Boiling Baby Potatoes: The Perfect Roast Prep

Boiling baby potatoes before roasting them ensures a soft and creamy texture on the inside and a crispy exterior. The potatoes should be boiled for 8 to 15 minutes, or until just tender, before being drained and coated with olive oil, salt, and pepper. This process, known as parboiling, ensures that the potatoes are cooked evenly throughout and helps to achieve the desired crispiness when roasted.

Boiling time depends on potato size

When preparing baby potatoes for roasting, boiling them first ensures they cook evenly throughout. The boiling time depends on the size of the potatoes. For example, smaller baby potatoes will take around 8-10 minutes to parboil, while larger potatoes will need 10-15 minutes. You will know they are ready when you can easily pierce them with a knife or fork.

Baby potatoes are young potatoes that are harvested at the beginning of the season. They are waxy, sweet, and full of moisture, which makes them creamy. They are also small, with very thin skin, so there is no need to peel them.

After boiling, the potatoes are drained and tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper before being placed on a baking sheet and roasted in a hot oven. This results in a crispy exterior and a creamy interior.

The boiling time for baby potatoes can vary depending on their size, but it is important not to overboil them. They should be just soft enough to pierce easily with a knife or fork. Overboiling can cause them to fall apart, especially if they are smaller potatoes. Therefore, it is crucial to keep an eye on them and test them regularly during the boiling process.

In summary, the boiling time for baby potatoes before roasting depends on their size. Smaller potatoes will take around 8-10 minutes, while larger potatoes may need up to 15 minutes. It is important to test them regularly to ensure they are not overboiled, as this can affect their texture and shape.

Parboiling is key to crispy potatoes

Baby potatoes are a delicious treat, but to get them crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, there's a simple trick: parboiling. Parboiling is the process of partially boiling the potatoes before roasting them. This ensures that the inside of the potatoes is cooked through, so that when you roast them, the outside gets crispy without burning, and the inside doesn't fall apart.

How to Parboil

First, rinse your baby potatoes and place them in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with cold water and bring the water to a boil. Parboil the potatoes for 8 to 12 minutes, just until they are soft. You should be able to easily pierce them with a knife or fork, but they shouldn't be falling apart. Immediately drain the water and let the potatoes cool.

How to Roast

Once your potatoes are parboiled and cooled, it's time to roast them. Preheat your oven to 400-450°F. Cut the potatoes in half and place them in a bowl. Gently toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, making sure they are well coated. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, rosemary, or paprika.

Place the potatoes on a non-stick or parchment-lined baking sheet, cut-side down, and roast for 15 to 30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. And that's it! You'll have delicious, crispy roasted baby potatoes that are perfect as a side dish or appetizer.

Tips for Extra Crispy Potatoes

• Use a high oven temperature to ensure the potatoes get crispy without burning.
• Make sure your potato pieces are evenly sized for even crispiness.
• Use parchment paper when baking to avoid sticking and to preserve that crispy layer.

Use a potato masher to lightly crush potatoes

To use a potato masher to lightly crush potatoes, follow these steps:

First, make sure you have already parboiled your potatoes. This means boiling them until they are just soft, which usually takes around 8-12 minutes depending on their size. Drain the water and let the potatoes cool. Blot them dry with a towel.

Next, place the potatoes back into the pot and add olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover the pot and shake vigorously until the potatoes are well coated with the oil and seasonings.

Now you're ready to smash! Place the potatoes onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and use a potato masher to gently smash them down. You can dab some of the remaining oil from the pot over the tops of the potatoes for some extra flavour.

Finally, roast the potatoes in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-45 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden brown. Enjoy!

Some tips to keep in mind:

• You can use any type of baby potato for this recipe, such as red, gold, or tri-color.
• The amount of time you need to boil the potatoes will depend on their size. Smaller potatoes will take less time, while larger potatoes may take a few minutes longer.
• Be careful not to overwork the starches in the potatoes, as this can make them gummy. A light and gentle touch is best when mashing.
• If you want to avoid lumps in your mashed potatoes, stir in liquids like milk or water in small quantities as you mash.

How to cool potatoes after boiling

There are several ways to cool potatoes after boiling, and the method you choose will depend on how quickly you need to cool them. Here are some options:

Use an Ice Bath

If your recipe calls for cooled potatoes, you can quickly cool boiled potatoes by submerging them in an ice bath. This method is recommended when you need to cool potatoes rapidly, such as when making potato salad or if you plan to mash them.

Run Under Cold Water

Another option for cooling boiled potatoes is to run them under cold water. This method is useful if you don't have space for an ice bath or don't have enough ice on hand. Running the potatoes under cold water will still help to lower their temperature quickly.

Let Them Cool Naturally

If you don't need to use the potatoes immediately, you can simply let them cool down naturally at room temperature. This method is the gentlest on the potatoes and helps to prevent over-cooking, but it will take longer than the other methods mentioned.

Refrigerate Cooked Potatoes

If you have cooked more potatoes than you need for your recipe, you can store them in the refrigerator for later use. Cooked potatoes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days, depending on the variety of potato.

Tips for Boiling Potatoes:

• To prevent over-cooking, check the potatoes after 5 minutes of boiling and continue to monitor them regularly.
• Whole potatoes will take longer to boil than cut-up or cubed potatoes.
• Waxy or all-purpose potatoes are generally the best candidates for boiling as they hold their shape and have a creamy texture when cooked.
• When boiling potatoes, always start with cold water and bring it to a boil, rather than adding potatoes to already boiling water.

How to season potatoes before roasting

Preparation

Before roasting, it is important to prepare the potatoes. Firstly, wash the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch cubes. If you are using small potatoes, you can cut them in half, or if they are tiny, simply poke them with a fork or knife to allow steam to escape. You can peel the potatoes if you like, but this is not necessary, especially if you are using thin-skinned baby potatoes.

Soaking

Soaking the potatoes in cold water before roasting is an optional step, but it will help to remove some of the starch and make the potatoes fluffier inside. Soak the potatoes for 15-20 minutes or up to an hour if you have the time. Be sure to dry the potatoes well after soaking, as this will help them to roast rather than steam.

Seasoning

When it comes to seasoning, you can use dried or fresh herbs, or a combination of both. You can also use any spices you like, depending on what's in your spice cupboard. Here are some seasoning suggestions:

• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Fresh or dried rosemary
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Basil
• Paprika
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Italian seasoning
• Smoked paprika

Toss the potatoes in your chosen seasoning and oil before placing them on a baking sheet and roasting in the oven.

Cooking

Roast the potatoes at a high temperature, around 400F or higher, for 20-35 minutes, or until they are tender and browned. For extra crispy potatoes, consider parboiling them before roasting, which will give the insides a head start on cooking.

Frequently asked questions