Potatoes
Potato recipes
- All of our potato recipes can be found here
All about potatoes
Potatoes can be prepared in almost an infinite number of ways: skin-on or peeled, whole or cut up, with seasonings or without, shallow or deep-fried, and baked. The only requirement involves that they are cooked in order to break down the starch contained within. Most potato dishes are served hot, but some are first cooked then served cold, notably potato salad and potato chips/crisps.
Personal favourites
As we now live in the Norfolk Fens, a fabulously fertile area, perfect for potatoes, we have ample opportunity to try lots of different varieties. Over the past five years we have our definite favourites. I can't say if they are more widely available as we buy them direct from the growers.
We've scored the following for taste and presentation after cooking; if you get the chance, try the following:
- Melody - highly recommended (used by Golden Wonder for their crisps) but untried
- Agria 10/10
- Cara 10/10
- (Golden?) Markies 10/10
- Marafona 10/10
- Mozart 10/10
- Maris Piper 10/10
- Picasso 8/10
- Sagitta 10/10 - Great for chips, an early variety
Not so good:
- Shannon 3/10
- Harmony 3/10
Great tips for storing, cooking and using potatoes
- Remove potatoes from the plastic bags they are packaged in to prevent them sweating
- Add lemon juice during boiling to prevent after-cooking blackening
- Salt your potatoes first for perfect, crunchy-skinned baked potatoes
- Treat potatoes carefully as they are easily bruised
- Peel potatoes thinly, or not at all - this will preserve the nutrients just under the skin
- Cut potatoes into evenly-sized pieces to ensure even cooking
- Boil potatoes slowly to avoid them breaking up
- Store potatoes in a cold and dark place - light turns them green and causes them to sprout and go to seed
- Save the water used for cooking potatoes for stocks and stews
Seasonal Information: New potatoes
This information relates to countries in the Southern Hemisphere; United Kingdom, USA, Europe, Canada, Russia, etc.
New potatoes are at their best and in season during the following months: May, June & July
Seasonal Information: Potatoes
This information relates to countries in the Southern Hemisphere; United Kingdom, USA, Europe, Canada, Russia, etc.
Potatoes are at their best and in season during the following months: July, August, September, October, November, December, January & February
Etymology (spud)
The English word potato comes from Spanish patata (the name used in Spain). The Spanish Royal Academy says the Spanish word is a compound of the Taino batata (sweet potato) and the Quechua papa (potato). The name potato originally referred to a type of sweet potato rather than the other way around, although the two plants are not closely related; in many of the chronicles detailing agriculture and plants, no distinction is made between the two. The 16th-century English herbalist John Gerard used the terms "bastard potatoes" and "Virginia potatoes" for this species, and referred to sweet potatoes as "common potatoes". Potatoes are occasionally referred to as "Irish potatoes" or "white potatoes" in the United States, to distinguish them from sweet potatoes.
Alternative uses of a potato
Testing WIFI signal dispersal in commercial aircraft. The Boeing Corporation uses sacks of potatoes mimic the effect that a plane full of people has on the distribution WIFI signals on passenger aircraft. Apparently a sack of potatoes has the closest interaction with wireless signals to a human being! Boeing loads an aircraft with 9 tons of potatoes for the three day tests - probably easier to placate than humans. Boeing's internal acronym for the WIFI potato project was SPUDS: Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution.
How much does one cup of potatoes weigh?
Estimated US cup to weight equivalents:
Ingredient | US Cups | Grams | Ounces |
---|---|---|---|
Raw Potatoes (sliced or diced) | 1 Cup | 175 g | 6 oz |
Cooked Potatoes (diced or mashed) | 1 Cup | 225 g | 8 oz |
Conversion notes:
Every ingredient has a cups to ounces or grams conversion table. Search for the ingredient, cup to weight conversions are at the end of each ingredient page.
We also have a generic conversion table and a portions per person lookup.
All recipes below are cooked using potatoes
Common dishes are: mashed potatoes, which are first boiled (usually peeled), and then mashed with milk or yogurt and butter; whole baked potatoes; boiled or steamed potatoes; French-fried potatoes or chips; cut into cubes and roasted; scalloped, diced, or sliced and fried (home fries); grated into small thin strips and fried (hash browns); grated and formed into dumplings, Rösti or potato pancakes. Unlike many foods, potatoes can also be easily cooked in a microwave oven and still retain nearly all of their nutritional value, provided that they are covered in ventilated plastic wrap to prevent moisture from escaping—this method produces a meal very similar to a steamed potato while retaining the appearance of a conventionally baked potato. Potato chunks also commonly appear as a stew ingredient.
What are the best potatoes for:
BAKED POTATOES / JACKET POTATOES
- Agria
- Amour
- Arran Cairn
- Balmoral
- Beauty of Bute
- Belle de Fontenay
- Blight tester kit
- Blue Belle
- Blue Kestrel
- Bonnie
- British Queen
- Camelot
- Cara
- Cardinal
- Casablanca
- Catriona
- Celine
- Dark Red Norland
- Desiree
- Dr McIntosh
- Duke Of York
- Edgecote Purple
- Estima
- Flourball
- Foremost
- Forty Fold
- Gladstone
- Golden Wonder
- Harmony
- Home Guard
- Kestrel
- King Edward
- Lord Rosebery
- Majestic
- Marfona
- Maris Bard
- Maris Peer
- Maris Piper
- Markies
- Maxine
- Mozart
- Nadine
- Navan
- Orla
- Peach Bloom
- Pentland Crown
- Pentland Dell
- Pentland Lustre
- Pentland Squire
- Picasso
- Pink Duke of York
- Pink fir apple
- Puritan
- Raeburn Gregor Cups
- Ranfurly Red
- Record
- Red Craigs Royal
- Red Duke of York
- Red King Edward
- Romano
- Ryecroft Purple
- Sagitta
- Sante
- Sarpo Mira
- Saxon
- Sefton Wonder
- Setanta
- Sherine
- Stemster
- Stroma
- Swift
- Toluca
- Tuskar
- Ulster Classic
- Ulster Prince
- Ulster Sovereign
- Vales Sovereign
- Vanessa
- Wilja
- Winston
- Yetholm Gypsy
BOILED POTATOES
- Ambo
- Amorosa
- Amour
- Annabelle
- Anya
- Apache
- Arran Cairn
- Arran Comrade
- Arran Pilot
- Arran Victory
- Balmoral
- Barna
- Beauty of Bute
- Blue Belle
- Blue Kestrel
- Bonnie
- Bonnie Dundee
- British Queen
- Camelot
- Cara
- Cardinal
- Carlingford
- Catriona
- Celine
- Charlotte
- Congo
- Dark Red Norland
- Desiree
- Dobbies Asset
- Doon Pearl
- Dr McIntosh
- Duke Of York
- Dunluce
- Edgecote Purple
- Edzell Blue
- Elfe
- Epicure
- Estima
- Flourball
- Foremost
- Gladstone
- Harlequin
- Harmony
- Home Guard
- International Kidney
- Jazzy
- Jersey Gem
- Juliette
- Kerrs Pink
- Kestrel
- King Edward
- Lady Christl
- Lord Rosebery
- Majestic
- Marfona
- Maris Peer
- Maris Piper
- Markies
- Maxine
- Mayan Twilight
- Nadine
- Navan
- Nectar
- Nicola
- Orla
- Osprey
- Peach Bloom
- Pentland Crown
- Pentland Javelin
- Pentland Lustre
- Pentland Squire
- Picasso
- Pink Duke of York
- Pink fir apple
- Pioneer
- Pixie
- Puritan
- Raeburn Gregor Cups
- Ranfurly Red
- Record
- Red Craigs Royal
- Red Duke of York
- Red King Edward
- Rocket
- Romano
- Romeo
- Ryecroft Purple
- Salad Blue
- Sante
- Sarpo Mira
- Saxon
- Sefton Wonder
- Setanta
- Sharpes Express
- Sherine
- Shetland Black
- Stemster
- Stroma
- Swift
- Toluca
- Tuskar
- Ulster Classic
- Ulster Prince
- Ulster Sceptre
- Ulster Sovereign
- Vales Sovereign
- Valor
- Vanessa
- Vivaldi
- Wilja
- Winston
- Witchill
- Yetholm Gypsy
CHIPPED POTATOES (Chips / Fries)
- Agria
- Amour
- Arran Comrade
- Balmoral
- Barna
- Belle de Fontenay
- Blue Kestrel
- Camelot
- Cara
- Cardinal
- Catriona
- Celine
- Dark Red Norland
- Desiree
- Duke of York
- Dunluce
- Edgecote Purple
- Gladstone
- Golden Wonder
- Harlequin
- Home Guard
- Hermes
- Kerrs Pink
- Kestrel
- King Edward
- Lady Christl
- Majestic
- Maris Piper
- Markies
- Maxine
- Mayan Twilight
- Nadine
- Navan
- Nutrimate
- Orla
- Pentland Crown
- Pentland Dell
- Pentland Javelin
- Pentland Lustre
- Pentland Squire
- Picasso
- Pink Duke of York
- Pink fir apple
- Purple Majesty
- Record
- Red Craigs Royal
- Red Duke of York
- Red King Edward
- Romano
- Romeo
- Ryecroft Purple
- Salad Blue
- Sagitta
- Sante
- Sarpo Mira
- Saxon
- Setanta
- Sharpes Express
- Sherine
- Sirco mainland europe
- Stroma
- Swift
- Toluca
- Ulster Classic
- Valor
- Wilja
- Winston
- Yetholm Gypsy
DAUPHINOISE POTATOES
- Desiree
- King Edward
GENERAL ALL-ROUND USE
- Agria
- Cara
- Cultra
- Desiree
- King Edward
- Lady Balfour
- Maris Piper
- Melody
- Sylvana
MASHED POTATOES
- Agria
- Amour
- Arran Cairn
- Arran Comrade
- Arran Victory
- Balmoral
- Barna
- Beauty of Bute
- Belle de Fontenay
- Blue Belle
- Blue Kestrel
- Bonnie
- Carlingford
- Casablanca
- Charlotte
- Congo
- Dark Red Norland
- Desiree
- Dobbies Asset
- Doon Pearl
- Dr McIntosh
- Dunluce
- Edzell Blue
- Elfe
- Epicure
- Estima
- Flourball
- Harlequin
- Harmony
- Kerrs Pink
- Kestrel
- King Edward
- Lord Rosebery
- Maris Peer
- Markies
- Mayan Twilight
- Mozart
- Nadine
- Nicola
- Orla
- Pentland Lustre
- Puritan
- Raeburn Gregor Cups
- Ranfurly Red
- Red Craigs Royal
- Red King Edward
- Salad Blue
- Saphire
- Saxon
- Sefton Wonder
- Setanta
- Sherine
- Shetland Black
- Toluca
- Tuskar
- Ulster Classic
- Ulster Sovereign
- Vales Sovereign
- Wilja
- Yetholm Gypsy
NEW POTATOES
- Bambino
- Maris Bard
- Pink fir apple
- Premier
- Rocket
ROAST POTATOES
- Agria
- Ambo
- Amour
- Apache
- Arran Victory
- Barna
- Belle de Fontenay
- Blue Kestrel
- British Queen
- Camelot
- Cara
- Cardinal
- Celine
- Dark Red Norland
- Desiree
- Edgecote Purple
- Gladstone
- Harlequin
- Highland Burgundy Red
- Home Guard
- Jazzy
- Juliette
- Kerrs Pink
- Kestrel
- King Edward
- Majestic
- Marfona
- Maris Piper
- Markies
- Maxine
- Mayan Gold
- Mozart
- Nadine
- Navan
- Orla
- Peach Bloom
- Pentland Crown
- Pentland Dell
- Pentland Squire
- Picasso
- Pink Duke of York
- Purple Majesty
- Record
- Red Craigs Royal
- Red Duke of York
- Red King Edward
- Romano
- Romeo
- Rooster
- Rudolph
- Ryecroft Purple
- Sagitta
- Sante
- Sarpo Mira
- Saxon
- Setanta
- Sharpes Express
- Sherine
- Stemster
- Stroma
- Swift
- Toluca
- Ulster Classic
- Ulster Sceptre
- Valor
- Wilja
- Yetholm Gypsy
SALAD POTATOES
- Amour
- Annabelle
- Anya
- Apache
- Arran Cairn
- Arran Comrade
- Arran Pilot
- Baby Rose
- Bonnie Dundee
- Carlingford
- Celine
- Charlotte
- Cherie
- Corolle
- Dobbies Asset
- Doon Pearl
- Dr McIntosh
- Duke Of York
- Edgecote Purple
- Epicure
- Exquisa
- Flourball
- Foremost
- Gemson
- Harlequin
- International Kidney
- Jazzy
- Jersey Gem
- Jersey Royal
- Juliette
- Kestrel
- Lady Christl
- Maris Peer
- Nicola
- Peach Bloom
- Pentland Javelin
- Perline
- Pink fir apple
- Pixie
- Puritan
- Raeburn Gregor Cups
- Ranfurly Red
- Rocket
- Romano
- Romeo
- Roseval
- Ryecroft Purple
- Sante
- Swift
- Ulster Classic
- Ulster Prince
- Ulster Sovereign
- Vales Sovereign
- Vivaldi
- Witchill
SCALLOPED POTATOES
- Desiree
- King Edward
POTATO WEDGES
- Accord
- Agria
- Cara
- Carlingford
- Estima
- King Edward
- Marfona
- Maris Piper
- Purple Majesty
- Romano
- Vivaldi
Thanks to the Potato Council for helping with this list.
Pictures of varieties of potatoes
-
Amorosa
-
Agria
-
Annabelle
-
Apache
-
Anya
-
Arran Victory
-
Baby Rose
-
Bambino
-
Belle de Fontenay
-
Blue Belle
-
Cara
-
Casablanca
-
Charlotte
-
Cherie
-
Corolle
-
Cultra
-
Elfe
-
Estima
-
Exquisa
-
Forty Fold
-
Gemson
-
Hermes
-
Highland Burgundy Red
-
Jazzy
-
Jersey Gem
-
Kerrs Pink
-
King Edward
-
Lady Balfour
-
Marfona
-
Maris Peer
-
Mayan Gold
-
Melody
-
Mozart
-
Nectar
-
Perline
-
Picasso
-
Pink Fir Apple
-
Pioneer
-
Purple Majesty
-
Red King Edward
-
Rocket
-
Rooster
-
Roseval
-
Rudolph
-
Sagitta
-
Saphire
-
Shetland Black
-
Sylvana
-
Vales Sovereign
-
Valor
-
Vivaldi
-
Wilja
See also
#potatowiki #potatoes #sweetpotato #bakedpotatoes #potatosalad #vegetables #roastpotatoes #mashedpotatoes #newpotatoes #opperdoezerronde #hashbrowns #plasticwrap