Potatoes are a flexible and beloved staple in India and plenty of cuisines all over the world, from crispy fries and mashed potatoes to aloo rasedar, aloo matar and extra. However, one widespread subject when cooking potatoes is the time it takes to prepare dinner them totally. If you might be in a rush or just in search of methods to hurry up your meal preparation, there are a number of sensible ideas that will help you prepare dinner potatoes quicker with out compromising on style or texture. Yes, you’ll be able to prepare dinner your potatoes in half the time and put together your meal in minutes. Too good to be true? Try these cooking hacks your self to imagine it.
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Here Are 9 Ways To Cook Potatoes Faster:
1. Cut Potatoes Into Smaller Pieces
One of the simplest and best methods to scale back cooking time is by reducing your potatoes into smaller items. The smaller the items, the quicker they prepare dinner. For instance, as an alternative of boiling complete potatoes, chop them into cubes or wedges. Smaller items have extra floor space, permitting warmth to penetrate quicker, and rushing up the cooking course of.
If you make mashed potatoes, think about chopping them into smaller, even items. This helps them prepare dinner extra evenly and reduces the general boiling time.
2. Use a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot
A strain cooker or Instant Pot can drastically scale back cooking time. These home equipment use excessive strain to prepare dinner meals quicker, and so they work wonders with potatoes. In just some minutes, you’ll be able to prepare dinner potatoes that may in any other case take 20 to Half-hour on the stovetop.
To prepare dinner potatoes in a strain cooker, peel them (if you want) and reduce them into even-sized items. Add a small quantity of water (round 1 cup) and prepare dinner below strain for about 5-7 minutes for diced potatoes or 10-12 minutes for complete potatoes, relying on their measurement. The outcome shall be tender, completely cooked potatoes in a fraction of the time.
3. Microwave Them
The microwave is a superb instrument for rushing up the cooking course of. If you are cooking complete potatoes, merely pierce them with a fork a number of instances to permit steam to flee, then place them on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on excessive for 4-5 minutes per potato, checking for doneness. If wanted, flip the potato midway by cooking.
For smaller items, comparable to diced potatoes, the microwave can prepare dinner them in 3-4 minutes. Just toss them in a microwave-safe bowl, cowl them with a humid paper towel, and prepare dinner on excessive, stirring midway by.
4. Boil in Hot Water, Not Cold
When boiling potatoes, all the time begin with sizzling water as an alternative of chilly. Adding potatoes to chilly water after which heating them up can considerably enhance the cooking time. By beginning with water that is already boiling, the potatoes will start cooking instantly, lowering the time wanted to achieve a gentle, tender texture.
For quicker outcomes, use a kettle to convey water to a boil earlier than including it to the pot. This ensures that the cooking course of begins instantly, serving to your potatoes prepare dinner quicker.
Also Read:7 Heart-Warming Potato Recipes That Are A Must In Winter
Boiling potatoes in sizzling water is healthier.
Photo Credit: iStock
5. Parboil Potatoes Before Roasting or Frying
If you intend to roast or fry your potatoes, parboiling (partially boiling) them first can reduce down the cooking time dramatically. To parboil, merely add peeled and chopped potatoes to a pot of boiling water and prepare dinner for 5-7 minutes, simply till they’re barely tender however not totally cooked.
Once parboiled, drain the potatoes and proceed with roasting or frying. This will considerably velocity up the method, because the potatoes are already partially cooked.
6. Use a Shallow Pan for Roasting
When roasting potatoes, the dimensions and form of the pan you utilize could make an enormous distinction in cooking time. Using a shallow pan permits the potatoes to be unfold out in a single layer, guaranteeing that they prepare dinner evenly and quicker. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this could entice steam and decelerate the roasting course of.
Additionally, be sure the pan is preheated earlier than including the potatoes. The excessive warmth will instantly begin cooking them, rushing up the roasting time.
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7. Cover When Boiling or Steaming
When boiling or steaming potatoes, masking the pot with a lid helps entice the steam, making a higher-pressure surroundings contained in the pot that cooks the potatoes extra rapidly. This reduces cooking time by a number of minutes, particularly when in comparison with cooking with the lid off.
Additionally, be certain that your pot has sufficient water or steam to forestall burning and sticking. A superb rule of thumb is to make use of simply sufficient water to cowl the potatoes, permitting the steam to flow into and prepare dinner them evenly.
8. Choose the Right Potato for the Job
The kind of potato you utilize can influence cooking time. Waxy potatoes, comparable to crimson potatoes or new potatoes, maintain their form higher throughout cooking, making them best for roasting or boiling. Starchy potatoes, like russets, break down extra simply and should prepare dinner quicker when mashed or utilized in soups, however they have a tendency to take longer to prepare dinner when roasted or boiled.
If you are in a rush, think about using new potatoes or small potatoes, as they prepare dinner quicker on account of their measurement and waxy texture.
9. Preheat the Oven for Roasting
If you are roasting potatoes, be sure to preheat the oven. Putting potatoes in a chilly oven will enhance their cooking time. For quicker roasting, preheat your oven to 400 levels F (200 levels C) and place the potatoes in instantly. If they’re reduce into smaller items, they’re going to roast in about 25-Half-hour, but when complete, anticipate nearer to 40 minutes.
Whether you are utilizing a strain cooker, microwave, or just chopping them into smaller items, these methods will assist you whip up potato dishes very quickly, making meal prep smoother and faster. Happy cooking!
