mg29%
Calcium 71mg7%
Iron 7mg39%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Crystal

Saturday 13th of June 2020

Clear and simple Just what I need!

Wendi Spraker

Sunday 14th of June 2020

Well, that's great then. I'm so glad you found what you were looking for! Thanks for coming back and leaving a message!

Ashlynn

Friday 21st of February 2020

It was really easy to follow and quick! I made them and lately I’ve been craving cheesy potatoes. So I decided to just sprinkle shredded cheese onto my potatoes. It was sooooo good!

Wendi Spraker

Friday 25th of October 2019

aggregate rating test

15585

Want My 9 Secrets to Immediate Kitchen Confidence?