How Long to Boil Red Potatoes?

Red potatoes don’t get near enough credit as they deserve. They are just as delicious as regular baking potatoes and can be prepared in similar ways. My favorite way to cook these delicious starches is to boil them! They come out soft and tender every time and I can season them exactly how I want.

If you’re wanting to know how long to boil red potatoes, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re boiling them whole or in chunks or wedges, I got you covered!

So, read on to learn more about the process I use every time I am boiling red potatoes to make them out scrumptious!

So, how long will it take to boil red potatoes?

It will take you approximately 8 to 20 minutes to boil red potatoes, depending on how many you have, whether you boil them whole or in chunks, and whether you like firm or soft red potatoes!

I’ve put together a guide on the boiling times that work for me and now I’m sharing that with you!

• 1 to 2 whole red potatoes– 8 minutes
• 3 to 4 whole red potatoes– 10 minutes
• 5 to 6 whole red potatoes- 12 minutes
• More than 6 red potatoes– 15 minutes
• Chunks of 1 to 2 red potatoes- 6 minutes
• Chunks of 3 to 4 red potatoes- 8 minutes
• Chunks of 5 to 6 red potatoes- 10 minutes
• Chunks of more than 6 red potatoes– 12 minutes

After my red potatoes are finished boiling, I test them but using a fork to pierce the center. The times are designed to provide you with red potatoes that are a medium firm. If you desire softer potatoes, reduce the heat to a medium and simmer for 5 additional minutes until you reach your desired softness. The easier a fork goes through the softer it is.

How to Boil Red Potatoes: A Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Pick the best red potatoes. Your first step begins at the grocery store. I examine all my red potatoes before buying them to make sure they are appropriate for boiling and going to taste amazing! Follow these steps when buying red potatoes:

1. Get them roughly the same size. This helps ensure even cooking!
2. Look for bumps. You want to the skin to be mostly smooth.
3. Look for discoloration or dark spots. This could be a sigh the red potato isn’t ripe yet or has gone bad.

Step 2: Prep the red potatoes for boiling. First, wash them. Take a large bowl and place the red potatoes in it. Scrub any visible dirt off with your hands. Because they come from the ground, there might be quite a bit! Once you have washed them, lay them out on a paper towel and pat the excess water off.

Step 3: (Optional) Cut into 1 to 2 inch chunks. You may prefer to eat the red potatoes whole or cut them into bite size pieces. I typically cut them into chunks, they boil quicker! But it’s optional.

Step 4: If you have haven’t already, pour enough water in a large pot to cover the red potatoes. Put in on high heat, cover with a lid, and wait until it starts boiling. Add a dash of salt to the water.

Step 5: Add in red potatoes. Boiling time will vary depending on how many red potatoes you have and whether you are boiling them whole or in chunks. Here is a quick reference guide you can use!

• 1 to 2 whole red potatoes- 8 minutes
• 3 to 4 whole red potatoes- 10 minutes
• 5 to 6 whole red potatoes- 12 minutes
• More than 6 red potatoes- 15 minutes
• Chunks of 1 to 2 red potatoes- 6 minutes
• Chunks of 3 to 4 red potatoes- 8 minutes
• Chunks of 5 to 6 red potatoes- 10 minutes
• Chunks of more than 6 red potatoes- 12 minutes

Reduce the heat to a medium high for the approximate amount of time based on the above guide!

Step 6: Check softness. Take one of the potatoes out of the water. Use a fork to pierce it to the center. The easier the fork goes through, the softer the red potato will be.

Step 7: If you need additional cook time, reduce the heat to a medium for an additional 5 minutes. My kids prefer their red potatoes on the softer side. Simmer in 5 minute increments until desired softness is reached!

Step 8: Drain. Drain the water from the pot and place the red potatoes in a large bowl.

Step 9: Season as desired. If I’m making them as a side dish, I don’t go crazy with seasoning them. Some salt, pepper, garlic power or herb and garlic seasoning, and some melted butter are all I need to make these red potatoes tasty!

Step 10: Serve and enjoy!

What to Do With Boiled Red Potatoes

What can you do with boiled red potatoes? Lot of things! Here’s a few of my favorite ways to use boiled red potatoes:

• In a crawfish boil
• Make mashed potatoes with the skin on
• Simple side dish with light seasoning (salt pepper, butter)
• In a vegetable soup

Tips to Boil the Best Quality Red Potatoes

• Boil with the skin on. Many of the nutrients and vitamins are found in the skin. It’s perfectly fine to boil the red potato with the skin on, either whole or cut into chunks. It doesn’t matter.
• Don’t skip examining the red potatoes at the grocery store. Always make sure you’re picking out the best looking and ripest red potatoes! Avoid ones with dark spots and uneven color. Ensure the skin is smooth and grab roughly the same sizes. Taking this simple precautionary step can mean the difference between a good and bad dinner!

Wrapping Up

How are you going to prepare your next batch of red potatoes? Do you have a better idea on how long to boil red potatoes? Don’t forget, the boiling times will depend on the quantity of potatoes and how you’re boiling them. But by using this guide, you’ll always know exactly how long to boil them!

Leave me a comment to let me know how it worked for you!