Not starting your potatoes off in cold water

It's now time to start cooking your potatoes on the stove. If you're like most people, you'll put the water in the pot and let it slowly come to a boil before adding the potatoes. But, as it turns out, that's not the best way to go if you want your potatoes to be perfectly cooked. You should not wait for the water to boil, according to Maureen Abood. Instead, drop your potatoes into the cold water and then increase the heat.

Why should you proceed in this manner? If you drop the potatoes directly into boiling water, they will take longer to cook evenly. The potatoes on the outside will cook quickly, while the potatoes in the center will take longer to cook. If you cook the potatoes all the way through, you'll get soggy, mushy bits, which you probably don't want. Simply place a pot of cold water on the stove, add your potatoes, and bring them to a boil. You'd be surprised how much this can change the texture of your potato salad.