Has anyone put halved garlic cloves in the water to boil potatoes?

[cindy]

Is this a bad idea or am I just coming late to the party and everyone has been doing this forever?

 

[curious1]

I've done it, but I think roasting the garlic makes for a better final product. Just me.

 

[cynupstateny]

I've done it, too and I agree with Curious!

 

[pat-nocal]

Me three, but another way to do it, if you don't have time to roast a bulb of garlic is to gently

simmer whole garlic cloves in a small saucepan or skillet (make sure the garlic is covered with the oil) until the garlic softens. Takes less time than roasting garlic, and in my opinion, provides a better flavor than adding fresh garlic cloves to the boiling potatoes. And as a bonus, you'll have some garlic-flavored olive oil for other uses, like for pizza, vinaigrettes, sauteeing, etc.

 

[shaun-in-to]

I've been doing it forever ... but I agree other methods are better if you want a depth of flavour.

 

[marilynfl]

Me to the fourth. My MIL would toss raw garlic in her mash potato water and it was always bitter.

Larry and his sister never had it any other way, but my BIL would just moan when he realized MIL made the Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. We learned to "take that job" off her hands.

Now roasted and then added to the potaoes...that's a whole 'nother thing.

 

[elenor]

I saute chopped garlic in the butter I'm going to add to the mashed potatoes in the microwave.

 

[elenor]

Oh, and I like to add a couple of bay leaves to the water when I boil potatoes.

 

[cindy]

I think Pat-NoCal's idea would have been the best way to go,

I didn't have enough time to roast the garlic, but the garlic in the water didn't add much flavor at all.

 

[erininny]

My Czech in-laws always boil potatoes with a small handful of caraway seeds. Not sure what it does..

...as I can never taste the flavor, in the end!