How to Steam Potatoes

Mashed, fried, baked - there are plenty of delicious ways to eat potatoes. One of the healthiest methods of preparing potatoes is by steaming them. Not only are steamed spuds better for you, they’re also easy to make and require very little time in the kitchen. Serve them plain or tossed with melted butter.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Steamer Basket

  1. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 1
    1
    Wash the potatoes thoroughly. To do this, simply vigorously scrub the outside of the potatoes with a scrub brush and water to remove any dirt or chemicals.[1]
    • You don’t need to peel the potatoes. In fact, leaving the skins on will help them keep their shape once they soften.
  2. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 2
    2
    Boil 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) of water in a pot with a steamer basket. A metal sieve or colander can be used in place of a steamer basket.[2] Make sure the water is not touching the steamer basket.[3]
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  3. 3
    Place the potatoes in the steamer basket with the largest ones on the bottom. The smaller ones can then go on top.[4] If your potatoes don’t all fit in the steamer basket at once, cook them in batches.
    • You may want to cut the larger potatoes be the equivalent size of the smaller ones. This will help them cook evenly.
  4. 4
    Cover the pot tightly with a lid. This is an incredibly important step - the lid is what traps the moisture in and steams the potatoes.[5] Covering the pot also keeps the temperature inside the pot hotter so that the potatoes can cook faster.
  5. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 5
    5
    Cook the potatoes for about 10-15 minutes on medium heat. Keep in mind that larger potatoes may take longer while smaller potatoes could be done in less time.[6]
    • You’ll know the potatoes are cooked completely when you can easily cut through them with a butter knife.[7]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cooking Potatoes with Aluminum Foil

  1. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 6
    1
    Scrub the potatoes under running water. Use a scrub brush to get rid of dirt or debris on the skins. Don't soak the potatoes as this can actually remove some of their nutrients. [8]
    • There's no need to peel the potatoes.
  2. 2
    Fill a medium pot with 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) of water. You don't need much water, just enough to create moisture when covered with a lid later on. The more water you put in the pot, the longer it will take to boil. A sprinkle of sea salt in the water will add flavor to your potatoes.
  3. 3
    Place 3 balls of aluminum foil in the pot, laying a heat-proof plate on top. Make the balls about the size of a golf ball, or at least big enough that the plate is not in the water. They should all be the same size, too.[9]
    • You can use a small baking rack instead of a plate, if desired.
  4. 4
    Bring the pot of water (with the plate inside) to a boil. You'll know it's ready when the water is bubbling and steam is coming out of the pot.[10] If you notice that a lot of the water has evaporated from boiling, pour more in so it doesn't dry up completely.
  5. 5
    Put your potatoes on the plate and cover the pot with a lid. The lid will make sure moisture can’t escape.[11] Spread the potatoes out evenly around the plate (don't pile them up in the middle) to make sure they all get cooked evenly.
  6. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 11
    6
    Cook the potatoes for 10-15 minutes. Check the potatoes frequently by removing one potato and cutting into it with a knife to see if they are soft.[12] Always cut at the thickest section of the potato because this will be the last part to cook through. [13]
    • Baby potatoes work best for steaming. Larger potatoes can take 20 minutes or more.[14]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Microwaving the Potatoes

  1. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 12
    1
    Clean the potatoes with water and a scrub brush. You don't need to use soap or anything else on your spuds. Simply scrub the outsides and rinse with water in the sink. [15]
    • Leave the skin of the potatoes intact.
  2. 2
    Put the potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl with water. Only put enough water in the bowl to cover about 1/8 of the potatoes. You can microwave the potatoes without water as well but there’s a greater chance they’ll dry out.[16]
  3. 3
    Cover the bowl completely with plastic wrap. You can place a microwave-safe plate over the top of the bowl as an alternative.[17] As long as no moisture can get out, any cover will do.
  4. Image titled Steam Potatoes Step 15
    4
    Cook the potatoes for 5 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the strength of your microwave. The potatoes should be crisp yet easily pierced with a fork when they're done.[18] Check the potatoes every 1-2 minutes so they don’t overcook.
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References

  1. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-potatoes
  2. ↑ http://www.potato101.com/boiling-and-steaming
  3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
  4. ↑ https://glutenfreebaking.com/how-to-steam-potatoes/
  5. ↑ https://glutenfreebaking.com/how-to-steam-potatoes/
  6. ↑ https://glutenfreebaking.com/how-to-steam-potatoes/
  7. ↑ https://glutenfreebaking.com/how-to-steam-potatoes/
  8. ↑ https://www.josephjoseph.com/en-us/blog/steaming-guide
  9. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article
  1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
  2. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article
  3. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article
  4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
  5. ↑ https://glutenfreebaking.com/how-to-steam-potatoes/
  6. ↑ http://startcooking.com/how-to-potatoes
  7. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article
  8. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article
  9. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-steam-without-a-steaming-basket-article

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 73,669 times.
9 votes - 71%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: August 28, 2021
Views: 73,669
Categories: Featured Articles | Potato Dishes | Fruits and Vegetables
Article SummaryX

To steam potatoes using aluminum foil, start by scrubbing the potatoes under running water to rinse off the dirt and debris. Next, use aluminum foil to make 3 golf ball-sized wads. Place these foil balls into a pot with about a half-inch of water at the bottom, and place a heat-proof plate on top of the balls. Bring the pot of water to a boil, then put your potatoes on the plate and cover the pot with a lid. Cook your potatoes for 15 minutes or until they’re soft. To learn how to steam potatoes in the microwave, keep reading!

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