Cutting potatoes before boiling can help them cook faster and more evenly. This is especially important if you're making a dish like mashed potatoes or potato salad, where you want the spuds to be nice and tender. By cutting them into smaller pieces, you'll reduce the cooking time and get better results.
But, on the other hand, cutting potatoes can also lead to a loss of natural nutrients and flavor. When you cut a potato, you're exposing the inner flesh to oxygen, which can cause it to oxidize and lose some of its deliciousness. So, is it worth the trade-off? Well, that depends on what you're making and how much time you have to spare.
