Boiling potatoes is one of the kitchen’s most boring methods. The water takes ages to heat up, and the potatoes, depending on size can take a long time to soften. For a person like me, who does not like standing around in the kitchen waiting, I have found several ways of boiling potatoes. Using potatoes are effective in all styles of cooking. They can be used in soups, bakes and casseroles. My methods are quicker and more efficient. They get the job done, whether it be for mash, ready for roasting, or cubed potatoes for a side dish.
Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes can be cooked in many ways with varying degrees of softness. Mashed potatoes take 40 minutes boiling in a saucepan. I use boiling water from the kettle to speed up the cooking time. The water will start almost as soon as the heat is turned on. This is faster than using cold tap water. Making enough mash for the meal is a hard feat to master. I’ve had to practise often to get the amount right. Mashing potatoes can also be cooked in a pressure cooker with the water level at about half the amount of potatoes. 2 medium-large potatoes are a good average per person. Mashed potato can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days and reheated in the microwave with a splash of milk.
Cubed Potatoes
I make cubed potatoes in much the same way. Cutting the potatoes smaller will take a shorter time to soften. Cubing the potatoes can look like more food, but I would still use the average 2 potatoes per person. Cubed potatoes take 10-15 minutes. It’s important to keep an eye on the potatoes when cooking, as they can soften and become mush easily by over-cooking. One-pot Sausage Hash uses cubed potatoes to pair alongside the sausage meat into a delicious dish.
Roast Potatoes
I have also made mini roasts from cubed potato and these are yummy and crisp. For normal sized roasts, I cut the potatoes accordingly and boil them for 5 minutes. After a quick boil, I fluff them in a colander with some plain flour and toss them into the hot oil from the oven. Roast potatoes take 30 minutes in the oven + 10 minutes of prep and boiling time. Roast potatoes crisp up more when flipped during cooking.
Jacket Potatoes
Jacket potatoes for a stew or to eat beside baked beans and cheese also take a long period of cooking in the oven. They can take up to an hour to soften. They require thinking ahead and usually cooking before the rest of the meal. I microwave jacket potatoes for 5 minutes before they go in the oven for 30 minutes. I stab the potatoes in several places with a fork to avoid explosion in the microwave and rub them in oil. Once they have partially cooked in the microwave, I transfer them to the oven for 30 minutes.
Potatoes in Soup
I like to add potatoes to soup to bulk them out. Cubing potatoes for a saucepan soup is a good way to make sure the potatoes soften. I use a soup maker to add random chunks of potatoes and it cooks and blends the soup. With a soup maker, I don’t have to think about boiling and cooking time for the potatoes, as the whole soup is made in 20 minutes.