Do you put your potatos into already boiling water, or do you put them in cold water and let it all heat up together?

[AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump]

I need to know.

cold

Cold.

Matted minge you need a good brush, or shave!!....good name though, am impressed, as I have little imagination when it comes to names

Have always done cold for root veg, although when I'm steaming carrots etc they go on top of the water that is already boiling and cooking the potatoes so I don't really follow that rule other than for potatoes!

If you dice them too small for boiling prior to mashing they are too waterlogged and don't make good mash.

no, thats because you're over cooking them...

new potatoes = into boiling water
old potatoes = into cold water

What Babbit said. If it grows underground, cold water. I'm sure I used to know a helpful poem about it.

Sort of related question
Do you use cold milk and butter for mashing or heat it first?

I always heat the milk first, then add the butter after mashing. Was reading an article about a cookery course and the teacher recommended two parts mash to one part butter. Can you imagine how delicious that wld be...

I rarely add milk, just butter and seasoning. Milk only if it seems to be dry.

i think i heard that if you cook pototes from cold water they stay in one piece better, hot = mushy. so maybe it doesn't matter for mash.

Boiled water to cook, cold butter and milk to mash. Am very impatient.

And they taste gorgeous even if they've been cooked the wrong way!

I heard cold for old potatoes but hot for new potatoes.

Cold water...cold butter but hot milk to mash

If the potatoes have been in the fridge or very cold garage I cut them into reasonable sized chunks and put them in cold water after peeling and let them get to the same temperature as the water for half an hour. Then I startt to heat them from cold with salt in.

Otherwise they may be soft and mushy on the outside with rock kard bits in the middle if the middle of the spud is icy cold.

Ladies ladies - do you not listen to Delia?!?!

Everything that grows under the ground, ie potatoes, carrots etc, should be boiled in water that is cold.

Everything else that grows above the ground, like peas, should go straight into boiling water.

auntyspan - quite right.

A spud needs to be cooked right through not mushy on the outside and raw in the middle.

boil water in kettle

I thought Delia said at one point to put pots into boiling water...never mind, I've tried both and it matters not IMO.

re mashing - try adding butter, garlic and little cream - unless you are on a diet and then reduce your carbs

re carrots - mine like them sliced thin and slowly cooked in butter and drop of water - unless you are on a diet etc bl*y etc double

saves ££ by using kettle

cold with a little salt, then drain, and put in oven (if roasting) in a very hot oil.

"If the potatoes have been in the fridge or very cold garage I cut them into reasonable sized chunks and put them in cold water after peeling and let them get to the same temperature as the water for half an hour. Then I startt to heat them from cold with salt in. "

Blimey you people are barkingmad - do you have nothing better to do with tyour time.

It makes no difference.

Let me say that again... It maksno differnce. IT MAKES NO DIFFEARENCE!

I am not beset by problmes with mushy outsided and crunchy inner'd potatoes!

i think delia says put in boiling water, if you are going to mash them.

if not, then into cold water...

and boiling water for new pots. and boiling water also for par boiling prior to roasting.

what aunty span says, but i didnt listen to delia

this is a long thread about potatoes isnt it?