When choosing potatoes for a crock pot recipe, you'll want to consider varieties that hold their shape well during the slow cooking process and offer a good texture and flavor. Here are some of the best potato varieties for crock pot recipes:
Russet Potatoes: Russet potatoes are starchy and hold their shape well during slow cooking. They are great for dishes like stews, pot roasts, and mashed potatoes.
Yukon Gold Potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes have a creamy texture and slightly buttery flavor. They hold up well in the crock pot and are perfect for recipes like scalloped potatoes and soups.
Red Potatoes: Red potatoes have thin skins and a waxy texture, making them ideal for crock pot recipes where you want the potatoes to retain their shape. They work well in stews and roasts.
New Potatoes: New potatoes are young, small potatoes with thin skins. They are excellent for crock pot recipes where you want to keep the potatoes whole or halved, such as in slow-cooked chicken or vegetable dishes.
Fingerling Potatoes: Fingerling potatoes are elongated with a waxy texture. They work well in crock pot recipes and add a nice visual appeal to the dish.
When using potatoes in a crock pot recipe, it's a good idea to cut them into chunks or large pieces to ensure even cooking and prevent them from turning mushy. Remember that cooking times may vary depending on the size of the potato pieces and the specific recipe, so it's always a good idea to check for doneness as you approach the end of the cooking time.