Potato Salad (2024)

FAQs

Should you peel potatoes before boiling for potato salad? ›

Larger potatoes should be cubed to ensure they cook evenly (peeled first if desired). Smaller potatoes tend to have thin skins and can be boiled whole, no peeling required.

In most cases, yes. Rinsing them in cold water cools them so they're a closer temperature to making the potato salad, which you'd want cold. On the other hand, if you're making red potatoes and going to make German potato salad, I'd rinse them in lukewarm water. Th...…

The Vinegar Trick

In his recipe, López-Alt shares his secret for perfectly cooked potatoes every time: Adding vinegar to the water (specifically, 1 tablespoon of vinegar per 1 quart of water) prevents overcooking. This one tip has transformed potato salad for Kristina Razon, the Senior Food Editor at Kitchn.

In general small or cubed potatoes will take about 10 to 15 minutes to boil, while larger, whole potatoes will take between 20 to 25 minutes. To check potatoes for doneness, insert a knife into one. If it slides in without much effort, you're good to go!

Overcooked potatoes might turn your salad into a mash, or a thick, uninteresting salad dressing may leave your salad bland. You may even encounter the dreaded undercooked tuber, ruining an otherwise perfectly good salad.

Potatoes can retain moisture. To prevent this, drain the potatoes very well in a colander or pot. Allow all the steam to escape the potatoes before mixing them with the dressing and other ingredients. Steaming the potatoes instead of boiling them is a good way to ensure that excess moisture isn't trapped inside.

Assuming your potato salad is stored in the refrigerator, the USDA recommends that it be consumed within five days of when it was mad. But keep in mind, five days is intended as the absolute maximum and this rule only applies if the salad was held at a temperature below the danger zone range the entire time.

What Is German Potato Salad? Unlike mayonnaise-based American potato salads, German potato salad is tossed in a vinegar-based dressing made with bacon drippings. It is usually served warm instead of cold, but some people prefer to serve it at room temperature.

Not to be confused with 'new' potatoes (see below), salad potatoes are small and have a dense, waxy texture that helps them hold their shape well when cooked. Usually boiled for potato salads, Anya and Charlotte are two of the tastiest common varieties.

This Amish Potato Salad starts off with a sweet, creamy dressing that gets drizzled over all the potato salad classics – celery, boiled eggs, onions, and sweet pickle relish. This is a great summer side dish and a nice change from the usual. That sweet dressing is a bit different, but oh so good!

What is in store bought potato salad? ›

In addition to potatoes, mayonnaise, celery, pickle relish, onion, and mustard, Publix's recipe also pays respect to Southern grandmas everywhere by including hard-boiled eggs.