Ethan Brooks
Breakfast potatoes are a beloved breakfast side due to their delicious combination of crisp exteriors and fluffy interiors. The key to achieving this texture is to boil the potatoes first, and then frying them. The potatoes should be boiled until they are fork-tender, which should take around 3-4 minutes, although some recipes suggest boiling for up to 15 minutes. After boiling, the potatoes should be dried thoroughly before being fried in a skillet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Boiling Time | 3-4 minutes until they start to soften |
| Boiling Method | Place potatoes in a pot of cold, salted water and bring to a boil |
| Boiling Temperature | High heat |
| Boiling Container | Large pot |
| Water Amount | Enough to cover the potatoes completely |
| Potato Type | Red potatoes |
| Potato Size | Small, bite-sized cubes |
| Potato Preparation | Peel the potatoes, boil, dry, and cut into cubes |
| Potato Cooking Time | Until fork-tender |
| Potato Cooking Method | Frying in a skillet |
| Potato Seasonings | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, thyme |
| Potato Serving | Best eaten the same day, but can be stored for up to 4 days |
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What You'll Learn
Boiling potatoes the night before
Step 1: Peeling and Cutting
Start by peeling your potatoes. If you plan to prep the potatoes a day in advance, it's best to leave them whole after peeling and store them in the fridge in cool water. If you need to cut them, do so about 12 hours before cooking, and keep the cut potatoes in cool water until you're ready to boil them.
Step 2: Parboiling
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. You can add a bit of vinegar to the water to prevent the potatoes from falling apart, as it will stop the pectin from disintegrating. Once the water is boiling, carefully add your potatoes. Depending on their size, leave them in the boiling water for about a minute. If you want to preserve them for longer, you can blanch them by shocking them in ice water after boiling, but this might make some varieties of potatoes too dry.
Step 3: Cooling and Refrigerating
After parboiling, drain the potatoes and let them cool to room temperature. Place the cooled potatoes in a container, cover them, and refrigerate them for up to two days. This step is crucial, as cooking the potatoes right after boiling will make them too soft, and they may fall apart.
Step 4: Cooking
On the day of serving, take the potatoes out of the refrigerator and cut them into halves or quarters, depending on their size. Heat some oil in a skillet or oven, and cook the potatoes until they are browned and crispy. If you're making breakfast potatoes, you can add bacon, peppers, onions, salt, pepper, and garlic to the skillet for extra flavour.
Remember, boiling potatoes the night before saves time and helps create a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Enjoy your perfectly cooked potatoes!
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How to cut potatoes before boiling
When preparing potatoes for boiling, it is important to first scrub them with a clean produce brush to remove any dirt, then rinse. You can then choose to peel the potatoes with a vegetable peeler or paring knife, although this is a matter of personal preference, as leaving the peel on can help the potato retain some of the vitamins and nutrients found in the skin.
Once cleaned, you can begin to cut the potatoes. For potatoes that will be boiled on the stove, it is recommended to cut them into quarters or cubes to speed up the cooking time. However, it is important to ensure that all the potato pieces are similar in size so that they finish cooking at the same time. If you are boiling your potatoes in the microwave, cutting them into smaller pieces is preferable as they will cook faster and more evenly.
When cutting potatoes before boiling, it is also important to consider the dish you are preparing. For example, if you are making potato salad, cutting the potatoes into small pieces before boiling will allow them to cook faster and more evenly, resulting in a firmer texture. On the other hand, if you are preparing skillet breakfast potatoes, cutting the potatoes into halves or quarters after boiling and chilling them is recommended to achieve the desired level of browning.
Additionally, if you are preparing a large number of potatoes or need to do your prep work in advance, it is possible to cut and peel the potatoes ahead of time. To prevent discolouration, it is important to submerge the cut potatoes in water and store them in the refrigerator. Peeled and cut potatoes can be stored in this way for up to 24 hours before cooking.
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Boiling temperature and duration
The first step to making breakfast potatoes is boiling the potatoes in water. The water should be in a large pot and should completely cover the potatoes. The boiling temperature will depend on the elevation and atmospheric pressure at your location. At sea level, water boils at 100 °C (212 °F) but decreases by about 1 °C for every 300 meters of elevation.
The potatoes should be boiled whole and not cubed. The boiling duration varies depending on the source. One source suggests boiling the potatoes for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften slightly but are not fully cooked. Another source recommends boiling until they are fork-tender. A third source suggests boiling for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender but still firm.
After boiling, the potatoes should be drained and allowed to cool. They can then be refrigerated until completely cooled through. This step is important because cooking the potatoes right after boiling will cause them to fall apart and be too soft. Boiling the night before and refrigerating saves time in the morning and allows the potatoes to brown better when cooked.
Once the potatoes have cooled, they can be cut into halves or quarters, depending on their size. For small potatoes, cutting them in half may be sufficient. The potatoes are now ready to be cooked and served.
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Frying boiled potatoes
To fry boiled potatoes for breakfast, start by peeling and cutting the potatoes into small, bite-sized cubes. Place the potato cubes in a pot of cold, salted water and bring it to a boil. Boil the potatoes for about 3-4 minutes until they start to soften slightly but are still firm. You don't want them to be fully cooked at this stage. Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Next, heat some cooking oil or bacon grease in a large cast-iron skillet or frying pan over medium heat. You can also use leftover bacon grease for extra flavor. Add diced onions and bell peppers to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften and the onions turn translucent. If you like your onions burnt, you can leave them in the skillet while you add the potatoes.
Now, add the boiled potatoes to the skillet with the peppers and onions. Sprinkle your desired seasonings over the potatoes, such as garlic powder, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir well to ensure each piece is coated in seasoning.
Cook the potatoes without stirring for several minutes until they are browned and crispy. Use a spatula to flip the potatoes over and continue cooking until they reach your desired level of crispness. If you want a more interesting crust, you can sprinkle a bit of flour over the potatoes as they cook.
These fried boiled potatoes go well with a fried egg or Eggs Benedict. They can also be served with bacon and steak.
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Storing boiled potatoes
If you want to store boiled potatoes for longer than a couple of days, you can freeze them. However, freezing can affect the texture of the potatoes, making them mealy or mushy when thawed. If you still want to freeze your boiled potatoes, let them cool completely, then transfer them to airtight containers or freezer bags. Frozen boiled potatoes can be stored for up to 3 months but aim to use them within a month for better quality.
To prevent discolouration, you can store boiled potatoes in water. This can be plain water or water with a splash of white wine vinegar, which helps keep the potatoes looking fresh. However, this is not necessary, and boiled potatoes will stay fresh for a day or two without this step.
When reheating boiled potatoes, you have several options. You can microwave them, but they may lose their crispness. For better results, heat them in a skillet or on a baking sheet in the oven. If you're looking for that crispy texture, it's best to cook the potatoes in a skillet or oven instead of microwaving them.
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Frequently asked questions
Boil the potatoes in water until they are fork-tender. Depending on the size of the potato cubes, this should take 3-4 minutes for slightly softened potatoes, and 15 minutes for tender but firm potatoes.
Peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized cubes. Place the potato cubes in a pot of cold, salted water.
Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel. You can then cook them in a skillet with oil or bacon grease, and add seasonings and other ingredients such as onions, peppers, and garlic.
