Do you cut potatoes before boiling for potato salad?

It depends on the type of potato and your desired outcome:

Cut potatoes:

* Faster cooking time: Cutting potatoes into smaller pieces allows them to cook faster, which is useful if you're short on time.

* More even cooking: Smaller pieces cook more evenly, reducing the chance of some pieces being undercooked while others are overcooked.

* Easier to incorporate into the salad: Smaller pieces blend better with the other ingredients, creating a more cohesive salad.

Whole potatoes:

* Easier cleanup: You only have to wash a few potatoes instead of many pieces.

* Better for larger salads: If you're making a big batch of potato salad, boiling whole potatoes can be more efficient.

* More rustic texture: Whole boiled potatoes have a slightly firmer texture than cut potatoes.

General advice:

* Red potatoes: These hold their shape well when boiled whole, so they're often used in salads without cutting.

* Yukon Gold potatoes: These are usually cut into cubes or wedges before boiling for potato salad.

* Russet potatoes: These are best cut into chunks before boiling to ensure they cook evenly.

Ultimately, it's up to you! You can experiment and find what works best for your taste and preferences.