The Russet Burbank potato is probably the most studied potato cultivar in North America and is considered standard of comparison for French frying. It is an indeterminate variety whose vine is large, vigorous and spreading, and has a late maturation. One of its dominating characteristics are its resistance to disease.

The Russet (meaning rough) Burbank potato was given its name due to the texture of its skin. Inside the large Russet Burbank potato's fine, sandpaper-textured, ruddy-colored skin is a firm, low-sugar, moist and starchy flesh that becomes fluffy and light when cooked.

Serving Ideas

The Russet Burbank potato is a highly versatile, starchy potato. It is most widely used for baking and frying, both applications bringing out its best culinary virtues. Russet Burbank potatoes will keep in cool dark storage for up to a month.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

European immigrants introduced potatoes to North America several times in the 1600s, however potatoes were not widely grown for nearly a century. It wasn't until 1719, when Irish immigrants brought potatoes to New Hampshire, that potatoes were grown on a large scale. The potato eventually became the second largest food crop in America and was originally used primarily as animal feed.

Geography/History

The original Russet Burbank potato clone was discovered in the 1870s by Luther Burbank and originally called "Burbank's Seedling". It developed from a first generation seedling of an open-pollinated cultivar "Early Rose" in Massachusetts. Burbank discovered that one seedling produced two to three times more tubers of a larger size than any other potato variety he had ever grown. In the late 1800s, he marketed this special seedling to Western states, under the name "Burbank". The Russet Burbank potato became and still is the major cultivar grown in the USA, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

Seasons/Availability

Producing the highest yields in the United States, Oregon and Washington State's Burbank Russet potato harvest begins in late August or early September and ends by the first of November. Idaho's harvest begins in September after Labor Day and ends by the first of November. Available year round, November to late June Burbank Russet supplies come from storage potatoes.