How to boil potatoes evenly: start in cold water
Start potatoes in cold water (not boiling) so the outside doesn’t fall apart before the center cooks.
Put potatoes in cold water and then bring them up to temperature. This helps the potatoes cook through more evenly.
The short version
- Cold start helps centers and outsides finish together
What you need
- pot
What goes wrong
Dropping potatoes into boiling water
Start them in cold water and heat gradually.
Why it works
Starting cold lets the potato heat gradually so the exterior doesn’t overcook and break down before the interior is done.
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