What are the 5 ways to eat potatoes?

November 16, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know the potato is the third most important food crop worldwide, after rice and wheat? This versatile vegetable can be prepared in countless ways, but we'll focus on what are the 5 ways to eat potatoes that are both popular and delicious.

Quick Summary

The humble potato can be prepared in five delicious ways: baking, mashing, roasting, frying, and as a salad. These cooking methods offer a variety of textures and flavors to suit any dish or occasion.

Key Points

Baking: Create a fluffy interior and crispy skin by rubbing Russet potatoes with oil and salt before baking at 425°F for about an hour.
Mashing: Boil Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes until tender, then mash with warm milk and butter for a creamy, classic side.
Roasting: Get a golden, crispy exterior by tossing evenly-sized potato chunks with olive oil and herbs and roasting at high heat.
Frying: Achieve a satisfying crunch with pan-fried or deep-fried potatoes; cut them thin to ensure even cooking.
Potato Salad: Use waxy potatoes like red or Yukon Gold for a delicious, chilled, and tangy salad that holds its shape.
Versatility: Each cooking method can be customized with a variety of seasonings and toppings to create endless flavor combinations.
Nutrition: Potatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and resistant starch, making them a filling and nutrient-rich food.

1. Baked Potatoes: The Classic Comfort

Perhaps the most straightforward preparation, baking a potato delivers a fluffy, creamy interior encased in a flavorful, crispy skin. This method is a blank canvas for a wide array of toppings, allowing for endless customization. Russet potatoes are the most common choice for baking due to their high starch content, which yields a light and airy texture.

How to Bake the Perfect Potato

Prep: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry completely.
Pierce & Coat: Prick the potatoes all over with a fork to allow steam to escape. Rub them with olive oil and a generous sprinkle of coarse salt for a flavorful, crisp skin.
Bake: Place potatoes directly on the oven rack for better air circulation and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until fork-tender.
Load: Slice open and load with toppings such as butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, or chives.

2. Mashed Potatoes: The Ultimate Side Dish

A classic for a reason, mashed potatoes are the epitome of creamy comfort food. They pair perfectly with roasts, gravies, and stews. For the fluffiest results, opt for starchy potatoes like Russets or Yukon Golds.

Making Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Boil: Peel and cut potatoes into evenly-sized chunks. Place them in a pot with cold, salted water and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until they are tender enough to be pierced easily with a knife.
Drain & Dry: Drain the potatoes thoroughly and return them to the warm pot to let any excess moisture steam off. This prevents a gummy texture.
Mash: Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, then add warm milk or half-and-half, butter, and seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mash until the desired consistency is reached.
Serve: Garnish with fresh chives or a pat of melted butter.

3. Roasted Potatoes: Crispy and Golden

Roasting potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and creates an irresistible crispy exterior with a soft, tender inside. This method is versatile, working well with red potatoes, Yukon Golds, or even fingerlings.

How to Achieve Maximum Crunch

Cut Evenly: Cut potatoes into evenly-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 inches, to ensure uniform cooking.
Par-boil (Optional): For an extra-crispy exterior, boil the cut potatoes in salted water for about 10 minutes until slightly softened. Drain and shake them in the pot to rough up the edges.
Roast: Toss the potatoes with olive oil and your preferred seasonings, such as rosemary, garlic powder, and paprika. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast at 425°F (220°C) for 20-40 minutes, flipping occasionally until golden and crispy.

4. Fried Potatoes: Fast and Delicious

Whether in the form of classic French fries, crispy home fries, or a Spanish-style tortilla, frying is a beloved method for cooking potatoes. Frying delivers a deep golden color and satisfying crunch.

Pan-Fried Potatoes with Onions

Slice: Thinly slice or cube potatoes and onions.
Fry: Heat oil in a large skillet and add the potatoes and onions. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Cook: Cook over medium-high heat, turning only every 5-7 minutes to allow them to develop a nice sear. Continue cooking until the potatoes are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

5. Potato Salad: The Refreshing Alternative

Potato salad is a chilled, flavorful side dish perfect for picnics, barbecues, and potlucks. Unlike starchy potatoes, waxy varieties like red or Yukon Gold are best for this application as they hold their shape well after boiling.

Assembling a Classic Potato Salad

Boil: Boil cubed waxy potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and let cool completely.
Mix Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and seasonings.
Combine: Gently fold the cooled potatoes with the dressing and other ingredients like chopped celery, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, and pickles.
Chill: Refrigerate until ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Comparison of Potato Cooking Methods


Method	Texture	Health Benefits	Best For	Typical Cook Time	Notes
Baked	Fluffy interior, crispy skin	High in potassium and vitamin C	Main dish (loaded) or simple side	~60 minutes	Minimal hands-on time
Mashed	Creamy and smooth	Can be nutrient-rich depending on additives	Side dish, comfort food	~30-45 minutes	Can become gummy if over-mixed
Roasted	Crispy exterior, tender interior	Can be low-fat if minimal oil is used	Side dish, versatile for herbs	~45 minutes	Requires high heat for crispiness
Fried	Crispy and crunchy	Highest fat content, less healthy overall	Snacks, breakfast sides	~20-30 minutes	Delicious but should be enjoyed in moderation
Potato Salad	Tender, creamy, and cool	Good for digestive health due to resistant starch	Picnic side, summer meals	~30 minutes prep + chill time	Waxy potatoes hold shape best

Conclusion

The humble potato offers an incredible range of culinary possibilities, catering to almost any taste preference or meal. Whether you prefer the comforting fluffiness of a baked potato, the creamy richness of mashed potatoes, the crispy satisfaction of roasted or fried spuds, or the tangy freshness of a potato salad, there is a perfect preparation method for every occasion. This versatility, combined with their nutritional benefits like being a source of potassium and vitamin C, solidifies the potato's status as a global food staple. So, next time you are wondering what to cook, remember these five fantastic ways to eat potatoes and enjoy this delicious and adaptable vegetable. For more in-depth nutritional information, visit the UC Davis Health blog on potato benefits: Potato health benefits and why you should eat more spuds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Baking, boiling, and roasting are generally considered the healthiest ways to cook potatoes because they require less oil and fat compared to frying. Leaving the skin on also retains more nutrients.

For creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes, starchy varieties like Russets and Yukon Golds are the best choice. Their texture breaks down easily, absorbing dairy and butter effectively.

To get extra-crispy roasted potatoes, try par-boiling them for 10 minutes, draining them, and shaking them in the pot to rough up the edges. This creates more surface area for crisping during roasting.

Mashed potatoes can become gummy if they are over-mixed. This happens when the potato's starch molecules are overworked. To avoid this, mash by hand or with a mixer on low speed for only a few seconds.

It depends on the recipe and preference. Leaving the skin on adds fiber and nutrients, especially in baked or roasted potatoes. For mashed potatoes, you can peel them or leave the skins on, but waxy potato skins tend to remain more noticeable.

Potatoes contain resistant starch, which may help reduce insulin resistance. Boiling and chilling potatoes can increase their resistant starch content.

Yes, potatoes are naturally gluten-free. They are a safe option for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, though it's important to be mindful of recipes with gluten-containing additions.

Removing surface moisture from potatoes before pan-frying is crucial. It allows them to get much crispier and prevents excessive oil splattering in the skillet.