If you’re making a warm potato salad to be served immediately, prepare your dressing before you cook the potatoes so it’s ready to use as soon as the potatoes are drained. If you’re cooling the potatoes before adding dressing, spread the potatoes out on a baking sheet in a single layer to cool.
I found the answer is starchy: Starchy potatoes have thick skin and a drier, mealier texture . Thanks to their large cells, they don’t hold up well to boiling or mixing because they take on more water than waxy potatoes when cooked. (This is why they’re great for mashed potatoes.) So, waxy potatoes are best for potato salad.
A common query we ran across in our research was “What kind of potatoes are not good for potato salad?”.
Our favorite answer was this might seem obvious to some, but traditional potatoes like Russets are a no-go for potato salad. The added starch provides fluffy texture, which is great in a baked potato or French fry, but not in a salad where the potato has to stand up against a flavorful and often thick dressing.
What kind of potatoes are best for salad dressing?
Some cooks prefer waxy potatoes such as Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, and red potatoes because they hold their shape when they’re cooked and keep their firm texture in the salad when they’re chopped up and tossed with dressing.
Some have found that you need a variety that holds its shape and has a creamy texture, to contrast nicely with the dressing. I find that mild-flavored waxy ones — reds, Yukon golds, and most new and fingerling potatoes — work best. As much as I love the earthier russets for baking, roasting, and mashing, they can bring a starchy, granular texture to a salad.
Can you use russet potatoes for potato salad?
You should avoid russet potatoes because they are only good for anything but potato salad. This is because they have this high starch content, just quite a bit of boiling will lead it to be mashed potatoes and mashed potatoes are not for potato salad.
Another thing we asked ourselves was: can you use starchy potatoes in salad dressing?
One source argued that most people should avoid starchy potatoes, like Russets, because they’ll fall apart instead of maintaining their shape. On the other hand, if you prefer super soft, creamy potato salad, starchy spuds will soak up all the dressing like a charm.
Are waxy potatoes good for salad?
Waxy potatoes are, you guessed it, waxy, which means they have a thin, papery skin you can remove easily. Waxy varieties tend to have a bit more body and moisture content and keep their shape well when cooked. What’s more: They’re excellent flavor absorbers . Our favorites for potato salad are red or red bliss.
What to serve with potatoes for dinner?
A platter of golden and orange potatoes can serve double duty as your dinner centerpiece. —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois Showcase asparagus when you dress it in fresh rosemary and red potatoes for an earthy counterpoint to the fresh, green spears. Add minced garlic and you get a gorgeous, flavorful side dish.
What is the best type of potato to cook with?
The ideal one would be potatoes of a waxy variety such as Yukon golds, or any other potatoes of the same kind. You should also prepare a teaspoon of salt to give supplementary flavor to your potato.