Overly softened boiled potatoes can put a damper on grand dinner plans, but fortunately, there’s one ingredient that can fix this mushy potato predicament: vinegar.

Adding a small amount of vinegar and a generous sprinkle of salt to a pot of boiling potatoes will help draw out the excess starch that could cause gluey textures.

It will also form a thin film around the spud's exterior, preventing the potatoes from becoming waterlogged and overly soft during the boiling process.

Finding the right amount of vinegar might take a bit of experimentation, but generally, you need a tablespoon or two of vinegar for every couple of quarts of boiling water.

While this solution may cause the cooking time to be a bit longer than you're used to, you can remove the spuds once they’re tender through the middle when pieced with a fork.