Potatoes are among the most versatile vegetables that people can use while cooking. They can be used in any form to make a variety of dishes.
The versatility is not just limited to usage, but the cooking process too, as one can literally cook potato in any way.
Be it roasting, frying, steaming, baking, or even boiling, one can do anything with this humble ingredient.
However, one must understand that every cooking process leaves a mark on the texture as well as the flavor of potatoes.
Today, we will talk about the boiling process of potatoes and why is it important to add vinegar to them. Take a look…
The types of potatoes
Before we proceed with this information, there is one thing to understand about potatoes and that is- the ‘starch’. There are two types of potatoes one can find in the market – high starch and low starch. The potatoes that have a high starch content are best suited when you want to mash them or make a creamy dish like maybe a soup. But, the other variety with low starch content is the one that can withstand boiling and is suited for curries and salads.
Why vinegar is added to boiling potatoes?
This hack has been suggested by several home cooks and chefs and the reason behind it is that vinegar can help the potatoes retain their shape. Vinegar causes the potatoes to form a thin crust that further helps in retaining their shape. Vinegar increases the acid pH levels of water which further helps the potato just like when you add a little salt to the water while boiling eggs.
Which vinegar to use?
There is no hard and fast rule as to which vinegar should be used for boiling potatoes. From regular white vinegar to red wine vinegar and even apple cider vinegar, one can add any of these while boiling potatoes.
How much vinegar to use?
Ideally, one should add a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the 1/2 kg of potatoes along with 1 tbsp salt and enough water to boil them well for 2-3 whistles in a pressure cooker. If boiling in a saucepan, one must boil the potatoes for 20-25 minutes on medium flame or until they are tender.
