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Potatoes

Cooking with potatoes

By , About.com Guide

The potato, a staple food in most parts of the world, is one of our most versatile vegetables. Plain boiled, mashed, baked, fried, chipped, or stewed, there are hundreds of ways to cook them and combine them with other ingredients.

For best results, choose potatoes by how you'll be using them. The russet, or Idaho, is best for frying or baking, while the similar long white can be boiled, baked or fried. Round red and round white have less starch and more moisture, making them best for boiling. They can also be roasted or fried. New potatoes are firm and waxy; they're excellent boiled or roasted, and hold their shape well in salads.

The chart below gives general potato types and best uses. Use the index to the right to jump to the featured potato recipes, potato cooking and preparation tips, or related recipe pages.

Choosing Potatoes

Baked Russets, long whites
Boiled New potatoes, round red, white, and long whites
Fried Russets, long whites
Roasted New potatoes, russets, long whites
Mashed Russets, baking potatoes

More
Potato Recipes
Potato Cooking Tips

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