topic Re: What is the name of that potato? in Kitchen

What is the name of that potato?

granddi — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:23:51 GMT

I was grocery shopping for what I call a russet (or Idaho) potato. Not to be confused with red, yellow, fingerling, purple.

I am at the self check out and can not locate a category for either name. So I asked for help. And the helper was the store manager.

Me: Sorry, I cannot find these listed under Russet or Idaho.

Manager: That is because they are BAKING POTATOES

Me: Well, you can bake them and also fry, grill, mash...ha ha I thought.

Manager: I've been in grocery for 32 years and those are called Baking Potatoes.

Ok--good to know!!

What do you call those elongated brown potatoes?

Re: What is the name of that potato?

daisyk — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:29:29 GMT

I call them both-I probably say Russets if they're bagged but baking if they are loose. Maybe it's a regional thing? You are not wrong-

Re: What is the name of that potato?

Venezia — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:30:32 GMT

@granddi - DH and I just did some grocery shopping today and we bought russet potatoes. They were listed on the screen (self-checkout) as...

...wait for it! RUSSET POTATOES!

I guess it depends on where you are. (But the store manager really ought to know the different varieties.)

Re: What is the name of that potato?

PhilaLady1 — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:31:09 GMT

I call them Russet or Idaho potatoes. They are my favorite and the only kind I buy. That manager seemed that he just did not want to be bothered answering questions from customers. Anyone knows that you can stick any type of potato in the oven and bake them. Or maybe I am wrong and just don't know that people also refer to them specifically as Baking Potatoes.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

drizzellla — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:32:33 GMT

I call them Idaho potatoes.

I think russet are not oblong. They are smaller and round.

But I have not been in the grocery business for 32 years. So the Manager might correct me.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

sunshine45 — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:36:32 GMT

i generally call them baking potatoes.

very brown, oblong, usually quite large.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

mizree — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:40:19 GMT

@granddi Russet potato. I checked my receipt and Kroger identifies them this way also.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

NYwoman — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:40:09 GMT

I call them Russets, too, and they are my favorite also. I am used to the Idaho variety. They are also grown in Maine. So, in NY, we can get either kind. Having lived in Washington state and NY, I have seen many different varieties of potatoes.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

loriqvc — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:42:52 GMT

If they're loose and large, I've almost always seen them labeled as baking potatoes. If there are a bunch in a bag, it depends on the source, but they're typically labeled as russet or Idaho potatoes.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

RedTop — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:50:46 GMT

Specifically they are russet burbank potatoes, and they are the number one all purpose potato.

Potatoes grown in the state of Idaho are marketed and sold as Idaho potatoes. Russets are just one of many potatoes grown in Idaho.

I received quite an education on potatoes when trucker daughter hauled them.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

alliswell — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:10:56 GMT

Russet:

Re: What is the name of that potato?

alliswell — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:13:11 GMT

My favorite [Yukon Gold]:

Re: What is the name of that potato?

ECBG — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:16:49 GMT

They are larger russet pototoes.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

On It — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:20:59 GMT

@alliswell wrote:

Russet:

My grocery list says Russet whenever I need this potato. I mash them, bake them, and fry them.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

Happy2BHere — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:35:06 GMT

Guess Walmart covers all their bases because I just bought two yesterday and I copied the way they came up on my order (they call them both Russet AND Baking Potatoes lol):

Russet Baking Potatoes, each

98.0¢/lb

Qty 2

(BTW - I rubbed the skins with olive oil and salt, poked all over with a fork and then airfried them, then topped simply with butter, shredded Mexican cheese and salt and pepper and my "enlongated brown potatoes" were yummy! A nice change from the airfried baked sweet potatoes I've been making lately.)

Re: What is the name of that potato?

spent2much — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:36:43 GMT

I call them Russets or Idahoes. I sure wish I had bought them the other day. I went to Aldi and they only had one kind of potatoes - I don't know what you call them except "regular" potatoes. LOL I'll be sure to get Russets or Idahoes in the future because I mashed those "regular" potatoes and they weren't *nearly* as good as Russets/Idahoes!

Re: What is the name of that potato?

justashopper — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:52:55 GMT

He was definitely being a jerk. But laughs on him.... he doesn't know it is also a russet? After 32 years in grocery. LOL

Re: What is the name of that potato?

ValuSkr — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 02:02:51 GMT

I always dread when a recipe calls for "new potatoes."

Re: What is the name of that potato?

on the bay — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:17:21 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
I always dread when a recipe calls for "new potatoes."

@ValuSkr,

My mother in law made the best I've ever tasted potato salad and she only used new potatoes.

Everyone always said they liked it the best they'd had.

So, I learned to make it and was asked to everytime we had a family gathering. It takes a lot of work and though very simple takes a lot of steps that have to be done just right!

I did have to try different stores sometimes to find those new potatoes. They do have a wonderful flavor and I think different from others.

Re: What is the name of that potato?

ValuSkr — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 02:22:10 GMT

@on the bay Are "new potatoes" labelled that way in the supermarket, or are they a specific kind of potato, just smaller? I've never gotten that!