How To Cook Potatoes Food

POTATO SKINS

Steps:

• Lightly grease outside of potatoes, cut small slit in top and bake at 425 degrees F for 45 minute or until soft. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out cooked potato, leaving a very thin layer of potato. (Save cooked potato for mashed potatoes or hash browns.)
• Brush outside and inside of skins with melted butter. Sprinkle inside with steak seasoning and Parmesan cheese.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until crisp and bubbly.
• Fill with cheddar cheese and bacon. Bake 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of chives.
• Variation: Twice Baked Potato Fingers Bake 3 large (about 5-inch) potatoes for 1 hour; cool. Cut in half lengthwise, and then lengthwise in half again, making 12 long fingers. Scoop out and proceed as above.

PERFECT SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put 1 3/4 pounds baby potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Add 2 bay leaves, 2 garlic cloves and a big pinch of salt; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, discarding the bay leaves and garlic. Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, transfer to a baking sheet and smash with a spatula or measuring cup. Drizzle with more olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil, turning, until crisp and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

FONDANT POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Cut off ends of russet potatoes, stand potatoes on end, and peel potatoes from top to bottom with a sharp knife to make each potato into a uniform cylinder. Cut each cylinder in half crosswise to make 6 potato cylinders about 2 inches long.
• Place potatoes into a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes to remove starch from outsides; pat dry with paper towels.
• Place a heavy oven-proof skillet (such as a cast iron skillet) over high heat. Pour in vegetable oil; heat oil until it shimmers slightly.
• Place potato cylinders with best-looking ends into the hot oil, lower heat to medium-high, and pan-fry potatoes until well-browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Flip the potatoes onto the opposite ends. As they cook, use a paper towel held with tongs to carefully blot out the oil from the skillet. Add butter and thyme sprigs to skillet.
• Pick up a thyme sprig with tongs and use it to paint butter over the top of the potatoes. Cook until butter foams and foam turns from white to a pale tan color. Season with more salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock into skillet.
• Transfer skillet to preheated oven and cook until potatoes are tender and creamy inside, about 30 minutes. If potatoes aren't tender, add 1/4 cup more stock and let cook 10 more minutes.
• Place potatoes on a serving platter and spoon thyme-scented butter remaining in skillet over potatoes. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Let cool about 5 minutes before serving.

SCALLOPED POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and butter a deep 20 x 30cm baking dish. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat and cook the onion and garlic with a pinch of salt for 8-10 mins until the onion has softened slightly. Tip in the flour, stir well, then cook for a few minutes more. Mix the milk and stock together, then gradually pour this in, whisking well between additions until everything is incorporated and you have a smooth sauce. Simmer for a few minutes, then season well.
• Lay half the sliced potatoes in a single layer in the buttered dish, slightly overlapping them if needed. Pour over half the sauce, then scatter over half the parmesan. Arrange the remaining potatoes on top, then pour over the remaining sauce and scatter with the remaining parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hr, then remove the foil and bake for another 30 mins until golden on top.

FONDANT POTATOES

Steps:

• Slice the ends off the potatoes so they lie flat on either side.
• Heat the oil in a pan over a medium-low heat. When hot, add the potatoes cut-side down. Fry for 5-7 mins, or until deep golden brown, then flip and fry on the other side. Add the butter to the pan to melt.
• Scatter the garlic and herbs around the potatoes and season well. Carefully pour the stock around the veg, being aware of any hot butter that may splash out. Cover and simmer gently for 25-30 mins, or until the potatoes are tender, then serve.

SCALLOPED POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 2-quart casserole with shortening or cooking spray.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Cook onion in butter about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Spread potatoes in casserole. Pour sauce over potatoes. Cut remaining 1 tablespoon butter into small pieces; sprinkle over potatoes.
• Cover; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving (sauce thickens as it stands).

HOW TO FREEZE POTATOES

Steps:

• 1. Choose potatoes with firm flesh, few bruises, and no sprouts.
• 2. Wash the potatoes. Scrub off the dirt and debris with a stiff-bristled brush.
• 3. Peel the potatoes. Use a peeler to remove the potato skin, or if you're working with new potatoes, scrape it off. Rinse the potatoes to prepare them for blanching.
• 4. If the potatoes are large, chop them in half before blanching.
• 5. Don't cut the potatoes into small pieces; it's better to store them whole if possible.
• 6. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. In the meantime, prepare a large bowl with ice water and set it aside.
• 7. Plunge the potatoes into the boiling water. Allow them to blanch for 3 to 5 minutes. This process cleanses the potatoes of organisms and preserves their flavor and color.
• 8.Remove the potatoes from heat and place them in the ice water.
• Transfer the potatoes directly from the pot to the ice water bath using a slotted spoon or tongs.
• 9. Allow them to cool for about ten minutes.
• 10. Drain the potatoes when they are chilled, and pat them dry.
• 11. Place the potatoes in airtight storage bags. You may also use a freezer-safe container.
• Make sure the potatoes aren't wet when you place them in the bags, or ice will form.
• 12. Put enough potatoes in each bag to make a meal for your family. This way you'll be able to defrost exactly as many as you need at once.
• Store the potatoes in the freezer. They will keep for up to a year.

GREEK STYLE POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, mix olive oil, water, garlic, lemon juice, thyme, rosemary, bouillon cubes and pepper.
• Arrange potatoes evenly in the bottom of a medium baking dish. Pour the olive oil mixture over the potatoes. Cover, and bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the preheated oven, turning occasionally, until tender but firm.

CREAMY AU GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter a medium casserole dish.
• Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.

NEW POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in boiling salted water for 20-30 minutes or until tender; drain. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove skins. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and stir the potatoes in butter until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Stir in parsley.