This article was updated on 25th August 2023 for freshness and clarity.
Lika pasta, I always overestimate hoe many potatoes I need, but I hate throwing them away and there’s only so much potato salad I can make. So I decided to experiment with four ways to reheat boiled potatoes to find out which one was best.
The quickest way to reheat boiled potatoes is in the microwave. Cover the potatoes with a damp paper towel and heat in 30 second intervals. If your potatoes are soggy, reheat them in a 350°F (180°C) oven to dry them out.
How I tested reheating boiled potatoes
This experiment was pretty simple. I boiled some potatoes and then left them in the fridge overnight. I used small to medium-sized white potatoes for this experiment, but the results will apply to whatever kind of potato you have.
The next day, I tried four different methods to reheat my boiled potatoes:
- In the oven: Best for drying out sogginess.
- In the microwave: Most convenient.
- By steaming: Great for that ‘just boiled’ taste and texture.
- Using an air fryer: Faster than the oven.
Boiled potato reheating tips
Before reheating, make sure your potatoes are all similar sizes and cut larger potatoes into halves or quarters. The small white potatoes I used were a perfect size and didn’t require cutting.
Reheating boiled potatoes in the oven
Time: 10-15 minutes
Rating: 9/10
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Cut large potatoes into quarters or halves to reduce reheating time and lightly grease the potatoes with butter.
- Place potatoes on a baking tray and optionally cover with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.
- Stick a fork into the largest potato to test the temperature. The potatoes are ready when the metal is warm to the touch.
Basting the potatoes with butter adds a delicious flavor and helps to keep the potatoes moist. You can also sprinkle the potatoes with a little water if you don’t want to use butter.
Using foil is personal preference. If you don’t want any dryness in the potato and prefer more of a ‘steamed’ effect, use foil. But if you don’t mind a little crisp on the skin, skip the foil. Or go with half and half!
Pro tip: if you have anything else to reheat you can chuck this in alongside the potatoes and reheat everything together.
Results: I was really happy with my oven-reheated potatoes. It took a bit longer than the other methods, but the buttery taste of the potatoes was worth it. There’s no limit to how many potatoes you can reheat either.
Reheating boiled potatoes in the microwave
Time: 30-90 seconds
Rating: 8/10
- Place your potatoes on a microwave-safe dish and cut larger potatoes into halves or quarters to reduce heating time.
- Cover the potatoes with a damp paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals until hot.
30-second time intervals may seem short, but this ensures you won’t accidentally overcook the potatoes. And if you don’t have a damp paper towel, you can place a glass of water into the microwave instead. This will have the same effect.
Results: The microwave is great if you’re in a hurry and was the most convenient method. The potatoes came out nice and fluffy, if a little wet. However, if your potatoes were a little mushy before going in, the microwave will make it worse.
Reheating boiled potatoes by steaming
Time: 2-4 minutes
Rating: 8/10
- Set up your steamer with a few inches of water or stock in the bottom and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Cut large potatoes into halves or quarters to reduce the heating time and spread them out in the steamer.
- Close the lid and steam the potatoes for 2-4 minutes. Larger potatoes will take a bit longer.
If you don’t have a steamer, then a pan with a tight-fitting lid and a colander or sieve will work just as well.
Keep in mind that the potatoes are going to take on additional water while they steam, so this won’t be the best method if your potatoes are already overcooked. This is also the reason I suggest stock as an option because the potatoes will take on some of the flavor.
Results: Steaming is a quick method that produced potatoes I couldn’t really tell had been reheated. And I loved the extra savory flavor from the stock.
Reheating boiled potatoes in the air fryer
Time: 4-5 minutes
Rating:
- Set your air fryer to 300°F (150°C) and cut larger potatoes into halves or quarters to speed up the heating.
- Lightly coat the potatoes with butter or oil and spread the potatoes out in the basket to ensure an even airflow.
- Place the basket in the air fryer and heat for 4-5 minutes. Larger potatoes may take a little longer.
Air frying is slightly different to the other reheating methods because it “fries” the potatoes rather than “boils” them. As the heated air melts the butter, the fat gets fried and the outside of the potatoes dry out and crisp up (the effect is more pronounced with skin-on-potaotes).
Results: I loved my air-fried potatoes and thought they had a whole new lease of life! If you want a traditional boiled potato flavor though, this option isn’t for you.
What about frying?
Of course you can always fry the potatoes in a skillet with a bit of butter, but this transforms the potaotes into something not really recognisable as boiled potatoes! Hence why I’ve not included it as a ‘reheating’ method.
What can you do with leftover boiled potatoes?
If you’re stuck for ideas on what to do with your left-over boiled potato, then try some of these:
- Potato salad: Dice your potatoes into small cubes and mix in a bowl with a lashing of mayonnaise and chopped parsley.
- Potato soup: Grab some bacon, onion, and garlic. Sauté them all until soft, and stir in stock, milk, your left-over potatoes, and a spoon of flour. Blend until smooth.
- Potato hash: Dice the potatoes and fry them with onions, peppers, sausage, and eggs.
- Gnocchi: Mix mashed potatoes with flour and egg, shape into gnocchi, and boil until they float. Toss with a sauce of your choice.
How to store boiled potatoes
To store leftover boiled potatoes let them cool to room temperature and then transfer them too an airtight container. Keep them in the fridge for 3-5 days, for longer term storage you can freeze the potatoes.
Related: How To Store Uncooked Cut Sweet Potatoes
Can you freeze boiled potatoes?
Raw potaotes don’t freeze well, but boiled potatoes freeze really well.
Pat the potatoes dry before spreading them out on a parchment-paper lined baking tray. Freeze the potatoes uncovered for 1-2 hours beofre transfering them to a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 12 months.
Freezing the potatoes spearately on a tray first means they won’t stick together once you put them into the freezer bag. Then when it comes to eating the potaotes, you can easily pull out a couple at a time instead of having to thaw the whole bag.
To thaw frozen potatoes, leave them in the fridge overnight. If you plan to add your boiled potatoes to a dish, delay adding them until the dish is almost finished cooking. This way, you will avoid overcooking the potatoes, which will result in an unpleasant, mushy consistency.
How To Reheat Boiled Potatoes [Tested Methods]
Ingredients
- 1 portion boiled potatoes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Cut large potatoes into quarters or halves to reduce reheating time.
- Lightly grease the potatoes with butter.
- Place potatoes on a baking tray and place in the oven.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes.
- Stick a fork into the largest potato to test the temperature.
- Remove the fork and touch the prongs.
- The potatoes are ready when the metal is warm to the touch.
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