Potatoes are a pantry staple in kitchens around the world. Many cultures have traditional dishes that use potatoes as the foundation, serving as a canvas for all the other textures and flavors of the dish.
There are many ways to prepare this starchy root vegetable, but boiling seems to be one of the most popular methods. The most important part of this method is knowing how long to boil potatoes to ensure they’re completely cooked.
There are a lot of questions when it comes to boiling potatoes. How long do you boil potatoes to make potato salad? How long does it take to boil whole potatoes? How long does it take to boil small potatoes? How long does it take to boil big potatoes? How long does it take to boil potatoes and carrots? Read through this compiled list to learn how long to boil potatoes for all your cooking needs.
- How to Boil Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes by Type
- How Long to Boil Salt Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Marble Potatoes
- How Long to Boil White Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Fingerling Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Yellow Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes by Method
- How Long to Boil Potatoes in an Instant Pot
- How Long to Boil Potatoes on the Stove
- How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Baking
- How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Roasting
- How Long to Par Boil Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Frying
- How Long to Boil Potatoes by Size
- How Long to Boil Whole White Potatoes
- How Long Does it Take to Boil Big Potatoes
- How Long Does it Take to Boil Diced Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Petite Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Cut-up Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Sliced Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Peeled Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Mini Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Little Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Whole Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Diced Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Chopped Potatoes
- How Long to Boil New Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Small Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes by Weight
- How Long to Boil Five Pounds of Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Eight Pounds of Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes by Dish
- How Long to Boil Potatoes for Soup
- How Long to Boil Baked Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Carrots and Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Crawfish
- How Long to Boil Potatoes for Salad
- How Long to Boil Potatoes in Crawfish Boil
- How Long to Boil Potatoes for Raclette
- How Long to Boil Cabbage and Potatoes
- How Long to Boil Potatoes for Home Fries
- How Long to Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad
- How Long to Boil Whole Potatoes for Potato Salad
- How Long to Boil Cut Potatoes for Potato Salad
- How Long to Boil Little Potatoes for Potato Salad
How to Boil Potatoes
- Add 4-8 cups of salted water to a stock pot.
- Add potatoes to the cold water.
- Cook potatoes over medium-high heat until the water is boiling.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and let simmer for the recommended amount of time.
- Check tenderness of the potatoes by piercing them with a fork. If they’re easily pierced all the way through, strain them into a colander to allow the excess water to drain.
How Long to Boil Potatoes
How long do potatoes take to boil? The amount of time you’ll need to boil your potatoes depends on a variety of factors, including:
- The size of the potatoes and whether or not they’re whole or cut
- The weight or number of potatoes
- The type of potatoes you’re boiling
- The intended use of the potatoes once you’ve boiled them
So, how long does it take to boil potatoes? Keep reading for a breakdown of how long to boil your potatoes in each scenario.
How Long to Boil Potatoes by Type
Check out this section to determine how long you need to boil potatoes based on the variety of potato you wish to use.
How Long to Boil Salt Potatoes
Boil salted potatoes for 10 minutes, lower the heat and allow them to simmer for 20-25 minutes.
How Long to Boil Marble Potatoes
Boil marble potatoes for 10 minutes until they’re done.
How Long to Boil White Potatoes
White potatoes should be boiled for 20-25 minutes if they’re whole. If they aren’t whole, follow the instructions on the below table for boiling potatoes by size.
How Long to Boil Fingerling Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes are longer and have a smaller diameter than other types of potatoes, but they still take a while to cook. Boil fingerling potatoes for 25-30 minutes until they are tender and easy to pierce with a fork.
How Long to Boil Yellow Potatoes
Yellow potatoes come in different sizes, but you should aim to boil them like Yukon gold potatoes – an average of 15-20 minutes.
| Type of Potato | How Long to Boil (in minutes) |
| Salt Potatoes | 10 (plus 20 minutes of simmering) |
| Marble Potatoes | 10 minutes |
| White Potatoes | 20-25 minutes |
| Fingerling Potatoes | 25-30 minutes |
| Yellow Potatoes | 15-20 minutes |
How Long to Boil Potatoes by Method
Read here to find out how long to cook boiled potatoes based on your preferred method of cooking.
How Long to Boil Potatoes in an Instant Pot
To boil potatoes in an instant pot, add the trivet attachment inside the pot with one cup of water, placing clean potatoes on top. Then, set the instant pot to the steam function on high for ten minutes, allowing the steam to release naturally once it’s finished actively cooking.
How Long to Boil Potatoes on the Stove
Boil potatoes on the stove for between 20-25 minutes or until they’re tender all the way through. You may have to add or subtract time depending on how large or small the potatoes are as well as whether or not they’re whole.
How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Baking
If you want to boil your potatoes before baking them, you should boil them for 10 minutes.
How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Roasting
Baking and roasting essentially mean the same thing, so follow the same steps. Boil potatoes for 10 minutes before roasting them.
How Long to Par Boil Potatoes
It takes an average of 10 minutes to par boil potatoes. Add extra time for larger potatoes and shorten the time for smaller ones.
How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Frying
If you’re frying potatoes, you should first boil them for 15 minutes.
| Method of Cooking | How Long to Boil Potatoes |
| Instant Pot | 10 minutes |
| Stovetop | 20-25 minutes |
| Baking | 10 minutes |
| Roasting | 10 minutes |
| Par Boiling | 10 minutes |
| Frying | 15 minutes |
How Long to Boil Potatoes by Size
How long do potatoes take to boil? Find the answer here based on the size of potato you’re using.
How Long to Boil Whole White Potatoes
Whole white potatoes, like russet potatoes, should boil for 20-25 minutes.
How Long Does it Take to Boil Big Potatoes
Potatoes on the larger side should be boiled for anywhere from 20-30 minutes, depending on how large they are.
How Long Does it Take to Boil Diced Potatoes
If you dice potatoes before boiling them, they should be ready after 10-15 minutes of boiling time. If you dice your potatoes uniformly, they should all be cooked to the same degree, so make sure your dicing is neat.
How Long to Boil Petite Potatoes
Petite potatoes should be boiled for 10-12 minutes or until tender all the way through. Make sure they are done before removing them from the pot.
How Long to Boil Cut-up Potatoes
Cut-up potatoes should be boiled for 10-15 minutes, depending on how large the pieces are. Standard one-inch cubes should be boiled for 10 minutes, larger pieces will need closer to 15 minutes.
How Long to Boil Sliced Potatoes
How long you boil sliced potatoes depends on how thickly they are sliced. You can boil sliced potatoes for 5-10 minutes, checking for tenderness when the timer ends.
How Long to Boil Peeled Potatoes
Peeled potatoes should be boiled for 10-25 minutes, depending on how large they are. Smaller potatoes can be boiled for a shorter amount of time.
How Long to Boil Mini Potatoes
Boil mini potatoes for 10-12 minutes until they’re done. You’ll know they’re done when you can pierce through them with a fork. Be careful when handling them, as they will be hot.
How Long to Boil Little Potatoes
Little potatoes don’t take long to cook compared to their larger counterparts. Boil little potatoes for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.
How Long to Boil Whole Potatoes
When boiling whole potatoes, the length of time varies, but you should aim to boil them for an average of 20-25 minutes.
How Long to Boil Diced Potatoes
Diced potatoes should be boiled for 10-15 minutes until all the pieces are uniformly cooked.
How Long to Boil Chopped Potatoes
Roughly chopped potatoes can be boiled for 15-20 minutes. If the pieces are larger, add time to make sure they’re thoroughly done.
How Long to Boil New Potatoes
New potatoes don’t take any longer than other potatoes (though you should always use fresh potatoes). If they’re smaller, boil them for 10-12 minutes; if they’re larger, boil for 20-25 minutes. Always check to make sure your potatoes haven’t turned green or started sprouting prior to cooking.
How Long to Boil Small Potatoes
Small potatoes should be boiled for 10-15 minutes.
| Size of Potato | How Long to Boil (in minutes) |
| Whole | 20-25 minutes |
| Big | 25 minutes |
| Small | 10-15 minutes |
| Little | 12-15 minutes |
| Mini | 10-12 minutes |
| Petite | 10-12 minutes |
| Cut-up | 10-15 minutes |
| Chopped | 15-20 minutes |
| Diced | 10-15 minutes |
| Sliced | 5-10 minutes |
| Peeled | 10-25 minutes |
How Long to Boil Potatoes by Weight
How long it takes to boil potatoes can also be determined by the overall weight of the potatoes. Find out how long it takes to boil potatoes by weight here.
How Long to Boil Five Pounds of Potatoes
To fully cook five pounds of whole potatoes, you’ll need to boil them for 20 minutes. If they’re cut up, they should only take 10-15 minutes.
How Long to Boil Eight Pounds of Potatoes
To boil eight pounds of potatoes, set a timer for up to 25. Always check to be sure they’re completely done before consuming.
| Potatoes (weight) | How Long to Boil (in minutes) |
| Five Pounds (whole) | 20 minutes |
| Eight Pounds | 20-25 minutes |
How Long to Boil Potatoes by Dish
How long to boil potatoes also depends on the dish you’re using them for. Check out how long it takes to boil potatoes for use in each dish listed below.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Soup
If you’re using your potatoes in soup, boil them for 10-20 minutes prior to adding them to the soup, depending on how large the potatoes are and whether or not they will get additional time to simmer while the soup is cooking.
How Long to Boil Baked Potatoes
Before baking potatoes, you can boil them for 10 minutes to make sure the centers get nice and soft to contrast with the crispy skins. You can boil them longer for softer insides, but if you boil them too long, they will fall apart before you can get them into the oven.
How Long to Boil Carrots and Potatoes
If you’re boiling potatoes with carrots, cut them up first and then boil the pair of vegetables together for 15 minutes until they’re both fully cooked.
How Long to Boil Potatoes Before Crawfish
For dishes like crawfish boils, add the potatoes first and boil them for 15 minutes while you prepare the crawfish. They will continue to cook once you introduce the crawfish to the pot.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Salad
If you’re making salad, boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes until they are soft and easy to pierce with a fork. Once fully boiled, cut them up and add them to the salad with the rest of the toppings.
How Long to Boil Potatoes in Crawfish Boil
Potatoes should get a head start in a crawfish boil for 15 minutes before the crawfish are added.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Raclette
Raclette potatoes should be boiled for 10 minutes with a generous amount of salt before being drained and added to the raclette recipe.
How Long to Boil Cabbage and Potatoes
If you’re boiling potatoes with cabbage, boil the two together for 15-20 minutes until they’re both cooked well.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Home Fries
For home fries, boil the potatoes for 10 minutes before removing them from the boiling water, drying them thoroughly, cutting them up and preparing them for the fryer.
How Long to Boil Potatoes for Potato Salad
Potato salad can be made with potatoes that have been boiled from 12-25 minutes, depending on how large the potatoes are and if they’ve been cut up or not.
How Long to Boil Whole Potatoes for Potato Salad
If you’re using whole potatoes, boil them for 20-25 minutes to prepare them for potato salad.
How Long to Boil Cut Potatoes for Potato Salad
Boil cut potatoes for 10-15 minutes. Make sure to monitor them closely so they don’t get over-cooked.
How Long to Boil Little Potatoes for Potato Salad
If you’re using whole little potatoes in your potato salad, boil them for 12-15 minutes until they’re ready.
| Dish | How Long to Boil Potatoes |
| Soup | 10-20 minutes |
| Baked Potatoes | 10 minutes |
| Carrots and Potatoes | 15 minutes |
| Crawfish Boil | 15 minutes |
| Salad | 15-20 minutes |
| Raclette | 10 minutes |
| Cabbage and Potatoes | 15-20 minutes |
| Home Fries | 10 minutes |
| Potato Salad (whole potatoes) | 20-25 minutes |
| Potato Salad (cut potatoes) | 10-15 minutes |
| Potato Salad (little potatoes) | 12-15 minutes |
