Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad?

Drop a whole russet into the pot and by the time the outside has cooked through, the inside will still be raw. 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.

Why don't you peel potatoes for potato salad?

There's no reason at all , so my advice is to leave the skins on. The skin on a potato adds a nice texture and flavor to the potato salad and it's also the healthiest part.

How to keep potatoes from falling apart when making potato salad?

Texture: Allowing the potatoes to cool helps them firm up slightly, preventing them from becoming too mushy or breaking apart when you mix them with other ingredients. Flavor Absorption: As the potatoes cool, they have the opportunity to absorb some of the flavors from the dressing or other ingredients in the salad.

Should you rinse potatoes in cold water after boiling for potato salad?

Rinsing washes off some of the starch from the potatoes so that the potato chunks are more defined and easily coated with the dressing. Rinsing the potatoes in cold water also stops the cooking process so you know exactly what texture your potatoes will be and won't risk over-cooking .

What herbs are in potato salad Ina Garten?

Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl and pour enough dressing over them to moisten. (As the salad sits, you may need to add more dressing.) Add the onion, tarragon and parsley , and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.

Does potato salad contain vinegar?

All you need is four ingredients for this simple potato salad recipe: scallions, mayonnaise, white-wine vinegar , and Yukon gold potatoes.

Why does my potato salad taste bland?

If it's a potato salad, be sure to let the potatoes cool (the starch cells close up) before adding any dressing or salad mixture . Warm potatoes will soak up the liquids. Taste an hour after mixing and see if the spices need tweaking. Mashed potatoes do the same thing if you add in the garlic or cheddar cheese too soon.

Which type of potato is best for potato salad?

To keep your salad from falling apart into mush, it's important to use the best potatoes for potato salad. Skip the russet potatoes and use a waxy variety instead, like Yukon gold, red potatoes or fingerlings .

Our Best Potato Salad Recipes (2024)

The popular star dish shines in our variety of potato salad recipes, thanks to grilling, roasting, vegetables, cheeses, and herbs. Try Michael Anthony's Saffron Fingerling Potato Salad with Mixed Greens and Tomato or Marcus Samuelsson's Roasted Sweet Potato and Okra Salad. Your next best potato salad recipe is among these flavorful renditions.

01of 18

Grilled Potato Salad with Mustard Seeds

Chicago chef Stephanie Izard grills sliced potatoes in butter to give them an amazing crust, then dresses them with a supertangy mustard seed vinaigrette, fresh scallions, and celery.

Get the Recipe

02of 18

Potato-and-Radicchio Salad with Montasio Cheese

Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson uses Montasio, a mild Italian cow-milk cheese, for this smart, simple, rustic salad.

Get the Recipe

03of 18

Potato Salad with Bacon and Barbecue Sauce

The mayonnaise dressing for this potato salad gets pungency from mustard oil (store-bought spicy mustard works fine, too) and a hit of smoky-sweet flavor from bacon and bottled barbecue sauce.

Get the Recipe

04of 18

Potato Salad with Green Beans and Salsa Verde

A terrific salsa verde makes this velvety potato salad extraordinary. Here the salsa is made with parsley and chives; try making it with other summer herbs, like tarragon or basil, as well.

Get the Recipe

05of 18

Warm Potato Salad with Arugula

Paul Virant puts a spin on the classic summer side dish by tossing warm potatoes with a mustardy vinaigrette and handfuls of arugula.

Get the Recipe

06of 18

Creamy Cucumber and Grilled Potato Salad

"When I was a kid, my mom would marinate cucumbers, red onions and canned potatoes in jarred creamy Italian dressing," says Jamie Bissonnette. "I'm not saying she was a great cook, but creamy Italian dressing is still my favorite. I make a version of it for this salad."

Get the Recipe

07of 18

Warm Potato Salad with Pancetta and Brown Butter Dressing

Gabriel Rucker uses nutty brown butter instead of oil in a warm vinaigrette for a summer vegetable salad. For a quick take on his recipe, Grace Parisi whisks brown butter into a tangy, mustardy dressing for creamy fingerling potatoes.

Get the Recipe

08of 18

Saffron Fingerling Potato Salad with Mixed Greens and Tomato

A 2002 F&W Best New Chef, Michael Anthony includes just a few coins of tender, saffron-flavored fingerling potatoes in his 50-ingredient warm vegetable salad. Grace Parisi reimagines those fingerlings for this light, fresh take on a potato salad, tossed with fennel, tomatoes, and plenty of greens.

Get the Recipe

09of 18

Potato Salad with Champagne Vinegar

The bright acidic note of vinegar balances the buttery potatoes in Wolfgang Ban's recipe.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Sweet Potato and Okra Salad

Marcus Samuelsson drew on African staples like yams and okra to create this completely original recipe of roasted sweet potatoes tossed with red potatoes, wilted spinach, and sautéed okra. Toasted mustard seeds and a caper vinaigrette give this delicious salad a nutty, tangy flavor.

Get the Recipe

11of 18

Tzatziki Potato Salad

Tzatziki is a traditional Greek appetizer (or meze) made with yogurt and cucumbers. Here, Grace Parisi uses it in addition to mayonnaise as the base for her incredibly tasty potato salad tossed with dill, mint, and serrano chile.

Get the Recipe

12of 18

Roasted Leek and Potato Salad

The contrasting flavors of leeks and potatoes render this a simple, yet timelessly delicious, recipe.

Get the Recipe

13of 18

Classic Potato Salad

Baby potatoes have a naturally sweet flavor and creamy texture that's delicious in this classic recipe. Even better, they hold their shape better than cut-up full-size potatoes, and there's no need to peel them. A touch of scallions and parsley make this version especially tasty.

Get the Recipe

14of 18

Potato-and-Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Cauliflower florets are a sly substitute for half of the baby potatoes in this creamy salad. The white-on-white combo gets zingy lift from briny capers, mustard and freshly grated horseradish.

Get the Recipe

15of 18

Classic Potato Salad with Crunchy Trout Roe

This potato salad gets its creamy texture from olive oil and eggs, and tons of flavor from the inclusion of tuna and salty trout roe.

Get the Recipe

16of 18

Grilled Potato Salad with Scallion Vinaigrette

Not only are the potatoes in this easy summer salad grilled, but the scallions in the tangy, spicy dressing are grilled, too.

Get the Recipe

17of 18

Ham-and-Potato Salad

In his elevated version of potato salad, star chef José Andrés combines fingerling potatoes, smoky ham, and cucumbers in a whipped deviled egg dressing.

Get the Recipe

18of 18

Roasted Corn & Potato Salad

This no-fuss salad mixes roasted corn with potatoes in a creamy, slightly spicy dressing for a distinctive and flavorful combination.

Get the Recipe

Our Best Potato Salad Recipes (2024)

Grilled Potato Salad with Mustard Seeds

Potato-and-Radicchio Salad with Montasio Cheese

Potato Salad with Bacon and Barbecue Sauce

Potato Salad with Green Beans and Salsa Verde

Warm Potato Salad with Arugula

Creamy Cucumber and Grilled Potato Salad

Warm Potato Salad with Pancetta and Brown Butter Dressing

Saffron Fingerling Potato Salad with Mixed Greens and Tomato

Potato Salad with Champagne Vinegar

Roasted Sweet Potato and Okra Salad

Tzatziki Potato Salad

Roasted Leek and Potato Salad

Classic Potato Salad

Potato-and-Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Classic Potato Salad with Crunchy Trout Roe

Grilled Potato Salad with Scallion Vinaigrette

Ham-and-Potato Salad

Roasted Corn & Potato Salad

FAQs

Is it better to boil potatoes whole or cut up for potato salad? ›