+10 KINDS of POTATOES - Names, Characteristics and Photos

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Potatoes are the fourth most consumed food in the world, behind corn, wheat and rice. We are talking about one of the types of tubers rich in proteins and micronutrients, which in Spain alone has more than 150 varieties and of which each citizen consumes an average of 26 kilos a year. They are used in dishes of all cuisines, such as mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, potato omelette, gratin potatoes or the typical wrinkled potatoes typical of the Canary Islands. Large roasted potatoes are also common in the Malaga area, in Spain, and patatas bravas are a popular tapa throughout the country.

However, most consumers limit themselves to choosing the potato they buy based on its appearance or price, when it is worth knowing well the most widespread varieties of potatoes and how to get the best out of them. If you want to know more about the different types of potatoes, join us in this Green Ecologist article.

Types of potatoes - list with names

As a summary, we can give a list of types of potatoes:

• Mona Lisa.
• Sour
• Kennebec or Galician.
• Spunta.
• Red Pontiac.
• Universal.
• Elodie.
• Vitelotte.
• Early or new potatoes.
• Mid-late or seasonal potatoes.
• Late or old potatoes.

Monalisa potato, one of the most popular types of potatoes

The Pope Monalisa is one of the varieties of potatoes with lower water content, which makes it very versatile in the kitchen. It is medium in size, oval in shape, soft to the touch and light in color.

It is classified as early potato and its high percentage of starch makes it very useful for frying, since it accumulates little oil. Boiled, it reaches its cooking point before other varieties and, in addition, it maintains its shape better, helping the presentation of the dish.

Sour potato

The sour potato It is a large size, oval shape, light brown, fine skin and yellow flesh. It is a potato that is especially recommended for frying, due to its low sugar content, and stands out for its great preservation capacity, which is why it is often used in the food industry to make products such as potato omelettes or snacks.

Kennebec or Galician potato

The Kennebec potato or Galician potato is the most popular Worldwide. It is a large, fast-growing potato with a strong flavor that is highly appreciated. Its skin is slightly mottled and fine, yellow or light brown in color and its flesh is white.

It is one of the varieties of semi-early potatoes with little water and high starch content, very versatile in cooked but particularly valued as one of the best types of potato chips.

Spunta potato

La Spunta is a mid-late potato mild in flavor that is particularly popular in northern Spain. It is Extended form and it is consumed mainly cooked, as part of salads or as a garnish.

The spunta long potato It is a variety that has been genetically modified to be resistant to diseases.

Potato Red Pontiac

The potato Red Pontiac It is a type of potato that is recognized for its very red skin and its white pulp, round in shape and grainy in texture. Its organoleptic characteristics make it a favorite for many when it comes to making potato omelettes, although it is also valid cooked and as an accompaniment.

Universal Potato

It is a potato with one color skin light yellow and very white pulp. The Universal potato It is one of the most commercialized varieties and, although it can be used in cooking and other types of dishes, it is one of the most notable as potato for frying.

Elodie Potato

The Elodie is a early type potato. It is oval in shape, yellow skin and pulp of similar color. Its size is medium, and thanks to its creamy pulp its consumption becomes particularly popular in summer or hot periods.

The papa Elodie It is considered versatile, so its use is not specialized in frying or cooking; responds very well to all forms of cooking.

Vitelotte potato, one of the rarest types of potatoes

Also called purple potato for its particular color, both in the skin and in the pulp. Its tones change depending on the specific variety, but it is always striking and very easy to differentiate from the more traditional varieties.

In the kitchen they are very versatile, although in purees they are especially attractive due to their color. In salads and garnishes, cut very thin, they are also very popular.

Types of potatoes according to when they are harvested

According to its time of collection, potatoes can be classified into three types:

• New or early potatoes: New or early potatoes are harvested between March and June in the Northern Hemisphere, before they are fully mature. They are usually sweet potatoes or with a mild flavor, with a higher percentage of water and a firm texture.
• Mid-late or seasonal potatoes: mid-late nights are collected between June and the end of summer, again in the northern hemisphere. It is a versatile type of potato, halfway between early and late, which in cooking can be used for everything.
• Old or late potatoes: the late ones are those that are harvested in autumn. They are large in size and their skin is thicker and harder, so they can withstand long periods of conservation time. They are also darker, and their pulp has a high concentration of starch.

If after knowing the different types of potatoes If you are encouraged to grow one in your land, orchard or garden, we recommend you read these guides on When to plant potatoes and How to plant potatoes, in which you will know the best time to plant them and the steps to do so, but also various tips for growing them.

If you want to read more articles similar to Types of potatoes, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.