Potatoes - you think that was silly?

[Susiebelle]

I just don't seem to get on with home grown potatoes. I've now tried a number of varieties and they seem to be dry or break up in the water.  I am sure it's all in the cooking but I am stumped as to what I am doing wrong :-\. Last nights offering was Red Duke of York, pots were scraped, left whole, just covered with water and simmered for approx 13mins, why did the skins start to break up and the taste dry on eating?.OH said if these had been purchased they would have been returned :o- has anyone any ideas?

[Susiebelle]

[newbies]

Mine do that too, have you tried leaving them so that the skins toughen up?  I've cut mine down as suggested, as they have blight, but been told to leave them in the ground to toughen for a couple of weeks.
Have  you tried just baking them?  Or slicing, put in stock, and cook in the oven?

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

you're right, they shouldn't break up, maybe it's just all the rain swelling them too much.

Have you tried steaming them? much better than boiling for that sort of thing

[tim]

They're all doing it this year.

[tim]

The Earlies, I mean.

Just did a sample lift of Sarpo Mira & they are perfect. Not overblown like the earlies?

[Rosyred]

My potatoes do that and i've had it with shop brought ones too.

[grawrc]

We had the first of the earlies tonight. I only used the damaged ones. Boiled for about 12 minutes testing constantly since there always seems to be a hairsbreadth between ready and mush. Drained and added butter. They were great. Milva and Lady Christl. The yield has been very disappointing though.