Russet potato

A '''russet potato''' is a type of 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, mashing, and french fries. Russet potatoes are sometimes known as '''Idaho potatoes''' in the 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 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<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</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 * Umatilla Russet * Butte Russet * Alpine Russet * Alturas Russet * 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 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 use russet potatoes for their size, which produce long pieces suitable for 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}}

Category:Potato cultivars