Instructions

1. Fill a large pot with enough water to easily cover all the potatoes (but do not put the potatoes in the pot yet), then add a pinch of salt. Put the pot on the stove over high heat to bring the water to a boil.

2. Cut large potatoes into chunks or quarters while waiting for the water to boil if you wish to parboil them more quickly. You can parboil them whole if you prefer, but it will take longer. You can cut small potatoes into pieces, too, but this is not as important as with large potatoes, as the small ones will naturally cook more quickly even when whole.

3. Put the potatoes or potato chunks into the pot once the water has come to a rolling boil. Start timing the potatoes. Unless your recipe dictates otherwise, boil the potatoes for approximately five to six minutes for small potatoes or potato chunks, and up to seven minutes for larger potatoes.

4. Drain the potatoes or potato chunks in a colander as soon as the time is up. If you will not be cooking with them immediately, plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Your potatoes or potato chunks are now parboiled and ready for the next step in your recipe.