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Home » Potatoes » How to Boil Potatoes (with flavor)

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How to Boil Potatoes (with flavor)

2020-09-12 by Samantha
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

How to boil potatoes is a guide to tender, fluffy and perfectly boiled potatoes – every time. Stove top, microwave, or a pressure cooker, this dependable recipe will take your typical potatoes and give them a huge flavor boost. 

Bright trio coloured boiled potatoes in a white bowl.

This post is in partnership and sponsored by The Little Potato Company as part of their Brand Ambassador Program. My Kitchen Love has been compensated monetarily and with product. We only support brands we love and cook with at home.

Every time I boil potatoes I add a couple of convenient ingredients to give the flavours a big boost. Simple ingredients like salt, garlic, and dried herbs can make a huge difference. 

These additions take tasty potatoes and turns them into flavour bombs with almost zero added time or effort in the kitchen (don’t even bother peeling that garlic!). 

Bright trio coloured boiled potatoes with one cut in half showing a tender fluffy inside.

Boiling potatoes has to be one of the easiest and wholesome side dishes that make an appearance on the table. They take minimal effort and can literally be parked on the stove or in the Instant Pot for a hands off dish. 

Boiled Little Potatoes are an ideal accompaniment for most proteins (chicken! beef! tofu! pork! beans!) and can round out many meals with their comforting flavour and nutrient dense servings. 

Colourful little potatoes spilling out of bag with salt, garlic and a dried bay leaf.

Variations for this easy potato recipe:

  • Use fresh a bay leaf or a sprig of parsley or a sprig of thyme instead.
  • Add a couple of whole black peppercorns for a touch of “spice”.
  • Add sea salt and vinegar to make a version of these Salt and Vinegar Potatoes.

Little potatoes in a sauce pan with flavour boosters, covered in water.

How to boil potatoes on the stove:

Potatoes take very little for a terrific end result. We add our flavour boosters, cover with water and boil for 12-15 minutes until tender. 

The best part of boiling Little Potatoes is that they come pre-washed and do not require peeling as their skin is delicate, tender and edible. Skin on means extra nutrients and a lots of flavour. 

Jewelled coloured little potatoes covered with water in pressure cooker.

How to boil potatoes in a pressure cooker:

Place potatoes in Instant Pot or pressure cooker, cover with water and cook on high pressure for a few minutes (2-3 minutes). Drain and presto – your veggies are ready!

Jewelled coloured little potatoes covered with water in white bowl ready for microwave cooking.

How to boil potatoes in the microwave:

This was a revelation for me. Holidays or events when the stove is packed with other dishes, boiling potatoes in the microwave makes total sense. It takes potatoes, water, and the microwave to get this easy 10 minute potato side dish done – quick!

Bright trio coloured boiled potatoes in a white bowl.

Finishing and garnish options:

  • 2 tsp olive oil, pinch of flaky sea salt, and chopped chives. 
  • 1 tbsp salted butter and 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
  • Used in a Classic Potato Salad.
  • 1-2 tbsp sour cream and 1/2 tsp sweet smoked paprika.
  • 1 tbsp salted butter and 1-2 tbsp chopped fresh dill. 
  • Used in this Healthy Potato Cobb Salad.

Bright trio coloured boiled potatoes in a white bowl with raw potatoes falling out a bag beside it.

5 from 1 vote
Bright trio coloured boiled potatoes with one cut in half showing a tender fluffy inside.
Print
How to Boil Potatoes (with Flavour)
Prep Time
3 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Wholesome and flavourful Boiled Potatoes via the stove top, microwave or Pressure Cooker.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: boiled potatoes, how to boil potatoes, Instant Pot Boiled potatoes, microwave boiled potatoes, pressure cooker boiled potatoes, skin on boiled potatoes, stove top boiled potatoes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 132 kcal
Author: Samantha
Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs Little Potato Company Potatoes*
  • 1 medium dried bay leaf
  • 1 medium garlic clove skin on, left whole
  • 1 tsp salt**
  • cold water to fill pot/bowl
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
Stove Top:
  1. Place potatoes, bay leaf, garlic clove, and salt in a medium to large sized sauce pan. Cover potatoes 2" above with water.

  2. Place sauce pan over high heat and heat to a boil. Boil for 12-15 minutes or until a knife or fork pierces easy into the potatoes.

  3. Drain, discard garlic and by leaf. Enjoy!

Microwave:
  1. Place potatoes, bay leaf, garlic clove, and salt in a large microwave proof bowl or container. Cover potatoes 2" above with water.

  2. Cook at high heat for 10-12 minutes in the microwave.

  3. Drain, discard garlic and by leaf. Enjoy!

Instant Pot:
  1. Place potatoes, bay leaf, garlic clove, and salt in Instant Pot. Cover potatoes 2" above with water.

  2. Cook at high pressure with the SEAL valve closed for 2 minutes with a natural release OR 3 minutes with a quick release.

  3. Drain, discard garlic and by leaf. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

* I used Little Potato Company's Terrific Trio potatoes for their lovely colours and unique flavours. Dynamic Duo or any of the Little Potato Company's potatoes will work well in this recipe. 

** My preference is Sea Salt in this recipe, however, any salt will do. 

Nutrition Facts
How to Boil Potatoes (with Flavour)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 132 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 592mg26%
Potassium 716mg20%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin C 34mg41%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Enjoy! xo

How to Boil Potatoes Short Pin

How to Boil Potatoes Long Pin

 

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Category: Dinner, How To, Instant Pot, Potatoes, Vegetarian, Weekday Dinner

About Samantha

Mom of twins, a singleton, and wife to a hungry husband. The food demands that surround me, have pushed me to lead our food life more simply, nutritiously, and deliciously. It’s a good day when family, friends, and food intersect.

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Thanks for coming by! I'm a mom with 3 young daughters, a wife, and a foodie trying to keep my head above water with simple, delicious, and nutritious food. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you! Read More…

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