Which potato variety is known for its high starch content and is ideal for baking?

• A. Russet
• B. Red Bliss
• C. Yukon Gold
• D. Fingerling

Answer: (A)

When choosing potatoes for baking, the amount of starch they contain drives the texture you get after cooking. High-starch (mealy) potatoes have less moisture and more starch, so they dry out slightly in the oven and the starch gelatinizes into a light, fluffy interior with a crisp skin. This makes them ideal for baked potatoes. The variety that best fits this is Russet, known for its high starch content and thick skin, which yields that classic fluffy inside and crisp outside.

Other varieties tend to be waxier or medium-starch, so they hold their shape and have a creamier, denser bite when baked. Red Bliss, Yukon Gold, and Fingerling fall into those categories, making them less suited for the traditional fluffy-baked texture.