To cook red potatoes for a potato salad, you can follow these steps:
Start by selecting fresh and firm red potatoes. Plan on using about 2 pounds of potatoes for a standard-sized potato salad recipe.
Rinse the potatoes thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the potatoes completely. Add salt to the water for seasoning, if desired.
Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Once the water is boiling, carefully add the whole red potatoes to the pot. Be cautious not to overcrowd the pot to ensure even cooking.
Reduce the heat to medium and let the potatoes cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the size of the potatoes, so it's best to check for doneness by testing with a fork.
While the potatoes are cooking, prepare a large bowl of ice water. This will be used to cool the potatoes quickly after cooking.
Once the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander to remove the hot water.
Immediately transfer the hot potatoes to the bowl of ice water. Let them sit in the ice water for about 5 minutes to cool down and stop the cooking process. This will also help the potatoes retain their shape and prevent them from becoming mushy.
Drain the cooled potatoes and pat them dry gently with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
At this point, the red potatoes are ready to be used in your potato salad recipe. You can slice or dice them according to your preference and combine them with other ingredients like chopped celery, onion, mayonnaise, mustard, and seasonings to make your potato salad.
Remember to adjust the quantities of other ingredients in your potato salad recipe based on the amount of cooked red potatoes you have. Enjoy your homemade potato salad!