The Scoop on Potatoes - Cooking for Mashed, Chopped, or Sliced?
As Minnesotans we are extreme fans of mashed, chopped, and sliced potatoes. Whether it be a holiday dinner with creamy mashed potatoes complete with mouth-watering gravy drizzles, to our summers with picnic-style potato salad, and last but not least, the ultimate french fries! So, what’s the scoop on potatoes anyway? How do we know which are best for mashed potatoes or potatoes to best fit salads, and potatoes that do best dipped in the fryer? Below we go into depth about potatoes you can grow in your very own gardens and turn around to make your Minnesota-favorite dishes - mashed, chopped, or sliced!
Here, at Copper Creek Garden Center, we offer a variety of Certified Seed Potatoes. We have Kennebecs, Russets, Yukon Golds, Norland Dark Reds, and Red Pontiacs – all of which can be grown in your home garden! Potatoes are among the cool season vegetables (asparagus, beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, peas, onions, radishes, and turnips) that are planted in early Spring, usually around the middle of May. Looking for something in particular? See below for some details about each of type of Certified Potato Seeds we carry.
Kennebec Potatoes
Baking • Boiling • Chipping • Mashing • Lefse
Kennebec Potatoes are a universal potato when it comes to cooking. Kennebec potatoes are also fast growing and yield plenty during their growth season. With a high starch content, feel good about preparing these potatoes in your meals. Kennebec Potatoes tend to be most mature late in the season (more than 120 days after planting). Do you like hash browns? These guys are for you, among many other great cooked potato favorites!
Russet Potatoes
Baking • Mashing
With a high starch content and super absorbent qualities, Russet Potatoes are really only great for one type of cooked potato and that is baking. Their light and mealy texture make mashing simple and taste to perfection with your ultimate seasonings of course!
Yukon Gold
Baking • Boiling • Mashing • Roasting • Salad • Soup • Stew
The Golden Nugget of Potatoes! The Yukon Gold is gold when it comes to baking and cooking potatoes. With a light texture, rich flavor, and medium starch content, Yukon Golds will provide you with a satisfying dish however you decide to cook it.
Norland Dark Red Potatoes
Boiling • Roasting • Salad
Norland Dark Red Potatoes, also known as ‘Baby Reds’, provide for a good go-to for boiling, roasting, and for salads. With its great flavor and high yields it is versatile for a multitude of cooking favorites. The Norland Dark Red Potatoes are great for the small home garden as they can become mature in only 70 days. Norland Dark Red Potatoes are a Potato Salad all-star! Norland Dark Reds contain a lower starch content.
Red Pontiac Potatoes
Boiling • Mashed • Salad
The Red Pontiac Potato is another favorite for hash brown lovers. These potatoes also do not disappoint when it comes to potato salad. Red Pontiacs do not mash well, so anything chopped or sliced is the way to go with these potatoes. Red Pontiacs produce a medium yield and have a low starch content.
By the time potato harvest rolls around you’ll be ready for your Minnesota cuisines whether it be mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or even french fries to compliment your grilled summer favorites. Come by and see us at Copper Creek Garden Center. We have all your gardening needs. See you soon!
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