How Long to Steam Potatoes? Key Time Tips
Steaming potatoes is my favorite way to eat potatoes. Today, I'll share with you the time required for steaming potatoes!
How Long to Steam Potatoes?
The time required to steam potatoes depends on the size and cutting method of the potatoes, as well as the cooking utensils.
Reference for steaming time:
Whole potatoes (with skin/peeled):
Small to medium-sized potatoes (about the size of a fist): Approximately 25 - 30 minutes
Large potatoes (over 200g): Approximately 35 - 40 minutes
Diced potatoes (2 - 3 cm cubes):
In an ordinary steamer: Approximately 15 - 20 minutes
In a pressure cooker: Approximately 8 - 10 minutes
Sliced potatoes (thin slices or shredded):
In an ordinary steamer: Approximately 10 - 12 minutes
In a pressure cooker: Approximately 5 - 6 minutes
Do You Steam Potatoes With the Lid On or Off?
No matter what steaming method you use, make sure the lid is closed during steaming.
This is a very important step. Closing the lid helps retain moisture, making the steamed potatoes taste softer, waxy, and sweeter.
Secondly, closing the lid can increase the temperature inside the steamer, making the potatoes cook faster.
Do You Poke Holes in Potatoes Before Steaming?
If you are steaming whole potatoes, you can poke a few holes in them.
When potatoes are heated, a large amount of water vapor is generated inside. Without holes, the water vapor will be trapped inside, causing the potatoes to crack or explode, and you may even get burned.
After poking a few holes, the steam can escape smoothly, making the potatoes heat evenly and preventing the potatoes from "exploding" in the steamer.
Secondly, poking holes can make the potatoes cook faster. The holes allow heat to enter the inside of the potatoes more easily, accelerating the transfer of heat, and thus slightly shortening the steaming time.
But if the potatoes are cut into pieces or slices for steaming, there is no need to poke holes because the cut potatoes are already easy to heat, and the water vapor can also be dissipated well.
How Do You Steam Potatoes to Soften Them?
Selecting Potatoes
First of all, choosing the right potato variety is very important. I recommend yellow-centered potatoes, which have a soft and waxy texture.
Preparing the Potatoes
Wash the potatoes thoroughly. You don't have to peel them. Leaving the skin on can reduce nutrient loss. If the potatoes are relatively large, cut them into evenly sized pieces so that the potatoes can be heated more evenly during steaming and cook faster and more thoroughly.
Steaming the Potatoes
Add an appropriate amount of water to the steamer, place the steaming rack, put the prepared potatoes on the steaming plate, and cover the lid. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then turn to medium heat and steam for about 15 - 20 minutes. The specific time needs to be adjusted according to the size of the potato pieces. Small pieces of potatoes may be enough in 15 minutes, while large pieces may take 20 minutes or even longer.
Judging Whether the Potatoes are Cooked:
Gently insert a chopstick or fork into the potato. If it can penetrate easily without resistance, it means the potato is cooked.
Is It Better to Steam or Boil Potatoes?
I recommend steaming potatoes.
Steaming potatoes can better retain the nutrients in the potatoes, such as vitamin C and dietary fiber. Secondly, steamed potatoes have a softer and juicier texture, which is suitable for people who like a soft and waxy texture.However, the disadvantage of steaming potatoes is that the cooking time is relatively long.
The advantage of boiling potatoes is that the cooking time is relatively short, usually between 10 - 20 minutes. However, the disadvantage of boiling potatoes is that water-soluble vitamins and some minerals will be lost in the water, resulting in nutrient loss.
How to Steam Potatoes Without Steamer?
If you don't have a steamer, you can choose to steam potatoes in the microwave. The method is also very simple, as follows:
Wash the potatoes, no need to peel them. Make a few cuts on the surface to prevent them from bursting during heating.
Put the potatoes in a microwave-safe container, add a small amount of water, and cover the lid or plastic wrap (poke a few holes in the plastic wrap for ventilation).
Heat on high power for 3 - 5 minutes. The specific time needs to be adjusted according to the size of the potatoes and the power of the microwave. Flip the potatoes halfway through the heating to make them heat evenly.
After heating is completed, let the potatoes stand in the microwave for 3 - 5 minutes before taking them out. This makes the potatoes more soft and waxy.
