Potatoes cook more quickly if you cut them into small pieces?

Yes, potatoes cook more quickly if you cut them into small pieces. Here's why:

* Surface area: Smaller pieces have a larger surface area relative to their volume. This means more of the potato is exposed to the heat, allowing it to cook faster.

* Heat penetration: Heat can penetrate smaller pieces more easily and quickly.

* Even cooking: Smaller pieces are more likely to cook evenly throughout.

Think of it like this: Imagine you have a large block of ice. It takes a long time to melt. If you break the ice into smaller pieces, it will melt much faster because there's more surface area exposed to the warm air. The same principle applies to potatoes!