4 Ways: How to Cut Potatoes

Whole potatoes, peeled potatoes, potato slices, wedges, fries, and cubes.

Learn how to master the art of cutting potatoes into wedges, slices, fries, and cubes so you can skip the overpriced, pre-cut, store-bought options! We’ll guide you through each cutting technique, making it simple and fun to prepare perfectly cut potatoes.

Whole potatoes, skinned potatoes, potato slices, cubes, and wedges.

More than a billion people consume potatoes worldwide, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only are they extremely versatile and used in a wide variety of recipes like cheesy mashed potatoes and crackly smashed potatoes, but potatoes are also extremely nutritious, providing a good source of fiber and vitamin C.

Plus, white potatoes have been shown to provide more satiety than other starchy carbs. For these reasons among others, we eat them pretty much weekly!

And in our years of cooking, we’ve discovered the finest tips and tricks for how to cut potatoes in a snap. No more struggling to create perfectly sliced fries or big chunks. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!

First Things First – How to Clean Potatoes

It’s crucial that you wash potatoes before cutting, cooking, and eating them, even if they’re organic. Otherwise, they’ll taste like dirt!

To do so, rinse them well under cold water, and use a vegetable brush or clean dishcloth to gently scrub away any dirt or debris. Then, just dry them off well, and they’re ready to cut!

A potato being peeled with a vegetable peeler.

How to Cut Potatoes (4 Ways)

There are endless ways to cut potatoes, depending on the recipe being made. So, we’re covering the most common options to help meet all your cooking needs!

Wedges

Place your potato on a cutting board, and slice it in half lengthwise.
Place the cut sides down, and slice in half again lengthwise.
Cut each quarter in half lengthwise once or twice more to create wedges.

Slices

Make slices as thin or thick as you like all the way across the potato either width or lengthwise, depending on the size needed.

Fries

Slice your potato into roughly ½ inch pieces lengthwise.
Then, stack the slices on top of each other, and cut lengthwise again, creating fries as thick or as thin as you’d like.

Cubes

Cut your potato into fries, using the method above.
Then, cut across widthwise, creating equal-sized cubes.

Whole potatoes and cubed potatoes on a cutting board.

Ways to Use Potatoes

There are endless ways to use potatoes of all shapes! However, some of our tastiest recipes that put the spotlight on taters are:

Whole potatoes, peeled potatoes, potato slices, wedges, fries, and cubes on a cutting board.

Common Questions When Learning How to Cut Potatoes

How do you store cut potatoes?

The finest way to store cut potatoes is to submerge them in water in the fridge.

Can you freeze cut potatoes?

No, uncooked potatoes should not be frozen. However, you can blanch them first, flash-freeze them on baking sheets, and transfer them to a freezer-safe container to freeze.

How long can you keep potatoes in water?

Store your potatoes in water in the fridge for up to one day before cooking.

How do you soften potatoes for cutting?

If your potato is super hard, try poking holes in it and microwaving it for a minute or two to soften it up before cutting. Just make sure to allow it to cool off first!

Should I peel potatoes before cutting?

You can, but you don’t have to! Potato skins are extremely nutritious and can provide a nice texture to your cooked potatoes.

More Kitchen Cutting Guides

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 1 serving

Prep: 10 mins
Total: 10 mins

Learn how to cut potatoes into wedges, slices, fries, and cubes, how to store them, and find recipes to put them to use! Email

Ingredients

1 large potato

Instructions

Wash and peel the potato, if desired.1 large potato

Wedges

Place the potato on a cutting board, and slice it in half lengthwise.
Place the cut sides down, and slice in half again lengthwise.
Cut each quarter in half lengthwise once or twice more to create wedges.

Slices

Make slices as thin or thick as desired all the way across the potato either width or lengthwise, depending on the size needed.

Fries

Slice the potato into roughly ½ inch pieces lengthwise.
Stack the slices on top of each other, and cut lengthwise again, creating fries as thick or as thin as desired.