# Russet potato

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{{short description|Potato variety}}
{{for|the TV series episode|The Mentalist (season 1)#Episodes}}

A '''russet potato''' is a type of [potato](/source/potato) that is large, with dark brown skin and few eyes. The flesh is white, dry, soft, and mealy, and it is suitable for [baking](/source/Baked_potato), [mashing](/source/Mashed_potatoes), and [french fries](/source/french_fries). Russet potatoes are sometimes known as '''Idaho potatoes''' in the [United States](/source/United_States),<ref name=CT>{{cite web|title=Compare varieties|url=http://www.foodsubs.com/Potatoes.html|publisher=The Cook's Thesaurus|access-date=15 April 2013|archive-date=22 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622030233/http://www.foodsubs.com/Potatoes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but the name ''Idaho Potato'' is trademarked by the [Idaho Potato Commission](/source/Idaho_Potato_Commission) and only potatoes grown in the state of Idaho can legally be referred to by that name.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-idaho-potatoes-995722|title=What Are Idaho Potatoes?|website=thespruceeats.com|date=n.d.}}</ref>
thumb|right|Russet potato cultivar with sprouts

==Varieties==
{{see also|List of potato cultivars}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [Russet Burbank](/source/Russet_Burbank)<ref name=CU>[https://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/main/showVarieties.php?searchCriteria=russet&searchIn=2&crop_id=42&sortBy=overallrating&order=DESC&sideSearch=Search Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212161309/http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/main/showVarieties.php?searchCriteria=russet&searchIn=2&crop_id=42&sortBy=overallrating&order=DESC&sideSearch=Search |date=2017-02-12 }} - [Cornell University](/source/Cornell_University)</ref>
* Norkotah Russet{{r|CU}}
* Frontier Russet{{r|CU}}
* Russet Nugget{{r|CU}}
* Centennial Russet{{r|CU}}
* Rio Grande Russett{{r|CU}}
* Silverton Russet{{r|CU}}
* [Ranger Russet](/source/Ranger_Russet)
* [Umatilla Russet](/source/Umatilla_Russet)
* [Butte Russet](/source/Butte_potato)
* Alpine Russet
* [Alturas Russet](/source/Alturas_potato)
* Arcadia Russet
* Blazer Russet
* Canela Russet
* Caribou Russet
* Castle Russet
* Classic Russet
* Clearwater Russet
* Defender Russet
* Echo Russet
* Galena Russet
* Gem Russet
* GemStar Russet
* Highland Russet
* King Russet
* La Belle Russet
* Lemhi Russet
* Mountain Gem Russet
* Nooksack Russet
* Norgold Russet
* Owyhee Russet
* Payette Russet
* Pioneer Russet
* Pomerelle Russet
* Premier Russet
* Reveille Russet
* Rio Grand Russet
* Sage Russet
* Targhee Russet
* Teton Russet
* Vanguard Russet
* Western Russet
* Rainier Russet
{{div col end}}

==Origin==
To improve the disease resistance of potatoes, [Luther Burbank](/source/Luther_Burbank) selected the potato that became known as the Russet Burbank. It was not patented because plants propagated from tubers, such as potatoes, were not granted patents in the United States.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/757|title=A history of patenting life in the United States with comparative attention to Europe and Canada: a report to the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies|author=Daniel Kevles|year=2002|access-date=2016-10-08|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040541/https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/757|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Use==
Restaurants such as [McDonald's](/source/McDonald's) use russet potatoes for their size, which produce long pieces suitable for [french fries](/source/french_fries). As of 2009, "McDonald's top tuber is the Russet Burbank".<ref name=DF>{{cite journal|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/23/mcdonalds-prepares-to-switch-its-fries-to-a-greener-potato/ |title=McDonald's prepares to switch its fries to a greener potato |date=23 September 2009 |author=Bruce Watson |journal=Daily Finance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127081449/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/09/23/mcdonalds-prepares-to-switch-its-fries-to-a-greener-potato/|archive-date=27 November 2015}}</ref> The russet Burbank is more expensive than other potatoes, as it consumes more water and takes longer to mature, while it also requires large amounts of pesticides.{{r|DF}}<ref name=RN>{{cite journal |url=http://www.rodalenews.com/mcdonalds-french-fries |date=February 26, 2014 |access-date=20 December 2014 |title=McDonald's French Fries Are "Toxic Taters," Says New Campaign |journal=Rodale News |author=Emily Main |archive-date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220202445/http://www.rodalenews.com/mcdonalds-french-fries |url-status=live }}</ref>

Varieties with high levels of starch, like russet potatoes, are well-suited to baking and mashing.{{r|CT}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|title=Potato Varieties: Russets|url=http://potatoes.wsu.edu/varieties/russets.htm|website=Potatoes at WSU|publisher=Washington State University Agriculrutal Research Extension|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915131646/http://potatoes.wsu.edu/varieties/russets.htm|archive-date=15 September 2012}}

{{Potato cultivars}}

Category:Potato cultivars

{{potato-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Russet potato](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russet_potato) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russet_potato?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.