Potato problems

Any thoughts on why all my potatoes just boil away.. Have had trouble with the earlies and now Desiree are doing the same . The potatoes are great to look at and I have loads.might they need to be stored a while prior to use ??

Dave

 

I've heard this somewhere else recently and to be honest I cant recal the answer. As I'm an ex-chef though, I would say they are being overcooked, try boiling them but stopping the process when a knife pierces them but with some resistance, lift the knife from the water the spud should come with it, if the spud drops from the knife within a second or two..its ready. If it is not overcooking then I have no idea what the problem is. Many people have the same trouble with varieties such as King Edwards and state that that variety in particular are rubbish for boiling, yet I have never had a problem as 1 min they are not cooked, next minute they are, next minute they are over. But the knife test gets them perfect every time for me.

How do your desiree fare with other cooking methods?

Steve...

 

try making some chips .... however ....

place the chips in a deep pot with cold sunflower oil, and make sure that the chips are completely covered

put the stove on the highest heat ..... after 5 minutes when the oil is boiling and the potatoes are still hard, mix them once to loosen them

keep the heat on high, and half cover the pot with the lid

boil them in the oil till they turn light brown and cripsy ...

remove in batches, place in a large glass salad bowl and add salt .... they should be cripsy ... serve hot (this is the best way to make chips IMHO)

if not crispy, something is wrong with the potatoes

 

I can only suggest checking them after 10 mins and simmer on a low heat which seems to work for me. It has been suggested to me that they need to be stored for a little while before boiling. And to try steaming which I haven't tried yet..

 

This was on the radio the other day and the suggestion was that they were bakers or roasters rather than boilers.

 

Maybe try steaming them?

 

Thanks for all your replies ..looks like it will be chips or roasts from now on ..

Dave