You’re about to make dinner. You look at the recipe, seeing that you have all the ingredients- but wait! Potatoes! What if a recipe is calling for Yukon, but you only have red? Or the recipe instructs you to use Russet potatoes, and you only have Yukon? Or the recipe doesn’t specify all together! What do you do? What’s the difference between these potatoes and are they interchangeable?

Russet potatoes are the “driest” of the bunch. They have less water content, so they are ideal for recipes in which you are trying to avoid mushy potatoes- like French fries! However, they can also be pretty versatile. While some claim you should Yukon gold potatoes for the creamiest mashed potatoes, I’ve had plenty of creamy, delicious mashed potatoes made from a basic Russett- it’s all about adding the good stuff like sour cream or milk!

Because of their lower water content, Russet potatoes also tend to hold their shape better, making them great for twice-baked potato recipes, hash browns, or latkes.

Yukon Gold potatoes have a higher water content and definitely have a creamier texture. They’re also much higher in Vitamin C, technically making them a healthier option, though all the other nutritional factors are pretty similar to a Russet potato.

They will make creamier mashed potatoes without needing to add as much cream, milk, etc. They’re great for roasting because of their buttery flavor and softer skins. Their softer skins also make them ideal for rustic mashed potatoes! Yukon Gold potatoes are also just beautiful- the natural golden, butter yellow color makes them add a beautiful depth to any dish!

Red potatoes are the “waxiest” of the three. They are great for throwing into soups and potato salads because they hold their shape fabulously. This also makes them great for things like latkes and hashbrowns, because again, they hold their shape! They also are delicious for roasting. However, because they are so “waxy” compared to Russet and Yukon, they’re not ideal for when you want a creamy potato, like for mashed potatoes. But boil them whole and serve them with butter and seasonings for an easy and delicious side!

Basically- these potatoes are definitely different from each other, and if you have the time and resources to choose which potato you’re using for a particular recipe, this guide can help you choose the perfect potato to really level up your recipes!

However, in a pinch- you can pretty much substitute any of these for the other (keeping in mind you may have to make some adjustments, like more cream in red mashed potatoes!).

Which is your favorite potato to use?

    Camille Hoffmann
    Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
    Email the author! camille@dvo.com