When it comes to cooking potatoes quickly, choosing the right variety is key. Some types of potatoes naturally cook faster than others due to their moisture and starch content. The faster a potato variety cooks, the less time it needs on the stove or in the oven before being tender and ready to eat.
If you’re looking to cut down on cooking time without sacrificing taste or texture, read on as we discuss the fastest cooking potato varieties and provide tips for preparing them.
The Fastest Cooking Potato Varieties
Here are some of the naturally fastest cooking potato varieties:
Red Potatoes
Small, round red potatoes are one of the quickest cooking varieties. They are lower in starch and moisture compared to russet or yellow potatoes, allowing them to cook through in 10-15 minutes. Red potatoes hold their shape well when boiled or roasted and have a slightly waxy, firm texture.
Yellow Potatoes
Yellow-fleshed potatoes like Yukon Gold can cook relatively quickly, in around 15-20 minutes. They have a moderate moisture and starch content. Yellow potatoes become fluffy and tender when cooked but still have some texture. They work well boiled, mashed, roasted or fried.
New Potatoes
New potatoes are freshly dug, small, young potatoes. They have very thin, wispy skins and lower starch levels. This allows them to cook in as little as 10-15 minutes. New fingerling or red potatoes are especially quick cooking. They have a creamy, velvety texture and sweet, delicate flavor.
Petite Potatoes
Miniature potato varieties like baby Dutch yellow, red creamers or purple majesty potatoes take little time to cook since they are small. They can be boiled whole in 15 minutes or less. Their dainty bite size also means they roast or pan fry quickly. The skins become crispy while the insides turn creamy.
Tips for Cooking Fast Potatoes
Beyond choosing a quick cooking potato variety, there are some easy cooking methods and tips that can further reduce potato cooking time:
Cut Potatoes Into Smaller Pieces
Cutting potatoes into smaller, evenly sized pieces increases the surface area and decreases cooking time. For example, diced potatoes will cook faster than quartered potatoes. Stick to 1-2 inch pieces or cubes for fastest roasting or boiling.
Parboil Before Roasting
Parboiling potatoes by boiling for 5-10 minutes before roasting helps them cook faster in the oven. This precooks the insides so less oven time is needed to reach doneness.
Use Higher Heat
Boiling potatoes in salted water instead of just simmering them shaves off cooking time. Setting the oven temperature higher (400-425°F) when roasting also reduces time in the oven.
Steam Instead of Boiling
Steaming potatoes retains more nutrients than boiling. It can also be a faster cooking method for small or diced potatoes, cutting cooking time down to 10-15 minutes.
Cook Sliced Potatoes
Thinly slicing potatoes into rounds reduces the cooking time since there is more surface area exposed to heat. Great for pan frying or roasting faster.
Leave Skins On
Leaving clean potato skins on rather than peeling can reduce cooking time slightly. The skin helps hold the shape and moisture in.
Use a Lid
Cooking potatoes with a tight fitting lid traps in steam and heat, whether boiling, steaming or pan frying. This cooks the potatoes more quickly.
Add Acidic Ingredients
Adding acidic ingredients like lemon, vinegar or tomato can help lower potatoes’ pH and reduce cooking time. Lemon juice is especially helpful for speeding up cooking time for roasted potatoes.
Start Cold Potatoes in Already Boiling Water
Starting potatoes in hot water shaves a few minutes off compared to letting them come to a boil in cold water. The high heat penetrates them quickly.
Don’t Overcook Potatoes
While these tips help decrease cooking times, be careful not to overcook potatoes. Test them before removing from heat. Potatoes should be fork tender but not falling apart. Let them cool slightly to finish cooking without overdoing it.
The Best Potatoes for Quick Cooking
Here is a quick reference table of some of the fastest cooking potato varieties and their approximate cook times:
| Potato Variety | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| Small red potatoes | 10-15 minutes |
| New potatoes | 10-15 minutes |
| Yellow potatoes (Yukon Gold) | 15-20 minutes |
| Purple or red creamer potatoes | 15-20 minutes |
| Petite/baby potatoes | 15 minutes |
| White or russet, diced | 15-20 minutes |
Sample Recipes Using Fast Cooking Potatoes
Here are a few recipe ideas that use quick cooking potato varieties:
Roasted Baby Potato Bites
These crispy, flavorful potato bites are ready in under 30 minutes. Baby potatoes are tossed with oil, garlic and rosemary then roasted at a high heat until browned and tender. Sprinkle with salt and pepper or Parmesan cheese.
Creamy Red Potato Salad
For potato salad in a hurry, opt for petite red potatoes. Boil them whole for 12-15 minutes until just fork tender then toss with a creamy dressing and fresh herbs.
Parsley Pesto Potatoes
A pesto sauce coats sliced yellow potatoes which are then roasted for 20 minutes. The potatoes soak up the bright green parsley pesto flavor and develop a beautiful golden crust while cooking quickly.
Steamed New Potatoes with Lemon-Chive Butter
Buttery lemon chive sauce is the perfect light topping for tender steamed new potatoes. Cook them whole for just 15 minutes then toss with lemon butter.
Skillet Potatoes with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
Diced yellow potatoes are pan fried with bacon and brussels sprouts for a quick skillet dinner. Partially cover to let the potatoes steam and cook faster.
Conlusion
When you need potatoes on the table fast, opt for naturally quick cooking varieties like reds, yellows or new potatoes. Cut them small, use high heat, and employ steaming, parboiling or pan frying for best results. With the right techniques and potato types, you can decrease cooking times substantially without sacrificing taste or texture. In 20 minutes or less you can enjoy delicious, tender potatoes to complement any meal.