To blanch potatoes for cooking, first peel and cut them into evenly sized pieces. Then, place the potatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 3-5 minutes. Remove the potatoes and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain the potatoes and they are ready to be cooked further in your desired recipe.
To blanch potatoes before cooking them, first peel and cut the potatoes into evenly sized pieces. Then, place the potatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 3-5 minutes until they are slightly tender. Remove the potatoes from the boiling water and immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain the potatoes and they are now ready to be cooked using your preferred method.
To blanch potatoes for freezing, first peel and cut them into desired sizes. Then, boil them in water for 3-5 minutes until slightly tender. Next, quickly cool them in ice water to stop the cooking process. Finally, drain and dry the potatoes before freezing them in airtight containers or bags.
Yes. It makes cutting easier. It takes less time to blanch. It allows for finding "bad" spots on or in potatoes.
The recommended cooking temperature for potatoes is 425F.
The recommended temperature for cooking scalloped potatoes is 350F.
The need to blanch potatoes depends on what you are doing with your potatoes. Blanching not only partially cooks the the potatoes, but it also breaks down enzymes within the potatoes that is responsible for their turning black upon standing in the air (oxygen exposure). When roasting or frying potatoes, blanching them first partially cooks them through. When they are then cooked in oil or other fat, the cooking time is reduced, the potatoes are cooked through more evenly, and you minimize the risk of burning the outsides of the potatoes trying to cook them all the way through. Peeled potatoes exposed to oxygen in the air quickly turn brown and eventually black. Blanching potatoes that have had their skins removed breaks down the enzymes responsible for this unsightly color change. This allows potatoes to be stored, whether briefly on the counter top or long term in the freezer.
The recommended cooking temperature for scalloped potatoes is 350F (175C).
Parboil potatoes for about 5-7 minutes before cooking them further.
Yes, you can over boil potatoes when cooking them. This can result in them becoming mushy and losing their texture and flavor. It is important to monitor the cooking time and test the potatoes for doneness to avoid over boiling them.
Microwave baby potatoes for about 5-7 minutes for optimal cooking.
Microwave small potatoes for 5-7 minutes for optimal cooking.
Using a potato steamer for cooking potatoes helps retain more nutrients, preserves the natural flavor and texture of the potatoes, and is a healthier cooking method compared to boiling or frying.