Forget timers and fancy thermometers—the fork is your best tool here. Gently poke a potato with a fork; if it slides in with zero resistance, like a hot knife through butter, you’re golden.
If the fork meets a little pushback—like a stubborn friend who won’t share the remote—give it another few minutes. The goal is a potato that feels like it could yawn and fall apart lazily.
Pro tip: Don’t test just one potato. Check a few from different spots in the pot, because uneven cooking is a sneaky little trickster.
The Knife Trick (Even Simpler)
If you’re fork-averse, use a paring knife. Slide it into the thickest part of a potato—if it slides out cleanly, with no gritty drag, you’re ready.
Think of it like testing a cake, but way less stressful. No one’s photographing your potatoes for Instagram, right? (Unless you’re that person—no judgment.)
How to Mash Potatoes Perfectly: Step-by-Step Guide
