When you boil potatoes, will your cooking time be reduced if the water is vigorously boiling instead of gently

Question

When you boil potatoes, will your cooking time be redued if the water is vigorously boiling instead of gently boiling?

Answer 1

Boiling is boiling. Once the water starts to boil, no matter how fast it is boiling, it will be no hotter than 212 degrees F. The only way you can get it hotter is to put it in a pressure cooker. The increased pressure will cause the water to boil at a higher temperature. Water at a sea level pressure can get no hotter that 212 degrees. if you are up at a higher elevation in the mountains it will boil at a lower temperature, so in Denver your potatoes will take longer to cook in boiling water than in New Orleans.

Answer 2

Whenever I boil potatoes in a vigorously boiling pot of water, the water overflows all over the stove. So after I clean up the mess and add more water, I boil it on medium heat. Maybe they'd cook faster in the furiously boiling water, but a gentle boil is much less messy. Are you saying there are different degrees once the boiling point is reached? I do not know.

Answer 3

I have cooked a lot of potatoes in my life, and using higher heat does not seem to be any faster to me. Not for boiling. It does for frying, though. I don't know the science behind it, but I do know it puts less steam in the house when boiled on low heat, especially with a lid on it, and it uses less gas to cook, and they get done about the same time anyway.

Answer 4

I always start with the water lukewarm from the tap. And bring it to a boil with the potatoes in it.

Answer 5

No water only goes to the boiling point then it evaporates the faster it boils the faster it is evaporating.

Answer 6

yes and also try cutting the potatoes into even sized pieces to assure even cooking. The smaller they are cut the quicker they will cook.

Answer 7

Well, yes. They will cook faster but, it will also make your potatoes sticky, mash grossly, won't drain right, lose nutrition, and have more cleanup. It's not worth it, yuk.

Answer 8

if you are cooking it rapidly then the outside might cook too much and the inside will not cook enough... it is best to gently cook it

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

does not make any difference, but my wife does not believe me either