When I was titling this article, I had to laugh at “Which Potatoes Are Best” because really, give me all the potatoes all the time.
Waxy potatoes are best for boiling. Because they’re low in starch, they hold their shape when boiled. Waxy potatoes are varieties like yellow, red, Yukon gold, new, and fingerling potatoes. The texture when boiled is buttery and the flavor is almost sweet.
Which Potatoes Are Best
There are three types of potatoes: high-starch potatoes, medium-starch potatoes and low-starch potatoes.
The most common high-starch potatoes are the mild-flavored russet. Russets are oblong in shape. These thick-skinned potatoes fall apart while cooking, and whip up fluffy and light. This makes them the ideal choice for mashing. Because they have a light, mealy texture, high-starch potatoes are the best baked potato.
Medium-starch potatoes are the round white potatoes and yellow potatoes. They are a great all-purpose potato and are the types you’ll most commonly find in the grocery store. They are versatile and can be used in almost any dish, whether roasting, grilling, mashing or boiling.
Low-starch potatoes are waxy and hold their shape well when you cook them. This makes them ideal boiling potatoes for salads, soups and stews. Low-starch potatoes are your round red potatoes, new potatoes and fingerling potatoes.
Which potatoes are best for mashed potatoes? Russets, Yellow Potatoes
Which potatoes are best for potato salad? Round Red Potatoes, New Potatoes
Which potatoes are best for boiling? Round Red Potatoes, Fingerling Potatoes
Which potatoes are best for baking? Russets
Which potatoes are best for fries? Russets
Which potatoes are best for soup or stew? Round Red Potatoes
What is a good all-purpose potato? The round white potatoes that you see all over your grocery store are a generally good all-around potato.
It’s not too difficult to choose the best potatoes. From this point, your grocery store may have specifically named types of potatoes such as Red Bliss, Katahdin, Purple Peruvian, Yukon Gold. They’re like the fancy name-brand of potatoes. Don’t get confused by this. Just stick to this simple chart.
Which Potatoes are Best for Mashing, Boiling and Baking
There was once a time when I didn’t pay an ounce of attention to what type of potato I was buying. Whether it was mashing, boiling or baking potatoes, I bought only one kind. The cheapest. Whatever happened to be on sale, that’s what I tossed into my shopping cart. For the most part? This worked out just fine for me. But at times I’d have potato salad that ended up more like mashed potatoes, or mashed potatoes that for some reason just wouldn’t whip up to the creamy texture that I can’t resist.
As I’ve learned more about cooking and baking over the past few years, I realized that just as there are different types of flours for varying recipes, there’s also varieties of potatoes that work best in certain recipes.
Don’t get scared off by the idea of choosing the best potatoes for your favorite recipe. It’s really not that difficult to choose the best potatoes and you’ll instantly get better results!
How to Boil Potatoes
FAQ
Which are best potatoes for boiling?
What are yellow potatoes good for?
Are white or yellow potatoes better for boiling?
How long to boil yellow potatoes?
Are waxy potatoes good for boiling?
This characteristic makes waxy potatoes a good choice for dishes like potato salad, where you can cut them into smaller pieces for boiling without the risk of ending up with a sloppy mess. Generally speaking, potatoes can be divided into three categories: waxy, starchy, and all-purpose. Waxy spuds are typically regarded as the best for boiling.
Is it beneficial to soak potatoes in cold water?
Yes. Soaking potatoes in cold water before frying can have some benefits, such as: Remove the starch from the surface of the potatoes, so that they do not stick and become soft during frying; Hydrate the potatoes, improving moisture retention and leaving them soft inside and crispy outside; Prevent potatoes from browning, as cold water prevents surface oxidation.
Are Yukon Gold potatoes good for boiling?
In general, I like Yukon Gold potatoes for boiling. They are medium-starch potatoes that contain more moisture so they can handle boiling well without completely falling apart. Plus, they have a nice buttery texture, and because they are a bit vegetal and slightly sweet, which means they taste delicious even with very little seasoning.
What kind of potatoes can be boiled?
Best Potatoes for Boiling Although all types of potatoes can be boiled, waxy potatoes are your best option. Starchy Potatoes: Low in moisture but high in starch, these are great baking potatoes (and mashing potatoes). The best example is russet potatoes. Should you boil starchy potatoes, plan to use them to make soups or mashed potatoes.