Parboil Potatoes

Parboiling is a method of cooking, wherein the food is only partially done. The degree of parboiling depends on the type of food and the specific recipe. As compared to cooking through boiling, parboiling requires a lesser time period, but, it takes longer than blanching or parblanching. Even though, blanching/parblanching are different from parboiling, all these terms are used interchangeably. There are various food recipes, that call for parboiled vegetables. Usually, parboiling is suggested for denser vegetables like potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables.

Parboiling is recommended for vegetables, to be used in canning and freezing, so as to get rid of the enzymes, that cause their deterioration. We all know that some vegetables like potatoes, carrots and cauliflower, take longer time to cook. At the same time, there are vegetables that cooks within a few minutes. There are many recipes, that require both these types of vegetables to be cooked together. If you cook them together, some of them will be half cooked or else, the others will get overcooked. So as to avoid such problems, parboiling of the denser vegetables is recommended, so that, after parboiling, they can be cooked perfectly with other vegetables that take lesser time to cook. The partially done (parboiled) vegetables will get fully done, as the other vegetables get cooked.

The same applies to roasting potatoes in whole. If you roast potatoes without parboiling, either the inner portions will remain uncooked or the outer parts will get burned, as you wait till the core to get done. So, it is always better to parboil potatoes before roasting. Parboiling is also done to remove the skin of vegetables like tomatoes.

Process of Parboiling

Parboiling is defined as partially cooking the food in boiling water. In order to parboil any vegetable, take enough water to immerse the vegetables and bring it to boil. Once the water boils, add the vegetables and cook for a few minutes in boiling water. However, some people, add the prepared vegetables to cold water and boil them together. This method may take a longer cooking time, as compared to the former. The food should only be partially done and not overcooked. You can check it by slightly poking the vegetables with a fork. The outer parts of the vegetables must be soft with cooking. If there are further chances of cooking, even after removing from heat, the recipe may require you to drain them, right away.

How to Parboil Potatoes

You have to prepare the potatoes and immerse them in boiling water. Cook them for around ten minutes. If you take room temperature water, in order to boil the potatoes, then, wait till the water boils and then count the next ten minutes of full boil. How long to parboil potatoes? The time for parboiling is based on the size of the potatoes and the recipe you want to prepare. If you are using large potatoes, it may take ten minutes (if you use boiling water) and fifteen minutes (room temperature water). There are various factors that affect the cooking time in case of parboiling. So, it is always better to check whether the potatoes are done or not with a fork. Once you remove the potatoes from heat, immerse it in cold water to hinder further cooking, or else drain the hot water. If you want to parboil potatoes in microwave, all you have to do is to microwave them on high for around five minutes.

So, you can resort to the above mentioned tips, if your recipe requires parboiled potatoes.