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What are Some Good Ways to Cook Potatoes?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 13,039
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The potato, better known botanically as Solanum tuberosum, is an extremely versatile tuber native to South America. Potatoes have been a staple food in South American cuisine for centuries, and were also widely accepted in Europe after initial suspicion about their toxicity. The suspicion was due to the fact that they are members of the Nightshade family, along with tomatoes. There are numerous preparations for this tuber, ranging from luxurious gratins to easy baked potatoes, and most cooks also have an assortment of varieties to choose from, depending on how well stocked their grocery store is.

The first thing to consider when making a dish with potatoes is what type you will need. There are two categories: mealy and waxy. Mealy potatoes are high in starch, and will tend to break down when they are cooked, making them excellent choices for baking and mashing. Waxy potatoes will retain their shape, and work well in soups, hashes, and as fries. Once you have decided what type you need, you can look at varieties including Russets, Yukon Golds, round reds, fingerlings, and purple. If you aren't sure if a potato is mealy or waxy, drop it into a brine solution; waxy varieties will float.

The most simple way to prepare a potato is to bake it. Make sure to pierce the skin several times to allow air to vent out, and plan on keeping it in a 375° Fahrenheit (191° Celsius) oven for around an hour. After baking, the potato can be eaten plain or served with an assortment of toppings. You can also use baked potatoes to make gnocchi; scoop out the filling and mix equal parts potato and flour in a large bowl with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Roll out the subsequent dough into thin logs, and cut the logs into one inch chunks. Drop the gnocchi into boiling water and cook until they float: usually around two to three minutes, and serve tossed with butter or a sauce of your choice.

Other oven dishes include gratins and scalloped potatoes. Both of these foods involve slicing potatoes into thin pieces and layering them in a dish with milk or cream, butter, cheese, and bread crumbs. You can also try roasting waxy varieties by cutting them into loose chunks and tossing them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs. Cover the roasting pan and slide it into a 375°F (191°C) oven for 30-40 minutes before pulling it out, uncovering it, and roasting for approximately 10 more minutes.

Mashed potatoes is another classic dish, made by boiling chunks of peeled potato and then mashing them with cream, butter, and salt. You can also use them to make champ, a traditional Irish dish with mashed potatoes and greens such as green onions or kale. Boiled potatoes can also be used in soups, and often appear as a soup base in dishes like potato leek soup and cream of potato soup. To make them for breakfast, many cooks parbroil a large pot full and keep them in the fridge, throwing a handful into a frying pan as needed.

On the stove top, potatoes are usually fried. They can be sliced into strips for French fries, or thin rounds for potato chips. Potatoes can also be grated and used to make hash browns, or mixed with egg, matzo flour, salt, pepper, and onions for pancakes or latkes. In addition, they can be mixed in with Indian style curries, added to breakfast burritos, or used to make potato salad, a classic summertime food.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By GlassAxe — On Jul 09, 2010

Twice baked potatoes are another good way to cook potatoes.

Cut baked potatoes lengthwise and scoop out most of the center. You can mix the scooped potatoes starch with butter, cream, and any other toppings you can think of. I like to add sour cream and chives, or bacon and broccoli.

Fill the potato skins with the filling, using either a pastry bag or a spoon, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake again at 375 degrees until cheese is golden brown.

By Glasshouse — On Jul 09, 2010

I always keep a few baked potatoes on hand. I buy loose russets so I can pick fresh, even sized potatoes. I usually use baked potatoes for home fries with breakfasts.

I pierce the skin with a carving fork and bake at 400 degrees about an hour and fifteen minutes. I like to bake my potatoes longer so the skin begins to separate from the potatoes, giving me a crispier home fry.

To make my home fries, I sauté them with olive oil, fresh garlic, and fresh herbs. I keep unused potatoes uncovered in the refrigerator for about a week.

By laluna — On Nov 30, 2008

Potatoes are simple, but very good, just boiled in chunks and left like that or mashed and drizzled with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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