A potato is not just a potato. There are many different varieties of potatoes and each has a best use when it comes to cooking.
Everyone knows the Russet (Idaho Farmer grown). They are used for hash brown, French fries, chips, funeral potatoes, baked potatoes, and mashed potatoes. They will fall apart when cooked. While boiling Russets you need to be careful not to overcook or you will have mush potatoes instead of mashed potatoes.
However in Utah we prefer to grown Red Potatoes and Yukon Gold which come from the same family. They are a different. in texture and flavor. Red potatoes do not fall apart when cooked like Russets. This makes them great for cooking in soups, ranch potatoes, smashed, fancy fingerlings, and Au gratins. Reds can be used to make mashed potatoes and has brown but be careful if over worked they will become gummy.
Every potato recipe will work with every type of potato some adjustments just need to be made while cooking or in the use of ingredients. Reds tend to be sweeter and add a different flavor to a recipe than Russets. Be aware of this as you create your recipes.
Sweet potatoes are different and should be separate because they are not part of the nightshade potato family. They are from the family that include Morning Glory. Sometimes they are identified as yams even though they are botanical different. Sweet potatoes popularity have been rising. They are used for fries, casseroles, pies, mashed, baked, and roasted. They have a very sweet flavor which pairs well with cinnamon and additional sugar. They are in many popular holiday dished like sweet potatoe soufflé. Sweet potatlies can be stringy. Makes sure to bake or boil throughly to help combat the stringy texture.
Most important to remember is that potatoes whether they are a part of the night shade family or morning glory can be toxic. If they are green they will have toxins. if too many toxins are injested it can cause health issues.
Many comfort foods and holiday favorites are made using potatoes. Just remember the best uses and the different textures and flavors when you pick the potato you use in your meals.
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