Potatoes come in so many shapes, colors, and varieties that its easy to be confused in the produce aisle. Russet, Yukon Gold, red bliss, purple potatoes, fingerlings; the list goes on and on. Luckily, weve got the tips you need to pick the perfect spud and ensure your next batch of french fries is fluffy and your next potato salad isnt mushy.
Potatoes are generally grouped by starch content. Higher-starch potatoes are great for baking, while lower-starch potatoes are better for boiling. Once you learn which is which, youve got the secret for a chefs-kiss-worthy side dish every time.
The type of starch in baking potatoes, amylose, swells when its cooked, expanding and making the interior light and airy, and contributing to a creamy whipped texture. Amylose starch also crisps when fried, leading to crunchy french fries, hash browns, and potato pancakes. Boiling potatoes are lower in amylose but higher in amylopectin starch, which becomes sticky when cooked, similar to rice. With boiling potatoes, the flesh sticks together and keeps its shape, perfect for recipes where the shape of the potato matters.
They are firm textured and keep their shape well when boiled. The skin of this potato is thin, waxy, laden with moisture, and less starchy than other potatoes, making it more suitable for boiling. Some of the best boiling potatoes include the creaming potatoes, red potatoes, or Yukon Gold.
Pick the right spud for baking
Fluffy jacket potatoes with crispy skin, french fries with steaming hot insides and golden brown exteriors, and creamy mashed potatoes that are light and full of flavor are all best made with baking potatoes. The starch in baking potatoes expands as it heats, which creates the texture we crave. These varieties are usually larger, which means theyve had more time to grow and convert more of the potatos natural sugars to starch. Age makes them a bit drier as well, and that helps the starch fluff during cooking. When boiled, baking potatoes can practically dissolve, so take care to not boil mashed potatoes too long!
When shopping for baking potatoes, look for larger potato varieties like russet and Idaho with thick, brown skin. A few less common potatoes worth looking for in the baking category are Kennebec, German butterball, and Adirondack Blue. Kennebec potatoes are especially great for making potato chips because of their relatively thin peels! Store your baking potatoes in a cool, dark location. When exposed to light they may try to grow sprouts, which you can simply trim off when you peel them.
How to Boil Potatoes
FAQ
What type of potatoes are boiling potatoes?
Are Yukon Gold boiling potatoes?
Are baking potatoes the same as boiling potatoes?
What are the 3 types of potatoes?
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.
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 does ‘boiling potatoes’ mean?
So “boiling potatoes” meaning “potatoes for boiling” would indicate waxy potatoes, and that’s consistent with the recipes you linked to. For aloo gobi, you want firm ones so they don’t fall apart when you mix it all up. For curries and stews, you don’t want them to get waterlogged or fall apart.
Can potatoes be boiled?
Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes. Drain using a colander. **Pro tip: run cool water from your faucet when draining the hot water to go easy on your kitchen pipes. While all potatoes can be boiled, some just tend to work better than others.