Potatoes in the Kitchen

About Potato Texture

Food scientists group potatoes by their texture. Potato texture can be explained by two prominent characteristics:

  1. The Solids Content which is measured by specific gravity readings that compare a particular variety’s density to the density of water. A low solids potato will be moist, a high solids potato will be dry.
  2. The Ratio of Two Starch types
    • a. A potato high in the straight starch, Amylose, will be mealy or floury when cooked.
    • b. Conversely, a potato which is high in the branched starch, Amylopectin, will hold firmly together in cooking (think of “pectin” which makes strawberry jam jell).
    Knowing the texture of the potato helps to unravel the mystery of how it will perform a given cooking task. Texture then, can help you choose which variety or potato group works best for a given recipe.

Potato Textures: Classic Uses & Examples

Soft MoistCreamy Mid-DryMealy Dry
Steamed
Au Gratin 
Sauteed 

Adirondack Red
All-Blue
Baked 
Steamed 
Creamy Soups 

Carola
Rose Gold
Huckleberry Gold

Baltic Rose
Baked 
Mashed 
Fried 

Yukon Gold
Butte Russet
Caribou Russet

Sarpo Mira
Waxy MoistWaxy Mid-DryFirm Dry
Boiled 
Soups & Stews 
Salads

French Charlotte
Reddale
Dark Red Norland

Adirondack Blue
All Purpose
Baked 
Boiled 
Salads 

Keuka Gold
Caribé
Prairie Blush

Rose Finn Apple
Russian Banana
King Harry

Baked 
Boiled 
Fried 

Red Cloud
Elba
Moist…Solids Content…Dry

The above uses ought to be considered guidelines only; for an adventurous cook they are rules made to be bent through experimenting with the qualities of the different varieties. For example, every one of our varieties is good baked; the dry ones, like Butte, will be fluffier; the waxy and moist, like Reddale will be firmer. And the small baby tubers are every bit as good baked as are the large, only they cook quicker. Additionally, you’ll find all of our potatoes can be boiled, though dry selections, like Swedish Peanut, are more likely to fall apart when overcooked than a moist or waxy variety like Caribé.

Our Customers Say…

Your potatoes are wonderful!
– FD
Drums, PA

These are better than any potatoes we’ve ever tried!
– VK
Puyallup, WA