How far in advance can I cut my potatoes?

[DebBrown]

Yes... I need cooking advice. I seem to remember that you can cut potatoes and keep them in cold water so that they don't darken. Can I do that for 24 hours? I don't want to spend Christmas morning chopping potatoes and carrots for dinner. If I can get them ready today, it would make me happy.

Deb

 

[wackymother]

Here's advice on that very subject.

http://askville.amazon.com/potatoes-turning-brown-peel/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=5210531

 

[DebBrown]

Thanks! I'm still wondering if it is good for overnight but it seems there is no time limit.

Deb

 

[irish]

i peel and cut the potatoes the night before and put them in a pot with cold water to cover them and leave overnight. never had a problem.

also this is a suggestion i picked up form some cooking website that i have never tried but will in the future.. it says that you can actually mash the potatoes up to 2 hours before the dinner is ready and keep them in a slow cooker on either warm or low setting. like i said i have NOT tried this yet but will in the future.

 

[Emily]

I usually put a plate in the top of the bowl to hold the potatoes under the water or some will float and turn brown.

 

[DeniseM]

I peel and cut mine the night before, cover with water, cover the pot, and refrigerate, and they come out great - no problem with discoloring. I also get them ready an hour or 2 before dinner and keep them warm in a crockpot on low - just stir before serving.

 

[KCI]

has anyone heard of already mashed, ready to eat potatoes? They are marvelous without any of the work!

 

[pjrose]

has anyone heard of already mashed, ready to eat potatoes? They are marvelous without any of the work!

They definitely get my vote!

And if I were going to make homemade ones, I'd make them a day or so before and reheat them in the microwave, perhaps adding a bit of chicken broth or water and some butter and fluffing them with a fork.

 

[Karen G]

I also get them ready an hour or 2 before dinner and keep them warm in a crockpot on low - just stir before serving.

I did this at Thanksgiving and it's a great idea!

 

[bigrick]

Mine are ready to eat but in the crockpot usually 4 hours before serving.

On Thanksgiving, the potatoes are the very first thing I complete once the bird is in the oven. Keeping them in the crockpot saves a lot of effort and timing hassles at serving time. The spuds are ready any time you are.

 

[MuranoJo]

You can actually cook & mash your potatoes the day before, put them in the frig, bring them out to warm to room temp a bit, put them in the crockpot on low for up to 8 hours and they will be great. Be sure to allow enough time for them to warm up before dinner. I'd say several hours in the crockpot, stirring once in a while.

This has been one of the best time-saving secrets I've discovered over the years.

 

[GrayFal]

Thanks for the crock pot tip...I will do that today!

 

[AwayWeGo]

Christmas Spuds.

I just now peeled & eyed 10 lbs. of potatoes, which are now sitting in 2 large pots of cold water waiting for the actual cooking portion of Christmas dinner preparation to begin later on today.

I could have peeled'm last night, but that would have been showing off.

Merry Christmas, everybody.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[AwayWeGo]

Christmas Mashed Potatoes -- Same As Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes.

The Chief Of Staff boiled the bejabbers out of'm, then ran'm through her outstanding Kitchen Aid mixer, adding plenty of hot evaporated milk & softened butter to make'm come out nice & creamy, plus a little salt & pepper to bring out the flavor.

Yum.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[GrayFal]

Mine were in the crock pot for 3 hours before we ate - turned out great.
Thanks for the tip!