4. Don’t Overcook
Another common mistake that many people make when they are making potato salad is that they tend to overcook the potatoes. You will want to make sure that you cover the potatoes with 2 inches of water and then bring the water to a boil. Once the water has started to boil, you will want to lower the heat and let the water simmer. You should cook the potatoes until they are tender.
The potatoes are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork or a paring knife and the potato does not fall apart. Many people think that the potatoes are not fully cooked until they fall apart when pierced with a fork. However, if you wait for the potatoes to be that softened, they are overcooked and your potato salad is going to suffer as the potatoes will end up more mashed than the diced pieces that you are looking for.