Different Types of Potato

With a Selection of Varieties

Did you know that there are different types of potato?

Tasty Potato Guide - Browse the different types of potato and look at all the varieties that are on offer in UK

Potatoes are one of the most versatile natural foods that can be cooked in so many different ways, so to get great results you need to pick the right type of potato. To make your shopping hassle-free we have put together this handy guide to help you get great results every time. Some potatoes are suited to some ways of cooking and to get best results, you should use the best type. If you have tried to mash potatoes that wouldn’t, or if your boiled mash disintegrated, you were probably using the wrong potato.

Do you like a fluffy roastie, how about a smooth mash or maybe some boiled potatoes? The handy categories below tells you everything you need to know about picking the perfect potato for each recipe.

Potatoes can also have a distinctive nutty or buttery flavour making them just great on their own. See what’s available in your potato aisle, after all there’s more to potatoes than meets the eye.

We have listed a few of our fabulous range here. Not all varieties are available to buy each year, but this gives you an idea of what we grow.

Smooth Potato Varieties

Smooth Potatoes make great all-rounders, and tend to have the creamy consistency needed for a smooth mash and hold their shape. Very versatile in the kitchen

Salad Potato Varieties

Taste great simply prepared in their skins. Salad potatoes are firm to the bite and are great for a quick, easy dish. Taste delicious boiled, or roasted whole.

Fluffy Potato Varieties

These potatoes have a fluffy middle when cooked. They are not only great for family favourites such as ruffled up roasties but also tasty jackets or chunky chips.

A Selection of Potato Varieties - some more common than others.

How many potato varieties can you name? Most people can name Charlotte and Maris Piper. Explore the many different varieties – all grown in the UK. Find out about different flavours, textures as well as colour. Make your next potato dish with these varieties.

Jazzy

Jazzy has an excellent taste and waxy texture. It is a long oval shape, set-skinned variety which lends itself perfectly to salads, boiled, roasted whole.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

King Edward

King Edward is one of the oldest of the UK potato varieties. Excellent taste. It great all-rounder

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Parti or Mottled
Flesh Colour White

Charlotte

Charlotte potatoes have a fresh flavour which tastes great hot or cold. Ideal boiled as part of a salad, they hold their shape well and can be roasted whole.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Yukon Gold

Yukon Gold has an attractive smooth yellow skin with a very yellow flesh. Ideal for jacket potatoes roasties and chips.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Bambino

Short oval tuber with white skin and cream flesh, great variety for boiling. Lovely salad potatoes with a smooth light waxy texture.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Lady Balfour

Named after Lady Eve Balfour – a pioneer of the UK organic movement. Oval shape, creamy skin with splashes of pink. It cooks well as mash, boiled or wedges.

Potato Type Smooth
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Highland Burgundy Red

Ideal for making chips or wedgies. Brightens up any dish. Distinctive ring under the skin makes this an eye-catching variety.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour Red

Pink Fir Apple

Pink Fir Apple fingerling potatoes are long, narrow and famously knobbly. They have a wonderful nutty, earthy flavour. Great boiled, steamed or in salads.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour White

Maris Piper

Maris Piper has a golden skin and creamy white flesh with a fluffy texture making it a versatile all rounder, great for chips and roasties, also good for mash.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Mayan Gold

Mayan Gold originated from the foothills of the Andes where its ancestors were farmed by the Incas. Exceptional variety for chips, crisps, roasties and Jacket.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Parti or Mottled
Flesh Colour White

Salad Blue

The Salad Blue heritage variety is oval in shape, with the skin and flesh both a strong deep blue colour. Great for chips, crisps, mash and colourful wedges.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Blue
Flesh Colour Blue

Shetland Black

Very tasty and fluffy, they fry well and make creative sautéed potatoes, crisps & chips. It’s best to cook them with the skin on to keep the blue coloured ring.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Blue
Flesh Colour Blue

Anya

Anya is a fingerling potato with a firm texture, knobbly appearance and a slight nutty flavour. It can be enjoyed boiled, roasted or steamed. Great served cold.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Violetta

Violetta is a specialist heritage potato variety with an indigo blue skin and blue flesh. It has a delicate sweet flavour, and works well in savoury dishes

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Blue
Flesh Colour Blue

Rooster

Rooster potatoes have russet red skin with a nutty flavour. Great choice for roasting and chips. Extremely easy to peel. They also make great jacket potatoes.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour White

Heidi Red

Slightly buttery, delicious taste. Ideal for salads, boiled & mash. The Heidi Red (Heiderot) potato has long shaped tubers with bright red skin and flesh.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour Red

Desiree

Desiree potatoes have a firm, creamy taste making them ideal for smooth mash or being cooked in a sauce such as Dauphinoise. Red skin and light yellow flesh.

Potato Type Smooth
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour White

Arran Victory

Good earthy taste and make fantastic roasties. This heritage potato variety has a vibrant blue skin, which changes to creamy yellow once cooked, and a snowy white flesh.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Blue
Flesh Colour White

Maris Peer

Maris Peer are small salad potatoes with a light fresh flavour. They are great boiled, steamed, roasted or made into wedges. Can be eaten hot or cold.

Potato Type Salad
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Golden Wonder

A heritage potato with brown rough skin and fluffy flesh with a very high dry matter. Ideal for chipping, roasting and homemade crisps. Old earthy potato taste.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

Kerr’s Pink

Kerr’s Pink have round tubers with light pink skin and small delicate deep red eyes. Traditionally been prepared with skin on and mashed, roasted, or baked.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour Red
Flesh Colour White

Blue Annelise

Blue Anneliese is a new addition to our Speciality range. Long shaped, blue skin and flesh tubers. Creamy flavour with a nutty aroma perfect for mash and wedges.

Potato Type Smooth
Skin Colour Blue
Flesh Colour Blue

Elland

Long Oval creamy-yellow tubers perfect for home made chips, Jacket Potatoes and excellent fluffy mash. Floury in texture, Elland are versatile in the kitchen.

Potato Type Fluffy
Skin Colour White
Flesh Colour White

We have a shop!

Potato House are renowned for their fabulous range of potatoes. We grow and sell a huge range of heritage and coloured potatoes. Cooking a heritage or coloured potato takes no extra skill. You cook according to the potato type. A fluffy potato makes a great roastie, no matter, if it is white or blue, similarly a salad potato, is great boiled, regardless of whether it is red or white.

We do have standard baking and salad potatoes as well.

All varieties listed here are grown in the UK by Potato House and are available to purchase. They are delivered to your door and so there is no excuse not to experiment with unusual varieties, however we do have standard white potatoes if you prefer!