What's the best potato?

[Umbran]

But at what cost???

About a buck a can.

 

[jian]

When I was in law school, I was given 2 cans of potatoes. I repeat: CANNED POTATOES. I had to think about how to use them.

I combined 1 can of potatoes, a can of green beans, one of canned diced tomatoes and cream of mushroom soup. Adding seasoning liberally, it became 4 Can Casserole. All things considered, it wasn’t bad. I made it a few weeks later to finish off the potatoes.

I’ve never bought canned potatoes again, but I have made the casserole again with fresh potatoes

Tinned potatoes are fairly common in the UK. I’ve never used them but Jack Monroe (one of my favourite chefs) seems to find them very useful and good for cooking on a budget:

Tin can ally: Jack Monroe’s store-cupboard recipes

Store-cupboard recipes that cost little, are ready in less than an hour, and might even save you a trip to the shops

www.theguardian.com

 

[Ryujin]

Yeap. My guess is Ryujin is talking about the box and powder mix ones which I grew up with and agree are nasty. Though, if you make from scratch they are heavenly.

Yes and no. The '70s style scalloped potatoes have a white sauce made from chicken stock, white flour, and a negligible amount of garlic. No cheese in sight. The boxed stuff is a step above that, by comparison. My mother loved to make scalloped potatoes and fried pork chops. I'm not really a fan of chops and definitely not a fan of those scalloped potatoes, but we had that maybe once every 2 weeks.

 

[Mannahnin]

I often see the two talked about as if they're identical, but one of those food sites I just linked says they're different, and only one of them definitionally has cheese.

Are Au Gratin And Scalloped Potatoes The Same Thing? - Chowhound

Given that au gratin and scalloped potatoes have so much in common, it's easy to consider them interchangeable. But there are some differences.

www.chowhound.com

Butter and potatoes: these two culinary elements are nearly ubiquitous in their popularity and cache, and may be unrivaled among foods of all kinds. When put together, you can create everything from silky mashed potatoes to disco fries (a New Jersey delicacy), but there are two classic preparations that really highlight the pairing between starchy tubers and unctuous dairy – scalloped potatoes, and au gratin.

Given that these dishes have so much in common, it's easy to consider them interchangeable. But as it turns out, there are distinctions — and some that might make a real difference to your guests and fellow diners. Perhaps the most notable being another beloved ingredient: cheese. Although scalloped potatoes can sometimes feature an optional topping of the gooey stuff, the strictly traditional recipe goes without. Au gratin, on the other hand, is a decadent dish that does feature a good dose of cheese layered in.

Another major difference is how they're cooked. On the scalloped side, these taters are dressed with a roux made from flour, butter, and milk. In the gratin corner, it's a combination of cream, butter, and the aforementioned cheese. This not only results in a different textural experience, but also means au gratin is a gluten-free dish.

Read More: Are Au Gratin And Scalloped Potatoes The Same Thing? - Chowhound

 

[Morrus]

I often see the two talked about as if they're identical, but one of those food sites I just linked says they're different, and only one of them definitionally has cheese.

Just two flavours of the same thing. You get different toppings on baked potatoes too, but they’re all baked potatoes.

 

[Rainbow Scissors]

Vodka is the best potato

 

[Mannahnin]

Just two flavours of the same thing. You get different toppings on baked potatoes too, but they’re all baked potatoes.

Fair enough.

One of them being gluten-free is important to a number of folks in my life. I had not heretofore realized that traditionally-cooked scalloped potatoes would be a hazard to my mother, due to the roux. That makes more clear to me why she's always served them au gratin, even aside from my siblings liking cheese.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

I’m surprised nobody has answered “vodka”.

Vodka is the best potato

 

[Parmandur]

Yes and no. The '70s style scalloped potatoes have a white sauce made from chicken stock, white flour, and a negligible amount of garlic. No cheese in sight. The boxed stuff is a step above that, by comparison. My mother loved to make scalloped potatoes and fried pork chops. I'm not really a fan of chops and definitely not a fan of those scalloped potatoes, but we had that maybe once every 2 weeks.

I often see the two talked about as if they're identical, but one of those food sites I just linked says they're different, and only one of them definitionally has cheese.

Are Au Gratin And Scalloped Potatoes The Same Thing? - Chowhound

Given that au gratin and scalloped potatoes have so much in common, it's easy to consider them interchangeable. But there are some differences.

www.chowhound.com

Never heard of scalloped potatoes without butter, whipping cream, AND cheese.

 

[gnarlygninja]

Never heard of scalloped potatoes without butter, whipping cream, AND cheese.

Hard classifications between dishes rarely survive once they leave restaurants and enter everyday use, and that's ignoring the fact we've got at least 3 different countries weighing in.