Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
If you ask us, potatoes should be their own food group! After all, we could have them at every meal. In the mornings, potatoes are the key ingredient in a hearty breakfast hash, while in the afternoon, they transform into tasty potato chips or potato salad. And for dinner, we can have potatoes any which way—mashed, roasted, baked, or turned into French fries. In fact, it wouldn’t be a steak dinner with potatoes by its side. But some potatoes are better suited for making potato skins versus creamy mashed potatoes. So how do you know which types of potatoes to use? Were breaking it all down with this list of common types of potatoes!
Potatoes are generally classified based on their texture: either waxy, starchy or all-purpose. Waxy potatoes are lower in starch and higher in moisture. While they have a softer texture, they tend to hold their shape pretty well, which makes them great for roasting. Starchy potatoes are high in starch but lower in moisture, which gives them a more crumbly texture—theyre ideal for baked potatoes with toppings. Lastly, all-purpose potatoes can do a little bit of everything. They have a good balance of both starch and moisture, and you can use them for just about any potato recipe you have in mind. Read on for a list of 18 different types of potatoes. And no matter what kind you choose, be sure to store them properly with our potato storage guide!
New potatoes, as their name implies, are harvested at an earlier point during the growing season; they have a smaller size and thinner skin than other potatoes. New potatoes hold their shape well when cooked. Ree Drummonds Crash Hot Potatoes are a great example of why new potatoes are so beloved!
These potatoes are quite small and can usually be found in different shades. Theyre not necessarily harvested earlier in the growing process—theyre actually meant to be tiny! Creamer potatoes are a great choice for a simple roasted potato side dish for a weeknight dinner. Bonus: You dont have to bother peeling them!
These finger-shaped potatoes are smaller and more oblong in shape. They have a waxy texture and an almost golden flesh on the inside. Since they hold their shape pretty well, you could try cooking them on the grill like these Poblano-Potato Bundles.
These potatoes originate from France and are similar in appearance to the Russian Banana Fingerling. They have a more golden hue, especially when you slice into them. They have a lovely nutty flavor.
Though these potatoes are similar in shape to the Laratte, they tend to be a bit smaller overall. The most noticeable characteristic, however, is the bright red color. These potatoes not only hold their shape well after roasting, but theyre great for when you want a colorful side dish for dinner. Try using a mix of different fingerlings!
French fingerlings are not as elongated in shape as your typical fingerling, but they have a dark red outer skin, similar to the Red Thumb. If you slice into a French fingerling potato, you can often see some reddish streaks throughout the flesh.
The Rose Finn Apple is a variety of fingerling potato with a light reddish or pink color. Similar to the Russian Banana, the Rose Finn Apple has a more golden color on the inside; its high moisture content makes for a great smooth texture.
The russet potato is arguably the most most well-known type of potatoes in the United States. Russets have a brownish color and a sandy outer layer. The inside is white and crumbly when cooked, making them ideal for recipes like these Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Potatoes.
Also called new potatoes, baby potatoes, C-size potatoes, or creamers, tiny potatoes are some of the cutest things in the produce department.
New potatoes, as their name implies, are harvested at an earlier point during the growing season; they have a smaller size and thinner skin than other potatoes. New potatoes hold their shape well when cooked. Ree Drummonds Crash Hot Potatoes are a great example of why new potatoes are so beloved!
These potatoes are quite small and can usually be found in different shades. Theyre not necessarily harvested earlier in the growing process—theyre actually meant to be tiny! Creamer potatoes are a great choice for a simple roasted potato side dish for a weeknight dinner. Bonus: You dont have to bother peeling them!
French fingerlings are not as elongated in shape as your typical fingerling, but they have a dark red outer skin, similar to the Red Thumb. If you slice into a French fingerling potato, you can often see some reddish streaks throughout the flesh.
The Rose Finn Apple is a variety of fingerling potato with a light reddish or pink color. Similar to the Russian Banana, the Rose Finn Apple has a more golden color on the inside; its high moisture content makes for a great smooth texture.
Potatoes are generally classified based on their texture: either waxy, starchy or all-purpose. Waxy potatoes are lower in starch and higher in moisture. While they have a softer texture, they tend to hold their shape pretty well, which makes them great for roasting. Starchy potatoes are high in starch but lower in moisture, which gives them a more crumbly texture—theyre ideal for baked potatoes with toppings. Lastly, all-purpose potatoes can do a little bit of everything. They have a good balance of both starch and moisture, and you can use them for just about any potato recipe you have in mind. Read on for a list of 18 different types of potatoes. And no matter what kind you choose, be sure to store them properly with our potato storage guide!
In terms of appearance, their skin is much thinner. Unlike starchy ones, which become soft when cooked, waxy potatoes hold their shape. This makes them good for making soups or stews, potato salads, or casseroles.
The crispy exterior but fluffy interior makes starchy potatoes perfect for fried potatoes, baked potatoes, or french fries. When peeled before cooking, they are also great candidates for recipes that require boiling and mashing.
You might be thinking: do we really need an entire guide? They’re all potatoes, they can’t taste that different. And to that, we present the potato spectrum.
This makes them the most versatile potatoes for cooking because they can be substituted for recipes that require starchy or waxy potato types. Therefore, they can be used for roasting, mashing, pan frying, stewing, soups — you name it.
The average American eats 55 pounds of potatoes a year according to the Cleveland Health Clinic. Surprising, right? Or maybe it’s not as shocking as it sounds. Over 200 different potato types are sold in the US, implying at least 200 different uses.
Small Potatoes Theme Song – Lyrics
FAQ
Are baby gold potatoes the same as Yukon Gold?
What are the 3 types of potatoes?
What are the mini potatoes called?
What is the smallest species of potato?
What is a new potato called?
Other Names for New Potatoes: Baby potatoes, Petite potatoes 3. Yukon Gold Potatoes The Yukon Gold potato is one of the most popular potato varieties because it falls into the all-purpose category. Yukon Golds have thin gold skin that doesn’t need to be peeled before mashing, and their creamy flesh has a sweet, buttery flavor.
What is the best type of potato?
Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, a source of iron, vitamins E, A and C and potassium. The tuber has five times more calcium, twice as much fiber and more potassium than the potato helps to lose weight. Due to its low glycemic index, it helps burn fat and gain muscle mass.
What are the different types of potatoes?
There are three classes of potatoes: starchy, waxy, and all-purpose. Starchy potatoes, having more starch, tend to be dry, fluffy, and absorbent (hello butter!) These qualities make them great for baking or frying. The dry flesh makes them crumble easily and thus ideal as baked potatoes. The starch also absorbs oil making them great for frying.
What plant is a potato?
The potato is the starchy tuber of the Solanum tuberosum plant. It belongs to the nightshade family of flowering plants, Solanaceae, and is both native and was first domesticated in the Andes mountains of South America.