What does this mean, anyway? To parboil means to partially cook something in boiling water. Why do this? Parboiling cuts down on the time it takes to grill, roast or saut é your potatoes and it's a great way to prep in advance of a big dinner or get-together. This is my preferred method of cooking potatoes for the barbecue because it cuts down on the grilling time significantly, while keeping the potato intact so it doesn't fall apart on a skewer. How do you this? Cover your potatoes with cold water and bring to a boil.  The cooking time for your potatoes will vary depending on the size and type, so you'll need to check every few minutes. It takes about 8 minutes for the tiny ones pictured below, but you can do this with any size potato. What you're looking for is a potato that is soft on the outside, but still slightly undercooked in the middle. Drain and run under some cold water to stop the cooking process; drain again. Let cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.  Photography by Irene Fong