What are the best potatoes for roasting? The best are often considered to be Desiree potatoes, but like anything else, it depends on your personal taste. So rest assured, if you’ve scoured every supermarket and found that all the Desirees are gone, there are a ton of other varieties that make the perfect roast potatoes.
However, with over 4,000 types of potatoes out there, finding the best roasting spuds can get a little overwhelming. Some potatoes are good for mashing but not for chips, and some spuds are better boiled than roasted. While we obviously can’t go over all 4,000 types of potatoes, we can help you find the best potatoes for roasting.
Why are potatoes so popular all around the world?
Versatility aside, potatoes are relatively easy to grow. Because of this, they have become the third most important food crop in the world, and a staple in cuisines around the world, from India’s aloo gobi to Italy’s gnocchi to Australian potato scallops.
Potatoes are also considered quite healthy despite their high carb content. According to HealthLine, potatoes are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, and can also help prevent osteoporosis, maintain heart health and reduce the risk of infections.
What potatoes are best for roasting?
Out of the 4,000 potato varieties, what are the best potatoes for roasting? Essentially, you’re looking for potatoes that have thin skin with a texture that’s a perfect balance between waxy and starchy. As for how to roast these potatoes, we’ve also provided some simple ingredients that go well with these spuds.
01
Yukon gold
Ideal for potato bake
These average-sized yellow spuds are some of the best potatoes for roast dishes because they’re not too waxy, not too starchy, and don’t flake as easily as other potatoes when subjected to high heat.
Origin: Ontario, Canada
Best roasting recipe: It’s not hard to roast a great Yukon. You just need some garlic, herbs, salt and pepper, and olive oil.
02
Kipfler potatoes
For a next-level side dish
Famous for their nutty, buttery, creamy texture, Kipfler potatoes have yellow skin and even lighter yellow flesh.
Origin: Austria
Best roasting recipe For something a little different, try roasting Kipfler potatoes with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, and chives.
03
Red potatoes
Also great for creamy salads
Red potatoes have a rich and earthy flavour that’s perfect for roasting. It is also a potato that has high moisture and low starch content, which means its shape doesn’t change much during cooking. Another advantage of choosing red potatoes for roasting is that, because of its thin skin, you don’t have to peel it before eating.
Origin: Peru
Best roasting recipe For a great roast red potato, opt for a simple mixture of olive oil, salt and pepper – it’s that easy!
04
Desiree potatoes
God-tier baked potatoes
As mentioned above, Desiree potatoes are considered one of the best roasting potatoes because they embody a perfect firm and creamy texture when cooked.
Origin: The Netherlands
Best roasting recipe: For a simple roast Desiree potato dish, all you need is oil and butter, garlic, and finely chopped rosemary leaves – the flavour of the potato speaks for itself!
05
Purple sweet potatoes
For a colourful vegie roast
Sweet potatoes are soft when boiled, baked, or mashed, and crispy when fried. As their name suggests, sweet potatoes are sweet enough to be turned into dessert! Like regular potatoes, they are also full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Origin: South America
Best roasting recipe: For a savoury sweet potato recipe, try roasting the potatoes with olive oil, salt, garlic, pepper and balsamic vinegar.
06
Russet potatoes
Best for French fries
These large potatoes with dark brown skin are starchy, flaky and dry. They’re perfect for mashing as they fluff up amazingly. Russet potatoes are also the best potatoes for French fries.
Origin: Massachusetts, USA
Best roasting recipe: For roasted potato strips, all you’ll need is a little olive oil, parsley, garlic, and salt and pepper.
07
Sebago potatoes
The all-rounder
As one of the most widely used potatoes worldwide, Sebago potatoes have light brown to almost white skin and matching white flesh, and are pretty much fat-free.
Origin: Maine, USA
Best roasting recipe: All you need for a good Sebago roast dish is some olive oil, rosemary and sea salt.
08
Dutch cream potatoes
Creamy, just like the name suggests
It’s in the name – these potatoes are creamy! They also have a nice buttery flavour.
Origin: The Netherlands
Best roasting recipe: We recommend cooking these potatoes with sunflower oil or canola oil, rosemary and just a smidgen of duck fat.
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