These are the potato varieties grown in South Australia. They have differing dry content matter and specific gravity, which means that each variety has an ideal cooking method and consumer use. There are two main types of potato: floury which are better for baking, mashing, frying, roasting and making perfect golden chips; and waxy which are higher in moisture and low in starch. They retain their shape throughout boiling and are excellent for salads, soups and casseroles.
Detailed grower information including agronomic attributes, pest and disease resistance and other specifications will be added to this page.
Types of potatoes
There are many types of potatoes , such as russet potatoes, red potatoes, and Yukon Gold potatoes. Each type of potato has different characteristics, such as size, color, and texture.
Russet potatoes are the largest type of potato. They have a brownish-red skin and are often used for baking or frying. Red potatoes are smaller than Russet potatoes and have a red or pinkish skin. They are often used for salads or roasting. Yukon Gold potatoes are yellow-skinned and are good for boiling or mashed potatoes.
When choosing a potato, it is important to consider what you will be using it for. For example, if you want to make mashed potatoes, you would want to choose a potato that is good for boiling, such as a Yukon Gold. If you want to make roasted potatoes, you would want to choose a potato that is good for roasting, such as a red potato.
Atlantic
Qualities: Round shape, buff-coloured skin, white flesh and deep eyes
Availability: Mid-season
Ideal Use: Australia’s major crisping and chipping potato variety
Origin: United States of America.
Bintje
Qualities: Waxy, yellow flesh and a long shelf life
Availability: Mid-season
Ideal Use: Frying, salads
Origin: The Netherlands.
Bison
Qualities: Round, dark red to purple skin, white flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Mash, boiling
Origin: United States of America.
Carisma
Qualities: Only certified low GI (55), oval shape and white skin
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Boiling, mashing, salads
Origin: Australia
Coliban
Qualities: Round shape, white skin and white flesh
Availability: Late season
Ideal Use: Boiling, chipping, baking
Origin: Australia.
Desiree
Qualities: Round shape, pink skin and pale yellow waxy flesh
Availability: Mid to late season
Ideal Use: Boiling, roasting, mashing, gnocchi
Origin: The Netherlands.
Dutch Cream
Qualities: Large oval shape, yellow waxy flesh, thin skin and a rich, buttery taste
Availability: Late to early season
Ideal Use: Mashing, boiling, roasting, baking, pureed
Origin: The Netherlands.
Eureka
Qualities: Oval shape, cream skin, white flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Mashing, chipping, roasting
Origin: Australia.
Exton
Qualities: Creamy white skin, white flesh
Availability: Late season
Ideal Use: Frying
Origin: United States of America.
Harmony
Qualities: Round shape, smooth pale white skin, white flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Mashing, boiling, wedges
Origin: Scotland.
Kennebec
Qualities: Oblong shape, white skin, white flesh
Availability: Early mid-season
Ideal Use: All purpose
Origin: United States of America
Kestrel
Qualities: Long oval shape, creamy flesh, white skin, purple or blue eyes
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Boiling, roasting, mashing, frying
Origin: United Kingdom.
King Edward
Qualities: Round to oval shape, floury texture, creamy white flesh, smooth pale skin with pink markings
Availability: Mid to late season
Ideal Use: Mashing, roasting, dry baking
Origin: United Kingdom.
Kipfler
Qualities: Cigar shape, yellow skin, waxy flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Baking, boiling, salads
Origin: The Netherlands.
Lady Christl
Qualities: Small oval shape, cream skin, light yellow flesh
Availability: Early season
Ideal Use: Boiling
Origin: Scotland.
Maranca
Qualities: Oval shape, white skin, golden flesh
Availability: Short Growing season
Ideal Use: Mashing, roasting, jacket, salads
Origin: The Netherlands
Mondial
Qualities: Oval shape, pale yellow skin and flesh
Availability: Early season
Ideal Use: Salads, mashing, roasting
Origin: The Netherlands.
Mozart
Qualities: Oval shape, red skin with white eyes, yellow flesh
Ideal Use: Mashing, baking
Origin: United Kingdom.
Nadine
Qualities: Short, oval shape, smooth creamy white skin, white flesh
Availability: All year
Best Cooking Methods: Boiling, salads
Origin: Caithness, Scotland
Nicola
Qualities: Oblong shape, rich yellow skin, yellow buttery flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Salads, baking, boiling, gnocchi
Origin: The Netherlands.
Otway Red
Qualities: Oval shape, red smooth skin, cream flesh
Availability: June to August
Ideal Use: Mashing, roasting, frying
Photo courtesy of: brisbanelocalfood.ning.com
Patrone
Qualities: Firm, light yellow skin and flesh
Availability: Mid to late seasons
Ideal Use: Roasting, baking, salads
Origin: Holland.
Pink eye (Southern Gold)
Qualities: Waxy yellow flesh
Availability: Late in season
Ideal Use: Salads, boiling, steaming, baking
Origin: Australia.
Pink Fir Apple
Qualities: Elongated shape, pale pink skin, firm, waxy
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Salads, boiling
Origin: France.
Pontiac
Qualities: Round shape, red skin, white flesh
Ideal Use: Boiling, chipping, baking
Origin: United States of America.
Photo courtesy of: www.taspotatoes.com.au
Red Rascal
Qualities: Oval shape, dark red skin, clean white flesh
Ideal Use: Boiling, baking, mashing, roasting, frying
Royal Blue
Qualities: Long, oval, flattened shape, blue-purple skin, golden yellow flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: All purpose
Ruby Lou
Qualities: Oval shape, dark pink skin, white flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Roasting, boiling, frying
Origin: Australia.
Purple Congo
Qualities: Oval shape, dark pink/purple skin, purple flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Mashing, steaming, boiling, salads
Origin: Australia
Russet Burbank
Qualities: Large, elongated shape, white flesh, deep eyes
Availability: Late season
Ideal Use: Baking, roasting. Australia’s major variety for French fries and wedges
Origin: United States of America.
Savanna
Qualities: Oval, white skin, white flesh
Ideal Use: Boiling, Salad
Origin: Ireland.
Sebago
Qualities: Long oval shape, white skin, white flesh
Availability: Mid-season
Ideal Use: All Purpose. Used for crisping and French fries commercially.
Origin: United States of America.
Sifra
Qualities: Round shape, white smooth skin, creamy flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: All purpose
Origin: The Netherlands.
Toolangi Delight
Qualities: Deeply dimpled purple skin, white flesh
Availability: Mid to early season
Ideal Use: Mashing, baking, frying, gnocchi
Origin: Australia.
Virginia Rose
Qualities: Oval shape, red skin, pale yellow flesh
Availability: All year
Ideal Use: Mashing
Origin: The Netherlands
White Star
Qualities: Big oblong shape, cream smooth skin and flesh
Availability: September to November
Ideal Use: Mash, boil, roast, fry
Origin: Australia