# What's your favorite way to eat potatoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200 "2011-06-28T23:02:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/62 "2011-06-30T21:29:37Z")
I voted for mashed. They’re the most consistently good. However, roasted potatoes, fresh from the oven, beat everything. Unfortunately, at many restaurants the roasted potatoes can sit out for a while, and they’re not very good once they’re soggy. My mother has a great recipe where she cuts the potato in to medallions, but leaves them all attached by the skin on the bottom, then puts olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary on the whole deal and roasts it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/63 "2011-06-30T22:11:26Z")
From favorite to least favorite: Roasted Boiled in a stew Formerly mashed potatoes fried into pancakes Boiled with a roast (what? I’m a New Englander) French Fried Mashed or Baked . . . . . . . . Au Gratin or Hash Browned or Tot’d ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/64 "2011-06-30T22:54:16Z")
I voted for Au Gratin, because then I get to have potatoes \*and \*cheese…but I like them every which way. I’ll even eat a slice or two raw if I’m cutting them up for one reason or another. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/65 "2011-07-01T00:00:50Z")
There is no way to serve potatoes that is not my favorite way. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/66 "2011-07-01T00:11:29Z")
I love roasted potatoes. These are a real treat for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/67 "2011-07-01T18:51:03Z")
Mmmm… Salt potatoes with lots of butter. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/68 "2011-07-01T19:45:08Z")
Home fries. Cooked with bacon fat. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/69 "2011-07-01T19:51:53Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > (and anyone who microwaves to “bake” a “baked” potato is a philistine. You need the browning and crisping reactions in the potato skin to give the full potato taste profile. Not sure if it’s a proper [Maillard reaction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction), but you sure don’t get it with a microwave, which simply makes a potato hot mush.) I prefer to think of it as “creamy.” Hmmm, microwaved potatoes might make fabulous mashed. Better than boiling, which does a spud no favors. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/70 "2011-07-01T20:41:05Z")
I love all ways of potato prep but I vastly prefer one _type_ of potato - red potatoes. Huge fan of them in a potato salad with a buttload of dill and hardboiled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/71 "2011-07-01T22:09:49Z")
My favorite way is odd. Mashed, with lots of butter and salt, make a big mound on the plate. Hollow out the top of it with a spoon, fill with peas (in a “nest”). Then douse with a homemade salad dressing like my grandmother used to make. Cider vinegar based, with some oil, oregano and bits of parsley, paprika, and sugar… It’s a sweet dressing. Goes back to when I was a kid, I always wanted the peas in the potato, and we always ate the salad on the plate with everything else rather than a separate bowl. Dressing invaded my potatoes and I was hooked. ETA, the obligatory [Brak tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyL76DLCVuo). ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/72 "2011-07-02T20:34:17Z")
I like potatoes in pretty much any way except undercooked. I’m looking for an occasion to be able to make[crash hot potatoes](http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/) from the Pioneer Woman. They sound fabulous! ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/73 "2011-07-02T21:10:10Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > Scalloped potatoes for me! Especially when the cheese is crusty on the top and stringy on the inside. Mmm. > > EDIT: And today I learned that scalloped potatoes and potatoes _au gratin_ are the same thing. Actually, they aren’t. Scalloped have a milk based sauce, and au gratin has a cheese based sauce. I love them both! Actually, I love potatoes any which way at all 🙂 ETA: My favorite way is mashed with cream corn and cottage cheese on top! ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/74 "2011-07-03T00:54:01Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > cooked, other than that it’s all good. This. I don’t suppose my being half Irish with the other half being 2 generations removed from Slovenian/Austrian potato farmers has anything to do with it… ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/75 "2011-07-03T00:58:07Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Bratkartoffeln for the win. Nobody does potatoes like ze Germans. oh. mein. gott. [http://www.germandeli.com/gd7.html](http://www.germandeli.com/gd7.html) This is HAPPENING this weekend, at my house. I have now so decreed. I am drooling already. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/76 "2011-07-03T04:15:09Z")
I don’t think anyone has mentioned [twice-baked potatoes](http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/twice_baked_potatoes/) yet. There’s a rib place in Bangkok that serves them. Just had one last night (Saturday night). Very good. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/77 "2011-07-03T04:19:11Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > Take your basic potato. > > Brush it with olive oil. (Yes, use an actual brush.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper. > > Bake it. > > Split down the middle. Sprinkle additional salt and pepper as needed. > > Delicious. A damn near Platonic perfect food. > > (and anyone who microwaves to “bake” a “baked” potato is a philistine. You need the browning and crisping reactions in the potato skin to give the full potato taste profile. Not sure if it’s a proper [Maillard reaction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maillard_reaction), but you sure don’t get it with a microwave, which simply makes a potato hot mush.) I’m not quite sure where I fall on your scale of philistineness… I have a combination convection/microwave oven. I preheat it to 400 degrees F. Then use the combo feature for 10-15 minutes (depending on how many) and I get the perfect crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside baked potatoes. I do everything else like you said, but you left out one major ingredient after you split them open… BUTTER!!! ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/78 "2011-07-03T06:53:29Z")
my favorite is fried but not french fries. Skillet fried with sliced onions until the potqos are slightly browned and crunch and the onion is caramelised. OMG I could eat my weight in those. I keep thinking I will try it with sweet potatoes and onions but haven’t tried it yet. I also loved boiled red potaotes where you peel them hot and mash them up on your plate with some butter. Yum. Why yes i DO live in the south. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/79 "2011-07-03T11:05:48Z")
Skillet fried. Yummy. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200/80 "2011-07-03T16:35:04Z")
> [@UncaStuart](#): > > Roasted. Take red potatoes, cut them into to halves or quarters, douse them with paprika, rosemary, garlic, and olive oil, and roast the hell out of them. Yum. Roasted got my vote as well, mainly because of this [recipe](http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/). It has been a huge hit for every group I have served. If you love potatoes, check it out! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-way-to-eat-potatoes/587200.md?page=3)