All About the Different Types of Potatoes

This post may contain affiliate links which will not change your price but will share some commission. Please read my privacy policy.

Potatoes are a household staple and can be used in many ways – mashed, air fried, baked or even smashed. With over 200 different types of potatoes, how do you know which one is right for your recipe?

buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes

Ahhhh, the potato! Who doesn’t love potatoes? They’re one of the few foods you can use for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! You can prepare them as a main dish or as a side dish.

There are so many ways to use all of the different types of potatoes! French fries, au gratin, potato chips, or even a delicious baked potato topped with sour cream. The list goes on and on.

A great way to use your different kinds of potatoes are in potato recipes like Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes to Easy Potato Latkes, I can guarantee there is a potato dish that you’ll love! 

Some potatoes are used more than others; these are my favorites

  • Russet Potatoes: also known as an “Idaho potatoes” or “regular potatoes.” The Russet potato is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a potato; I mean, who can resist a Twice Baked Potato!? They have a rough brown skin, and if cooked correctly, they will have a light and fluffy texture in the center. Russet potatoes are most commonly used for baking or mashing. 
  • Red Potatoes: reds are known for their waxy and red skin. This makes them the perfect potato to be used in potato salads. No need to peel them before use; the skin becomes soft while they’re cooking. 
  • Yukon Potatoes: delicious and buttery; Yukon gold potatoes are used for roasting, frying, and mashing. The skin gets crispy and delicious when thrown in the air fryer. They’re also known as “golden potatoes” due to their golden color.
  • Baby Potatoes: also known as “creamer potatoes” or “petite potatoes,” these potatoes are commonly used in my recipes like, these Smashed Potatoes Nachos or these Roasted Garlic Potatoes due to their versatility. They’re the perfect potato for roasting or air frying. 

Fun Fact: you may be thinking, “What about sweet potatoes?” Well, a sweet potato isn’t actually a potato! While potatoes are part of the nightshade family, the sweet potato comes from the morning glory family! Because sweet potatoes are so dense, they can be a perfect base for a complete meal like these Pesto Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.

cleaning potatoes in the sink with water

How do I clean my potatoes?

Cleaning potatoes is a super easy task but also necessary! You always want to clean your potatoes before using them so that you can make sure all of the dirt and germs are off.

The best way to do this is to run your potatoes under lukewarm water to remove any soil and dirt. You can use a potato brush to scrub your potato and get any dirt that remains off. Be sure to properly clean your potato before making any recipe that calls for potatoes.

Top Tips for Making the Best Baked Potato

What type of potato should I use for baked potatoes?

Be sure to start with an Idaho russet potato. They are a great choice for baking because they are a large size and low in moisture but have a high starch content – the perfect combination for the perfect, fluffy baked potato. Stay away from types of potatoes like red or Yukon for baked potatoes; they are too waxy and won’t come out correctly. 

Should I season my potatoes?

You can if you’d like! After washing and drying, I love to rub mine in olive oil and sprinkle on some kosher salt. It makes the skin taste like a french fry.

three sweet potatoes on a baking sheet

Should I poke holes in them before baking?

Absolutely! Poking holes in your raw potato with a fork will create tiny holes that allow steam to come out while cooking. If you don’t poke some holes, your potato won’t have anywhere to let the steam out, therefore allowing it to burst open in your oven. No one wants to clean that up!

Should I use foil?

No! While wrapping your russet potato in foil does help it steam, it also will make it soggy and gross. Skip the foil! Instead, place them on a baking sheet about an inch apart, allowing the air to circulate evenly around them. 

How can you tell if a baked potato is done?

First and foremost, do not try to squeeze the potato with your bare hands! They will come out of the oven SUPER hot. Grab some oven mitts and give them a little squeeze to see if it’s soft.

The other option is to gently poke it with a knife or fork and see how easily it cuts through. If it slides in easily, your potato is done!

What are the best types of potatoes for potato salad?

Choosing the right potato is so essential when making potato salad. It can either make or break it. You don’t want to put all of the hard work into making your salad for it to turn out to be mashed potatoes.

To keep that from happening, be sure to use waxy potatoes like red or Yukon golds. One of my favorite things to do is to add in some purple potatoes for color! If you’re making last minute potato salad and only have russet, you can totally make it work. Be sure to chop them before cooking, and keep an eye on them, so they don’t get too soft. 

What is the best way to store potatoes?

The perfect place to put them is in a crate in a dark area, like your pantry or cupboard. Another great way to store them is in a basket, but any well-ventilated storage container will work well; they just need open air so any excess moisture can escape. Also, keep them away from onions – they will cause them to spoil a little faster.

Best Potato Peelers

A potato peeler is one of the most versatile and commonly needed tools in your kitchen. A potato peeler can peel carrots, cucumbers, or any other vegetables or fruit that you need to remove the skin.

You can also use it to shave parmesan cheese or even make vegetable ribbons. There are so many different kinds of potato peelers, and they go from simple all the way to electric. Some of my favorites are: 

Types of Potatoes pinterest long pin

Best Potato Recipes

Now that you know all about the different kinds of potatoes and what type of potatoes to use in each recipe, here are some of my favorite potato recipes to help you get started!

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes are creamy and easy to make. Whether youโ€™re looking for a foolproof Thanksgiving dinner side dish or a weeknight dinner side, this recipe will surely become a favorite.
Check out this recipe
Twice Baked Potato in Air Fryer
These Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes are filled with creamy mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, broccoli, and fresh herbs. They're the perfect side dish for any meal!
Check out this recipe
air fryer twice baked potatoes
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes are an easy and delicious side dish for any day of the week!
Check out this recipe
air fryer sweet potato cubes in a white bowl with a serving spoon
Baked Sweet Potato Fries With Tahini Dipping Sauce
These crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries are the best you'll ever make! Served with tahini dipping sauce, they are perfect for serving at a party or side dish on a weeknight.
Check out this recipe
sweet potato
Sweet Potatoes Air Fryer Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato's are incredibly light, easy to mash, super fluffy, and have the crispiest skin!
Check out this recipe
air fryer baked sweet potato
Easy Potato Latkes
This 5 ingredient Easy Latkes Recipe yields perfectly crispy potato pancakes in less than 30 minutes. Learn my secret to making golden potato pancakes without burning.
Check out this recipe
potato latkes stacked on a plate with sour cream on top
Garlic Potatoes Recipe
The perfect vegetable side dish for any meal! These easy to make roasted garlic potatoes have the perfect crispy outside and buttery garlic flavor.
Check out this recipe
roasted garlic potatoes in a white bowl
Roasted Sweet Potato Bowls
Easy weeknight vegetarian dinners never looked so good! These Roasted Sweet Potato Bowls are easy to make, bold, and vegetarian-friendly!
Check out this recipe
roasted sweet potato bowls with green goddess dressing
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Fries
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are a delicious way to enjoy a healthy snack. They're Whole30 compliant, gluten free, and ready in less than 15 minutes!
Check out this recipe
one large plate of sweet potato fries and two small plates
Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe
These oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes are perfectly crispy and completely irresistible. Seasoned to perfection; this side dish is a crowd pleaser.
Check out this recipe
roasted sweet potatoes in a white bowl with gold spoon
Mexican Style Sweet Potatoes
Step out of the box with these tasty Mexican Sweet Potatoes loaded with all the best flavors in Mexican cuisine. One bite perfection is here!
Check out this recipe
mexican sweet potatoes in a skillet
Air Fryer Potatoes
Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes perfection has arrived! The healthy alternative to deep-fried potatoes is here and worth every bite.
Check out this recipe
air fryer potatoes in a white bowl with lemons
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Let's take the ultimate comfort food, mashed potatoes, to the next level with this incredible roasted garlic mashed potato recipe!
Check out this recipe
garlic mashed potatoes in a white bowl
BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoesย loaded with flavor! These BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes are incredible and easy to whip together.
Check out this recipe
bbq chicken stuffed sweet potato on a white plate
Crispy Smashed Potatoes Loaded Nachos
Crispy Smashed Potatoes are baked to crunchy perfection then loaded with the best buffalo nacho toppings. It's the best smashed potatoes recipe in the game, and you'll earn total MVP status for serving them!
Check out this recipe
close up photo of crispy smashed potatoes loaded nachos
Crispy Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
Roasted Mini Potatoes are crispy and flavorful. Theyโ€™re a quick and delicious side dish that requires minimal effort and yields excellent results!
Check out this recipe
roasted mini potatoes in a white baking dish with a wooden spoon
Whole30 Creamy Mushroom Hasselback Potato Gratin
If hasselback potatoes and potato gratin had a baby, it would be this! It's creamy, crispy, and topped with the best creamy mushroom sauce ever.
Check out this recipe
hasselback potato gratin in a white baking dish with chives
Whole30 Sweet Potato Toast
The best Sweet Potato Toast you'll ever make! It's is a healthy, gluten free, and Whole30 compliant toast substitute. So easy to customize, too!
Check out this recipe
a gold fork with a bite of sweet potato toast
Pesto Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Pesto Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are insanely delicious and easy to make. Creamy, flavor-packed shredded pesto chicken is stuffed into baked sweet potatoes and topped with crispy quinoa.
Check out this recipe
stuffed sweet potato on a white plate with a fork

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5 Comments

  1. This was such a helpful guide to figuring out the differences between all the types of potatoes out there! I’m also super excited to try your smashed potatoes loaded nachos – that looks amazing!

  2. Thank you for this all-things potato guide. I really love the recipe roundup for new ideas on how to serve potatoes.

  3. Potatoes are literally my favorite food and this was such great information about them! Can’t wait to try all those recipes as well!

  4. Gina Abernathy says:

    Nice post on different kinds of potatoes. I cook a lot of sweet potatoes and I love the little red ones.

  5. MacKenzie says:

    Love this! Potatoes are a family favorite and I can’t wait to try some of the above recipes.