What Type of Potato Should You Use? A Guide for Every Dish

Not all potatoes are created equal. Grab the wrong one and your mashed potatoes turn out gluey, your roasted potatoes fall apart, or your potato salad turns to mush. The good news? Once you know which potato does what, you'll never second-guess it again.

Here's a simple breakdown of the best potato for every dish.

The Main Types of Potatoes

Before we get into specific dishes, here's what you need to know about potato categories:

Starchy potatoes (like Russets) are high in starch and low in moisture. They become fluffy and light when cooked — perfect for mashing, baking, and frying.

Waxy potatoes (like Red and Fingerling) are low in starch and high in moisture. They hold their shape well when cooked — perfect for salads, soups, and roasting.

All-purpose potatoes (like Yukon Gold) fall in the middle — versatile enough for almost any dish.

🥔 Mashed Potatoes → Russet or Yukon Gold

Best choice: Russet Russets are the gold standard for mashed potatoes. Their high starch content breaks down easily and produces a fluffy, smooth result that absorbs butter and cream beautifully.

Second choice: Yukon Gold Yukon Golds produce a naturally buttery, creamy mash with a slightly richer flavor. They don't get quite as fluffy as Russets, but many cooks prefer the taste.

Avoid: Red potatoes and waxy varieties — they produce a dense, gluey mash.

🧮 Know exactly how many potatoes you need: Use our Mashed Potato Calculator to calculate pounds, butter, milk, and salt for any number of people.

🍟 Roasted Potatoes → Yukon Gold or Red

Best choice: Yukon Gold Yukon Golds roast beautifully — crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. Their natural buttery flavor means you need less added fat to get great results.

Second choice: Red potatoes Red potatoes hold their shape perfectly when roasted and have a slightly earthy flavor. Great for herb-roasted potatoes and sheet pan dinners.

Avoid: Russets — they can dry out and fall apart when roasted at high heat.

🥗 Potato Salad → Red or Fingerling

Best choice: Red potatoes Red potatoes are the top choice for potato salad because they hold their shape after boiling and don't absorb too much dressing. They stay firm and have a slightly waxy texture that works perfectly in a cold salad.

Second choice: Fingerling potatoes Fingerlings add visual interest and have a firm, creamy texture. Great for a more elevated potato salad.

Avoid: Russets — they absorb too much dressing and fall apart easily.

🍠 Baked Potato → Russet

Best choice: Russet — every time There's really only one answer here. Russets are large, have thick skin that crisps up perfectly, and their fluffy interior is exactly what you want when loading up with toppings.

Tip: Prick with a fork, rub with oil and salt, and bake at 425°F for 50-60 minutes for perfect results.

🍲 Soups and Stews → Yukon Gold

Best choice: Yukon Gold Yukon Golds hold their shape in soups and stews without turning to mush, but they also release just enough starch to naturally thicken the broth. Best of both worlds.

Second choice: Red potatoes Red potatoes also work well in soups. They stay firm and add a slightly different texture.

Avoid: Russets — They break down too quickly and can make your soup starchy and thick.

🧇 Hash Browns and Potato Pancakes → Russet

Best choice: Russet The high starch content in Russets is exactly what makes hash browns crispy and golden. Squeeze out as much moisture as possible before cooking for the best results.

Tip: Grate your Russets and soak in cold water for 10 minutes, then squeeze dry in a clean towel before cooking. This removes excess starch and gives you crispier hash browns.

🫙 Potato Skins → Russet

Best choice: Russet Russets are the only real choice for potato skins. Their thick skin holds up to scooping and crisps up perfectly in the oven. Load them up with cheese, bacon, and sour cream.

Quick Reference Guide

Ready to Cook for a Crowd?

Now that you know which potato to use, make sure you have the right amount.

• 🧮 Mashed Potato Calculator — How many pounds do you need for your guests?
• ⚖️ Recipe Scaler — Scale any potato recipe up or down instantly
• 🛒 Grocery Cost Estimator — Plan your potato budget before you shop