Classic Potato Salad

22 Jun

When buying potatoes to use in potato salad, it's important to select a variety that keeps its shape when cooked.  Starch content is the defining factor in where to use potato.

Classic Potato Salad is just one of two potato salads The Hungry Wife will be featuring.  We’ll start with the Classic Potato Salad and then get a little more daring.  This recipe is simple and delicious, with traditional ingredients sure to be loved by all.

When looking at potatoes to use for Classic Potato Salad, it’s important to select a variety  that keeps its shape when cooked.  Starch content is the defining factor in texture and usage.  Russet or Idaho are the highest in starch and are best for baked potatoes, pureed soups, French Fries, and potato pancakes.  Waxy, such as fingerling, most red varieties, and some of the round whites, are lower in starch and hold together when cooked, an asset for salads, gratins, and stews and for roasting and boiling.

Popular yellow-fleshed varieties of potatoes, like Yukon Gold and Yellow Finn, are medium starchy and versatile enough for all purposes.  The Potato Harvest Cookbook gives two simple guidelines for determining a spud’s starch content.

  1. Cut the potato in half; if the blade is filmy or has a foamy residue, or if the spud sticks to the knife, its starch content is high.
  2. If you’re a science buff, make a brine of 11 parts water to 1 part salt.  Drop in the potato.  A high-starch potato is denser and will sink; low-starch types will float.

Boiling potato in their skins prevents them from absorbing too much water during cooking and ensures firm potato for salads.


7 Responses to “Classic Potato Salad”

  1. Darcie Muwwakkil January 1, 2011 at 11:41 am #

    For some time I have been serving a just-as-delicious recipe. I am anxious to try your spin on this old recipe.

  2. Lisa Elderkin November 26, 2011 at 1:38 pm #

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, as well as the content!

  3. Dominica Brazill December 3, 2011 at 6:48 pm #

    Hello there, I found your blog via Google while searching for a related topic, your site came up, it looks good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

  4. Brooke Crigger December 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm #

    thanks! visit us again soon. 🙂

  5. Blaine Kaku December 7, 2011 at 3:23 pm #

    You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  6. Maddie Nawfel December 12, 2011 at 1:14 pm #

    Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!

  7. Brooke Crigger December 12, 2011 at 9:59 pm #

    Thanks Maddle! I’ve been blogging here for a bit under two years.

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