How long should we boil potatoes for mashed potatoes? I have the best recipe and step by step for you!
Mashed potatoes will do well with different kinds of foods, and they are perfect if you are looking for a fulfilling meal that is easy to prepare.
When preparing them, the main ingredient to incorporate is the potatoes. You have to ensure that you boil them before anything, so it is essential to know the time to cook.
If you are still wondering how long to boil potatoes for mashed potatoes, this article is for you! You will learn how long it takes to cook different potatoes for mashing and how to do it. Kindly keep reading!
How Long Do You Boil Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes?
The type of potatoes you use when making mashed potatoes will determine the period they will take to boil. Some will take a few minutes, while others require more time to get them ready. Of course, the potatoes need to cook to a point where you can easily mash them.
Also, how you choose to boil the potatoes matters; if you choose to dice them into sizeable pieces before cooking, expect them to get ready faster. Otherwise, cooking them whole will require some more boiling time.
Further, how long it will take will depend on whether the potatoes are starchy or not. Starchy potatoes are ideal for mashing, and usually, they will take less time to boil.
How Long to Boil Russet Potatoes?
They are one of the best potatoes to use when making mashed potatoes. They tend to produce very soft mashed potatoes. With the high starch content they have, then mashing them becomes easy.
You can be sure that you will get a super smooth mash and the best thing with them is that they quickly absorb other ingredients such as butter and milk. When boiling them whole, they will take about 20 minutes to get ready, and if you chop them, 10 minutes should be enough.
How Long to Boil Red Potatoes?
Red potatoes are also ideal for making mashed potatoes. You may choose to boil them with or without the skin, which will turn out great. All you need to do is to wash the outside well. The high starch content will give you a soft, fluffy, and consistent mash.
These potatoes should take about 15 minutes to get ready for mashing. Ensure you slice them so that they can cook for much less time. Check for tenderness using a fork to know whether they are ready.
How Long to Boil White Potatoes?
White potatoes will give you the right texture you should have when making mashed potatoes. These potatoes tend to be quite large and therefore may take longer to boil. Typically, they will be ready between 20 to 30 minutes. The periods depend on whether you cook them whole, diced, or cubed.
How Long to Boil Diced Potatoes?
When you dice the potatoes, the shapes will be pretty much uniform. Such will make it easy for you to cook the potatoes, and they will all cook for the same period. Depending on the size of the diced potatoes, they should take anywhere between 15 to 25 minutes to get ready for mashing.
How Long to Boil Cubed Potatoes?
Cubed potatoes are much smaller and always have the same size and shape. Usually, such will require very little time to be ready. 10 to 15 minutes will be enough to boil them.
What is the Perfect Time to Boil Potatoes?
There is no perfect time that your potatoes should take to boil. But of course, you should not exceed a specific time lime, neither should you start mashing them when they are not yet well-done. The main thing that matters here is the potatoes you are using.
Some will potatoes will require more time than others to get ready. Also, the time will depend on whether you are boiling them whole or once you slice them. For instance, when they are in cubes and small, they will require about 10 to 15 minutes of cooking before mashing them.
On the other hand, when you are boiling them whole or when the pieces are large, 20 to 25 minutes will be enough. Either way, you can always check if they are ready even before this time elapses.
Should I Use Peeled Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes?
It is okay to peel the potatoes before mashing, and most chefs recommend it. Peeling is necessary for the potatoes to come out as soft and creamy. It is not advisable to mash some potatoes with their skin on, especially if they have thick skin, including russets and Yukon gold potatoes.
If you want to mash the potatoes without peeling, consider other thin skin options, such as red potatoes. Using the potatoes with their skin on helps add great texture and flavor to the mash. Also, failing to peel means you need less time to prepare them for boiling.
How to Boil Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Cooking pot
Ingredients
- Potatoes
- Salt
- Cold Water
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the potatoes
- Here it would help if you made the potatoes ready for boiling. Such includes cleaning the outside to remove all the dirt. You should also peel the potatoes, especially if they have thick skin.
- If you are using red potatoes, you only need to clean them, and they will be good to go. Otherwise, the rest, such as Yukon gold, will be better for mashing when they do not have the peels.
- After peeling, you can slice the potatoes into cubes or boil them whole. It is up to you. But remember, when cooking them in small pieces, they will take less time to get ready, unlike when not cut.
Step 2: Place the potatoes in the cooking pot
- Once the potatoes are ready, you should add them to the cooking pot. After this, add enough water to them to partly cover them. Ensure there is enough space in the cooking pot to allow them to boil well.
- You can go ahead and add some salt to the cooking pot. Ensure you do not add too much; it should be just enough for the boiling potatoes.
Step 3: Bring them to boil
- Set the stove to medium-low heat and place the cooking pot on it. Cover the cooking pot loosely when boiling. Allow them to simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or more. The period will depend on the type of potatoes and their sizes.
Step 4: Check if they are ready
- You should check whether the potatoes are ready after a while. Please do this by piercing them with a fork. They should break when you insert the pork in them. If they are ready, drain the excess water, add the rest of the ingredients and start mashing.
- Some people will prefer first to boil the water then add the potatoes. While this is a viable option, it will result in the potatoes cooking outside.
- The inside remains uncooked. You will then be required to boil the potatoes for more time so that the interior can cook. So, it is always better to cook them with cold water to cook evenly.
How Do You Know When Potatoes are Done Boiling?
The easiest way to tell when the potatoes are ready after boiling will be by checking the inside. You can Pierce one potato with the tip of a knife or fork to check on the resistance. When the knife goes through the potato quickly, it is ready for mashing.
Also, you can know that they are ready after boiling if the time they usually take to cook elapses. If the potatoes take maybe 15 or 20 minutes to boil and this time ends, they should be ready.
Also, if the water you had put in them reduces, they prove that they are already ready for mashing, but you should still go ahead and try to pierce them with a fork.
How Soft Should Potatoes Be for Mashed Potatoes?
When you pierce the potatoes at the center and fall apart easily without any resistance, they are soft enough for mashing.
You need not try extra more intricate to mash the potatoes. If you notice this, then they may not yet be ready. When they are still firm, you will have a hard time mashing them.
Final Words
You will only get the best-mashed potatoes if you first use the right potatoes and then boil them till they are ready for mashing. Yukon gold and red potatoes are some of the best options to use when making mashed potatoes. Most will take between 10 to 25 minutes to get ready for mashing, so ensure you check them, so they do not over boil.
So, do you already know how long you should boil potatoes for mashed potatoes? Please, feel free to leave your comments below!
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