Russet Burbank potato
Encyclopedia
The Russet Burbank potato is a large brown-skinned, white-fleshed cultivar
of potato
. Luther Burbank
developed the Burbank potato in Lunenburg, Massachusetts
, U.S.
, in the early 1870s. In 1875, Burbank sold his farm and the rights to his potato, and moved to Santa Rosa, California
. Later, a natural descendant of the Burbank potato, but with russetted skin, was selected and named the Russet Burbank potato. The Russet Burbank is the most common potato variety grown in Idaho
, the leading potato growing region of the United States
, and is also the most commonly grown variety in both Prince Edward Island
, and New Brunswick, Canada, two regions which comprise the majority of Eastern Canada's potato production.
The Russet potato is commonly used by fast food
restaurants for French fries
. When used for making potato chips, it results in a dark-colored chip due to caramelization
, its sugar
content being higher than that of the Maris Piper potato which is more commonly used by chip makers. It also contains high levels of antioxidant
s, which is rare for starch
es.
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
of potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
. Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 54-year career. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables...
developed the Burbank potato in Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg , Massachusetts....
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in the early 1870s. In 1875, Burbank sold his farm and the rights to his potato, and moved to Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. Later, a natural descendant of the Burbank potato, but with russetted skin, was selected and named the Russet Burbank potato. The Russet Burbank is the most common potato variety grown in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, the leading potato growing region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is also the most commonly grown variety in both Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and New Brunswick, Canada, two regions which comprise the majority of Eastern Canada's potato production.
The Russet potato is commonly used by fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurants for French fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
. When used for making potato chips, it results in a dark-colored chip due to caramelization
Caramelization
Caramelization is the browning of sugar, a process used extensively in cooking for the resulting nutty flavor and brown color. As the process occurs, volatile chemicals are released, producing the characteristic caramel flavor....
, its sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
content being higher than that of the Maris Piper potato which is more commonly used by chip makers. It also contains high levels of antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...
s, which is rare for starch
Starch
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...
es.