I am an editor working on a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. How long can peeled and cut potatoes sit in water before cooking, before they begin taking on too much water?

We usually recommend no more than 24 hours. You can keep the potatoes from absorbing the water by making sure the water is not salted, and is chilled (you can even add ice to the water). To keep the potatoes from turning black from oxidation, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or white wine vinegar to a gallon of water.