Boiled potatoes in plain water are an easy and easy way to cook, and here are the proper ways to boil potatoes and what may cause them to remain hard after boiling:
Steps to cook potatoes correctly:
1.Prepare the potatoes:
Choose potatoes: Choose potatoes that are intact and undamaged. You can choose varieties that are suitable for boiling, such as potatoes, white potatoes, etc.
Wash the potatoes: Rinse the soil on the surface of the potatoes with water and brush the skins clean.
2.Boiled potatoes:
Cut into cubes or boil whole: Depending on your preference, you can choose to cut the potatoes into chunks or boil them whole.
Add water and salt: Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot and add the potato cubes so that the amount of water completely covers the potatoes. Add salt to the right amount to enhance the flavor of the potatoes.
Boiled potatoes: Place the pot on the stovetop, bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for about 15-25 minutes, depending on the size of the potato pieces. You can use a toothpick or fork to check if the potatoes are soft.
Water temperature and time: When boiling potatoes, the water temperature should not be too high, and continue to cook after boiling over medium-low heat to fully ensure that the potatoes are heated, but not broken.
3.Precautions:
Potato cut size: Potato cuts that are too large or too small can affect the cooking time, and should be adjusted according to needs and cooking time.
Potato variety and freshness: Different varieties of potatoes will be cooked differently. At the same time, freshness also affects the cooking time, the higher the freshness, the shorter the cooking time.
Characteristics of Cooking: When the potatoes become soft and glutinous and can be easily inserted with a knife and fork, they are cooked.
Possible reasons why potatoes remain hard after boiling:
Variety selection: Some varieties of potatoes have high starch content and will take longer to cook, so it is recommended to choose potato varieties suitable for cooking.
Inconsistent cut size: Inconsistent cut sizes can lead to uneven cooking times, and it is recommended to keep the potato pieces as consistent in size as possible.
Insufficient cooking time: If the potatoes are not cooked long enough, the inside of the potatoes will not be fully cooked and appear hard.
Insufficient water temperature: When boiling potatoes, the water temperature is not high enough or the heat is insufficient, which can also affect the time it takes for the potatoes to be cooked.
Old potatoes: If the potatoes have been stored for a longer period of time or have an older texture, they may take longer to cook, so it is advisable to use fresh potatoes.
With the right steps and precautions, you can ensure the time and texture of the potatoes being cooked. Remember to choose varieties that are suitable for cooking, keeping potatoes evenly sized and allowing plenty of cooking time are key.