The 5 Best Potatoes For Soup: How to Create Rich and Savory Soup Dishes Every Time

Potatoes may just be the most versatile vegetable in existence, and yes, you read that correctly, potatoes are a vegetable. These seemingly humble plant tubers can be found and combined in almost every type of food.

Your favorite fries are made from potatoes. The chips you eat when you binge watch your favorite TV shows come from potatoes. Your mom’s deliciously creamy soup might have been actually made with potatoes!

I think you agree with me that potatoes are literally everywhere, and when it comes to cooking, potatoes rarely disappoint. Who doesn’t love mashed or baked potatoes anyway?

There are several types of potatoes currently available in the market, and although some potatoes are clearly superior to other potatoes, one thing’s for sure: there’s always going to be a type of potato that will go well with your favorite recipe.

When was the last time you cooked and served potato soup?  If you have no recent recollection of it, then it’s high time that you make potato soup for your family. 

In this article, we’re going to list down the best fresh potatoes and potato products that you can use to make the best soup! This article will help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the best potato for that soup you are about to make.

Best Potatoes For Soup On The 2024 Market

Fresh Russet Potatoes by The Neighborhood Corner Store

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The Fresh Russet Potatoes by Russet Potatoes At The Neighborhood Corner Store is recommended for baking and are also ideal to be made as mashed potatoes. Russet potatoes are naturally high in starch, and they are often used as soup thickeners because of this. The producer of these potatoes claims that they are gluten-free.

What’s more?

These potatoes don’t hold its shape for long when cooked along with the soup, so if you want to use russet potatoes for soup, most consumers that have already tried these fresh potatoes recommend that you add these potatoes last. Also, most consumers are happy with their purchase and attest to their superb quality.

The Fresh Russet Potatoes by Russet Potatoes At The Neighborhood Corner Store is a useful addition to your soup ingredients, not only because potatoes naturally have several health benefits but because most buyers of this product testify to how these potatoes performed at their tables.

Pros

• Freshly harvested, gluten-free russet potatoes
• Good source of nutrients when cooked with the skin intact
• Most consumers are happy with the quality.

Cons

• These potatoes don’t hold their shape well.

Organic Gold Potatoes by Produce Aisle

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The Organic Gold Potatoes by Produce Aisle is a Yukon Gold potato variety. These organic potatoes are grown in the United States and are ideal for mashing and baking. These organic gold potatoes are starchy, which can make for a tasty soup thickener, that is, if you want your soup thick.

Yukon gold potatoes are naturally high in nutrients and are preferred by many because of their exceptional taste. Some consumers testify that they make great fries and fried potato chips. These organic gold potatoes are nutritious in both skin and flesh, so they’re typically eaten with the skin intact. The name of this potato variety is derived from its golden colored flesh.

Produce Aisle claims that these organic gold potatoes are non-GMO and gluten-free, which makes them an excellent option for non-GMO food advocates and health conscious individuals.

Pros

• Non-GMO and gluten-free
• High in nutrients
• Consumers find these potatoes very tasty.

Cons

• These potatoes don’t hold their shape well.

Purple Majesty Certified Organic Seed Potatoes

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The Purple Majesty Certified Organic Seed Potatoes is a purple potato variety that has a succulent purple flesh. This potato is ideal as a side dish thanks to its sweet, buttery flavor. The producer of these potatoes claims that their purple color gives them similar antioxidant values as blueberries and other brightly colored fruits.

These potatoes are seed potatoes, meaning it can be planted to produce more potatoes, so aside from being eaten, people purchase these potatoes to plant and reproduce more of them. Purple potatoes give a purple tint to soups, and because of this sweet, buttery flavor, they add a distinct flavor to anyone’s home made soup.

The Purple Majesty Certified Organic Seed Potatoes are a starchy potato type so they don’t really hold their shape well, but they still make for a good potato salad and mixed vegetable dishes.

Pros

• Organically grown seed potatoes that can be replanted
• Rich in antioxidants
• Sweet, buttery flavor.

Cons

• Don’t hold their shape well.

Russian Banana Fingerling Potatoes

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The Russian Banana Fingerling Potatoes are non-GMO, organic potatoes that has a full-bodied, buttery flavor with a hint of nuttiness. These potatoes are ideal for mashing, boiling, baking, frying, and grilling. They also make for a good potato salad with some added olive oil, and they retain their golden yellow color even after cooking.

These potatoes are organically grown in the U.S. and the producer claims that they are an excellent source of Potassium and vitamin C. These potatoes are commonly eaten with the skin intact, as that is where most of their nutrients are stored.

The Russian Banana Fingerling Potatoes are among the waxy potato types, and they hold their shape well even after cooking. They are also often used in soups, and they provide a rich, creamy texture.

Pros

• Organically grown, non-GMO potatoes
• Full-bodied, buttery flavor with a hint of nuttiness
• Ideal for mashing, boiling, baking, frying, and grilling.

Cons

• Some consumers find these potatoes a bit lacking in taste.

Red Lasoda Seed Potatoes

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The Red Lasoda Seed Potatoes are another potato on this list that can be replanted for reproduction. These potatoes have red skin and white flesh and are among the waxy potato types. They make for an excellent soup because of their low starch content and because they hold their shape well.

These potatoes were grown in Minnesota, and the producers of these potatoes claim that they are great for places with a hot climate as they are heat tolerant. These potatoes have a neutral flavor, so they don’t interfere with a dish’s flavor. The Red Lasoda Seed Potatoes are excellent for boiling, baking, grilling, and frying as they don’t lose their flavor even after being cooked.

Pros

• Can be replanted for reproduction
• Have a neutral flavor that is retained even after cooking
• Ideal for boiling, baking, grilling, and frying.

Cons

• Some consumers testify that these potatoes didn’t sprout when planted.

Choosing the Best Potatoes for Cooking is a Skill. How to Master it?

Potatoes are a natural source of nutrients, which is why they are one of the most sought-after ingredients, whether it be for a simple home recipe or for a luxury restaurant menu. These tubers are so versatile that they’re found almost everywhere. Although it’s not really easy to come across real, freshly harvested potatoes, products that have potatoes in them are readily available for nearly everyone at any given time.

Potatoes are the most important non-cereal crop in the world and the fourth most important crop overall, behind only corn, wheat, and rice. In the US, potato products are the second most consumed food overall, next only to dairy products. It’s an all-star vegetable that we can’t definitely live without.

What’s the real story?

Not all of us are very critical when it comes to the specifications of our food ingredients, but some take it seriously, and for a good reason. It’s best to have an idea of what’s right for what, and in this best potato for soup buying guide, we’re going to supply you with all the information you need to select the best potato for your homemade soup.

Here are a few essential factors to consider when it comes to choosing the right type of potato for your homemade soup:

Starch Content

Each type of potato has a different starch content. To make things much more straightforward, let’s split them into three categories. Starchy, Waxy, and for those types that fall somewhere in between these two, we’re going to label them as “all-purpose.”

Starchy potatoes are potatoes that are apparently high in starch and low in moisture. Potatoes like Idaho or Russet. They’re kind of fluffy, and it makes them great for baking, boiling, and frying. The downside of this potato category is that they don’t hold their shape well, so they aren’t really recommended for dishes like casseroles, gratins, and potato salads.

Waxy potatoes don’t have as much start in them. You can distinguish these potatoes by their creamy, moist, and firm flesh. After cooking, they keep their shape, making them perfect for boiled and roasted dishes, potato salads, and casseroles. They are also good for soups since they are very creamy. You won’t even need to use thickening agents. Red Bliss and New potatoes are good examples of waxy potatoes.

All-purpose potatoes have a medium starch content that falls in between starchy and waxy. They’re multi-purpose potatoes that can be used for just about any cooking application. An excellent example of this category is the Yukon Gold potato.

A potato’s starch content is often a good indicator of whether it will go well for your homemade soup or not. Depending on your recipe, make sure to consider this factor when choosing the best potato for your soup.

Flavor

Different potatoes have different flavors. There are approximately 200 potato varieties sold in the United States, but there’s no need to get overwhelmed. Potatoes can be easily classified through their color, and most of the time, their color reflects their flavor, so once you learn about these few potato color varieties, chances are, you’ll be able to tell how each color tastes once you master them.

The russet potato is the most common type of potato currently being sold. It’s a starchy potato that’s well-regarded because of its neutral flavor and excellent quality. Then there are the orange potatoes, such as yams and sweet potatoes. Orange potatoes are also starchy, are characterized by their sweetness, and can make for a great dessert.

Next are the red potatoes. At first glance, they look similar to apples. However, these potatoes aren’t sweet at all. They’re waxy potatoes that are creamy when cooked and are often simmered for soups and stews. White potatoes are an all-purpose potato type, although they’re not entirely white because of their golden colored skin. Their flesh kind of floats more on being waxy than starchy, and they have a distinct, mildly sweet flavor.

Lastly, there are purple potatoes. These are another all-purpose potatoes, and although they’re often bright purple, they’re mostly only mildly sweet. The unique thing about these potatoes is the anthocyanins in them. They have a good amount of antioxidants which have a lot of health benefits. It’s always best to consider a potato’s flavor and see if it’s gonna go well with your homemade soup recipe.

But that’s not all, let’s look at the next factor:

GMO vs Non-GMO

Genetically modified organisms (GMO,) are either plants or animals whose genes have been altered and are artificially reproduced. GMO foods have been available in the United States since the 1990s, and they’ve gained so much popularity since.

All GMO products are regulated by the FDA, and they must meet the same safety requirements as traditional foods. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the benefits and risks of GMO foods. The goal of genetic modification to plants and animals is to make them a lot better than their traditional counterparts.

But there is a fact:

In apples, for instance, traditional apples turn brown in just several minutes after you peel it. Genetically modifying apples has provided a solution for this, and manufacturers were able to produce apples that don’t turn brown too quickly. It might not make sense the first time you hear or read about it, but the people who spearheaded the method of genetically modifying foods, believe it or not, have the majority of the population’s best interest in mind.

Now, going back to potatoes, they’re one of the several crops that are widely being genetically modified to produce other potato variants that can beat the quality and natural features of traditional potatoes.

GMO foods will always be a subject of debate, but as long as a GMO product is FDA approved and certified, there’s usually very little to worry about unless you’re an advocate of traditional potatoes. You might be wondering, what is this all about? Well, genetic modification alters not only the appearance and natural traits of food products but the nutrients they contain and the health benefits they provide. Make sure to carefully consider this factor when you’re out buying the best potato for your soup.

Purpose

We’re perfectly aware that we’re discussing the best potatoes for soup. However, you have to take into consideration the fact that you’re most likely going to buy potatoes in bulk instead of purchasing a piece or two. Potatoes sold in the market are mostly packed by weight. This means you’re gonna get a whole lot of potatoes when you buy from the market.

Now, unless you want to feed your family with soup for a whole week, which we seriously doubt you would, it’s good to consider other purposes for your spare potatoes. Like with other things, not all potatoes are created equal. Some are great only for a sole purpose, while some can be used for several different purposes.

You don’t want to buy a bunch of potatoes that are only good for soup. Guess what’s going to happen to the rest of them? If you thought they’re gonna go to the trash bins, then you’re absolutely correct. Nobody wants to waste food, so make sure that when you head to the market to buy the best potato for the soup you’re about to make, consider other purposes the potatoes you’ll pick will serve.

Conclusion

We can’t stress enough the importance of potatoes in our lives. These amazing tubers are absolute rock stars in the world of vegetables. Most kids would cringe at the thought of eating vegetables, but when you offer them potatoes, I’m sure you know they’re going to be asking for seconds. Potatoes go well with just about any food, and with it comes to making soup, potatoes rarely disappoint.

The Fresh Russet Potatoes By The Neighborhood Corner Store is the winner of this list because of their excellent quality and exceptional health benefits. Although they don’t hold their shape well, most consumers who purchased these potatoes were happy as they can be used for other purposes as well.

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Bottom line?

Starch crops can be cooked in a variety of ways! Tired of potato soup? Find out how to make potato salad that can last a really long time! We hope that this article was able to help you choose the best potato for your soup! If you have any feedback or suggestions, let us know in the comments section.