How Long to Boil Baby Potatoes (Perfect Every Time)

Short answer: boil whole baby potatoes for 12–15 minutes in well-salted water, or 8–10 minutes if halved. Start them in cold water, bring to a boil, then start your timer once the water is bubbling. They’re done when a fork or paring knife slides into the center with no resistance. Pull them a couple of minutes early for potato salad, and go a few minutes longer if you’re making smashed potatoes.

We make baby potatoes at least once a week — they’re the side dish our kids never argue about — so we’ve tested these times on every size the grocery store sells. Here’s exactly how long to boil them for every use.

Boiling times by size and use

Start timing when the water reaches a full boil, not when the pot goes on the stove.

Potato / use	Time at a boil	Doneness cue
Whole baby potatoes (1–2 in)	12–15 minutes	Fork slides in easily
Halved baby potatoes	8–10 minutes	Fork slides in easily
Larger “baby” golds (2–2.5 in)	15–18 minutes	Knife meets no resistance
For potato salad	10–12 minutes	Tender but still holds a firm edge
For smashed potatoes	15–17 minutes	Soft enough to flatten without cracking apart

If your bag has mixed sizes, halve the big ones so everything finishes together — it matters more than the exact minute count.

How to boil baby potatoes, step by step

1. Rinse and sort. No peeling needed — the thin skin is the best part. Halve any potatoes noticeably larger than the rest.
2. Start in cold water. Cover the potatoes by about an inch. Potatoes dropped into already-boiling water cook unevenly: mushy outside, firm center.
3. Salt like the sea. About 1 tablespoon of kosher salt per 2 quarts. This is your only chance to season the inside of the potato.
4. Boil, then check early. Bring to a boil, reduce to a strong simmer, and test at the low end of the time range with a fork.
5. Drain and steam-dry. Return the drained potatoes to the warm, empty pot for 2 minutes. This step turns “wet and soggy” into “fluffy and creamy” — don’t skip it.

The doneness test that never fails

Forget the clock for the final call: slide a paring knife into the biggest potato. If it glides in and slips back out without lifting the potato, they’re done. If the potato clings to the blade, give them 2 more minutes. When we tested a batch side by side, the knife test caught doneness a full 3 minutes before the “timer says so” batch — which had already started to split.

Three rules that matter more than the timer

1. Cold-water start. Even cooking from skin to center.
2. Heavy salt. Under-salted boiling water is the number one reason boiled potatoes taste bland no matter what you put on them.
3. Steam-dry after draining. Two minutes back in the warm pot makes them fluffy, not waterlogged — especially important if butter or dressing is going on next.

One more note: altitude adds time. Water boils cooler up high, so at 5,000 feet add 3–4 minutes and start testing early.

What to do with them

Boiled baby potatoes are a blank canvas. Toss them with butter, salt, and chopped parsley for the classic side; smash and crisp them under the broiler with olive oil; or chill them for potato salad. They’re also our go-to starch when we’re feeding a group — a triple batch takes no more effort than a single one. If dinner is coming out of the slow cooker (say, from our slow cooker chicken times guide), boiling the potatoes separately keeps them creamy instead of falling apart in the pot. Cooking the rest of dinner in the microwave? Our microwave corn on the cob method finishes in the same window the potatoes boil.

FAQ

Do you boil baby potatoes with the skin on?

Yes — always. The skin is thin, holds the potato together during boiling, and adds flavor and texture. Just rinse well before cooking; there’s no need to peel baby potatoes.

Should baby potatoes start in cold or boiling water?

Cold water. Starting cold lets the outside and the center come up to temperature together, so the potato cooks evenly. Starting in boiling water overcooks the outside before the middle is tender.

How do you know when baby potatoes are done boiling?

Slide a fork or paring knife into the largest potato. It should go in with no resistance and slide back out cleanly. If the potato grips the blade or lifts with it, boil 2 more minutes and test again.

Can you over-boil baby potatoes?

Yes. Past about 20 minutes the skins split, the potatoes take on water, and they turn to mush when you toss them. If you overshoot, lean into it — drain well, steam-dry, and turn them into smashed or mashed potatoes.