Yukon gold potatoes are characterized by their golden-yellow color and unblemished skin. This beautiful color may make you wonder if they’re a type of yellow potato. So, are yellow potatoes the same as Yukon Gold?
Yukon Gold potatoes are a type of yellow potato from Canada. They have smooth and unblemished golden yellow skin and contain moderate starch content. Their flesh is firm and flavorful. If Yukon Gold potatoes are unavailable, you can replace them in recipes with other varieties of yellow potatoes.
Let’s now take a closer look at Yukon Gold potatoes.
What’s So Special About Yukon Gold Potatoes?
Yukon Gold potatoes are one of the most popular golden-yellow potatoes on the market.
You will usually find them in stores from August to February.
These potatoes are easily recognizable by their bright-yellow blemish-free skin and smooth round shape.
They have tiny rosy eyes and firm skin.
These potatoes were originally developed as a cross between wild South American yellow potatoes and North American white potatoes.
They were first produced in Ontario, Canada, in the 1960s.
Now, we can broadly classify potatoes in two ways:
- Based on their starch content, and
- Based on their color.
Based on starch content, potatoes are either starchy, waxy, or somewhere in between.
They can further be classified as yellow or white based on their color.
Yukon Gold potatoes are moderately starchy potatoes.
This makes them a star potato because you can use them for multiple purposes.
Their flavorful flesh makes them a good choice for mash and stuffing.
They also hold together without breaking apart in stews and casseroles.
These potatoes are also a good choice for baking and frying.
When you cook Yukon Gold potatoes, they flake because of the medium starch content.
If we look at the classification based on color, the Potato Association of America broadly classifies potatoes as yellow-fleshed and white-fleshed potatoes.
Golden potatoes are included under yellow-fleshed potatoes.
Yukon Gold potatoes are technically not pure yellow potatoes.
They’re a hybrid variety. Nevertheless, they’re classified as yellow potatoes.
What Are Yukon Gold Potatoes Used For?
Due to their texture and flavor, Yukon Gold potatoes are very versatile.
You can use them in a variety of recipes.
Yukon Gold potatoes do best when roasted or mashed.
Their creamy flesh transforms into a deliciously buttery mash.
You can also prepare crispy fries with these potatoes.
They’re good for roasting because of their thin skin and firm texture.
Moreover, you can also use them in potato salads, soups, and stews because they hold their shape and don’t break down completely when boiled.
Although Yukon Gold potatoes aren’t the best choice for baking, you can use them in various baking recipes.
However, they may not turn out to be as tasty as other varieties, like Russet potatoes.
Recommended: Does A Potato Absorbs Water? | Can You Store Potatoes In The Refrigerator? | What Potatoes Are Best for Baking? | What Potatoes Are Best For French Fries?
Can You Use Yellow Potatoes Instead Of Yukon Gold Potatoes?
Since Yukon Gold potatoes are hybrid potatoes, they display the characteristic properties of both yellow and white potatoes.
You can use them interchangeably with most varieties of yellow potatoes.
Yukon Gold potatoes are in season between August and February.
When they’re not in season, you can use other yellow potatoes instead of them in different recipes.
Nonetheless, it’s best to choose a substitute based on the recipe and how the potato is used in it.
What Is A Good Substitute For Yukon Gold Potatoes?
Yukon Gold potatoes are neither too starchy nor waxy.
Their medium starch content makes them suitable for a variety of dishes and cooking methods.
Although these potatoes are a hybrid variety, they have yellow flesh.
Their starch content and flavor profile are comparable to many other yellow and white potato varieties.
So it’s possible to use it interchangeably with other types of potatoes in most recipes.
Yukon Gold potatoes may be unavailable in other countries.
They may also be unavailable for several months of the year.
When Yukon Gold potatoes are unavailable, you may like to choose a suitable substitute based on how they cook in a recipe.
So you may be better off with a certain potato variety in recipes that involve stovetop cooking and others for baking or frying.
The good news is that you can use different yellow, red, or white potatoes instead of Yukon Gold potatoes in various recipes.
Other yellow-skin potatoes may provide the closest match.
Nevertheless, you can always try the same recipe with other red or white potato varieties.
So, which potatoes can you use instead of Yukon Gold potatoes? Let’s find out.
1. Russet Potatoes
Russet potatoes look entirely different from Yukon Gold potatoes.
They’re big and brown, with white, flaky flesh.
Although there is no resemblance between the two varieties, they will work well in many dishes.
The main benefit of substituting Yukon Gold with Russet potatoes is that the latter is readily available.
You can use Russet potatoes instead of Yukon Gold potatoes in baked or mashed potato recipes.
You can also use them to prepare French fries.
However, avoid using Russet potatoes in dishes where the potatoes should hold their shape.
Russet potatoes disintegrate upon boiling and become soft and mushy.
They’re also not the best choice for potato salads because they’re very starchy.
2. Red Bliss Potatoes
Red Bliss potatoes look very different from Yukon Gold potatoes.
However, the texture and flavor of the flesh are surprisingly similar.
These potatoes have dense and creamy flesh with a delicious buttery flavor.
This makes it an excellent replacement for Yukon Gold potatoes in French fries, gratins, and salads.
However, Red Bliss potatoes aren’t the best choice for potato mash or stuffing because of their waxy flesh.
3. Inca Gold Potatoes
Inca Gold potatoes are small and round, with yellow skin.
They look like Yukon Gold potatoes, and their flavor is also similar.
These potatoes are creamy and buttery. The flesh is dense, making it an excellent choice for boiling.
It’s highly suited for mash, stuffing, and pies.
You can also use them to replace Yukon Gold potatoes in soups and stews.
Just remember that these potatoes don’t hold their shape and may transform into mush when boiled too much.
Related: Does A Stainless Steel Pan Discolors? | Does A Chef Uses A Pressure Cooker?
4. Katahdin Potatoes
Katahdin potatoes aren’t the closest substitute for Yukon Gold potatoes.
Nevertheless, there are some similarities between these two varieties.
These potatoes have a buttery yellow color and smooth, blemish-free skin.
However, they’re not very firm and disintegrate quickly upon boiling.
You can use Katahdin potatoes in French fries or mash.
However, they aren’t the best choice for soups, salads, and other dishes, where the potato should hold its shape.
5. Carola Potatoes
Carola potatoes are the closest substitutes for Yukon Gold.
They look similar with golden-yellow skin and a round shape.
They’re creamy and waxy at the same time. So, they’re as versatile as Yukon Gold potatoes.
They’re also suitable for French fries and potato wedges.
The only places where Carola potatoes aren’t a good fit are soups and stews.
They may work, but the results will not be as good as when you use Yukon Gold.
