How and how much to cook potatoes

How to cook jacket potatoes

This cooking method is considered to be the healthiest one. The peel of potatoes contains vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, proteins, fiber, potassium, iron and other trace elements necessary for a person.

To ensure the potatoes boil evenly, try to match the potatoes of the same size. Wash them thoroughly from dirt (it is better to do this with a hard brush) and pierce with a toothpick in several places so that the peel does not burst.

A few drops of vinegar and salt dissolved in a saucepan of water will also help keep the peel intact.

Pour cold water over the tubers so that it completely covers them. Then add salt: about ½ tablespoon of salt to 1 liter of water. But you can put more: the potatoes will take as much salt as needed.

How and how much to cook potatoes in their uniform

Then cover the pot with a lid and put it on high heat.

After boiling, cook the potatoes over medium heat for another 20-25 minutes.

If the potatoes are old, then, most likely, the time will have to be increased to 30 minutes. And a young potato can be enough for 15 minutes.

It is very easy to check the readiness of potatoes. You need to pierce the tuber with a knife or fork. If it is soft, then the potatoes in their uniform are ready. After cooking, drain the water, let the potatoes cool slightly and peel if necessary.

How to cook peeled potatoes

Perhaps the most difficult thing here is to get rid of the peel and all the eyes and green areas. The rest of the process is practically no different from cooking potatoes in their uniform.

Do not expose peeled potatoes to air. If you are not going to cook right away, put the tubers in the water to prevent them from darkening.

It is better to take medium-sized tubers as they cook faster. Large tubers can be cut in half or in several pieces.

How and how much to cook peeled potatoes

Place raw potatoes in a saucepan, add cold water and salt. If you put vegetables in boiling water, then the middle may not boil. However, opinions on this matter were divided even among famous chefs. For example, culinary host Martha Stewart pours cold water on potatoes, while Jamie Oliver pours hot water.

If you need to keep the potatoes from boiling, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 liter of water.

Place the saucepan over medium heat. When the water boils, turn it down.

After boiling, whole peeled potatoes are boiled for 20-25 minutes, cut into pieces - 15-20 minutes.

Before turning off the stove, check the readiness of the potatoes: pierce it with a knife.

Then drain the water. If this is not done, the potatoes will soften.

How to cook potatoes for salad

Most often, they take jacket potatoes for salad. Only it is boiled for a few minutes less than usual, so that the vegetables are harder.

If you don't like peeling boiled potatoes, peel the raw ones and cut them into small cubes or as needed for a salad.

Then fill the potatoes with cold water, salt and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. To test the readiness of the small cubes, simply try one of them.

As a rule, after boiling water, they are boiled for 10-12 minutes.

The main thing is not to digest them. After all, for a salad you need hard potatoes, which will not turn into mashed potatoes.

How much to cook potatoes in soup

For soup, potatoes are usually cut into strips and placed in an already boiling broth.

Boil the potatoes in the soup for 7-10 minutes.

However, cooking times may vary depending on the size. The larger you cut the potatoes, the longer they will cook.

How to cook French fries

Potatoes can be cooked in more than traditional ways. For example, boil in brine. The result is a frite potato that tastes like a baked potato. Ideal to spice up salads or a casual dinner.

Remove all dirt from the tubers, put them in an enamel pot and fill with cold water so that it completely covers the potatoes.

Pour a lot of salt into the pot: about 300-400 g. You may need to add more in the process, because the salt should not completely dissolve.

Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the temperature and cook the potatoes under a loose lid for about 30 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

By the way, the saline solution can then be used many more times to prepare the frite potatoes.

A few more life hacks

To cook the potatoes faster, toss a piece of butter into the pot. The melted butter will cover the water in a thin film and prevent evaporation. The temperature in the pot will rise and the potatoes will cook about 5 minutes faster.
Add a few chunks of onion or a couple of garlic cloves, cut in half, to the potato for a delicious flavor. You can also add bay leaves or spices, and sprinkle the peeled potatoes with chopped dill.
The liquid in which the potatoes were boiled can be used as broth for making vegetable soup. It will be full of useful trace elements contained in potatoes.