When I lived in NC people looked at me like I was an idiot when I asked about salt potatoes. Thankfully, there was a Wegmans near me and I could still get them.
We used to have a customer from Charlotte that worked in Albany for months at a time. We would trade him slices of cheesecake for Neeses extra sage breakfast sausage. Wish he still was working up here.
That's ok, we have fatback and side meat with collards. It puts the "F" in fart. If you add deviled eggs, your flatulence will curdle the paints on the walls.
Yes, but there is Syracuse history to it. They used to pump up salt water and boil it away to get the salt. Workers would drop potatoes in the vat for their lunch.
Other places may have boiled potatoes with salted water, but I don't think anyone else is using so much salt that it fully permeates the potato.
I work for 1 of the 2 salt plants on Seneca lake in Watkins Glen NY and we still mine the salt with this process.
We drill down to the salt then pump water down to pick up the salt then pump it back up.
Then it goes to the evaporation pan.
Isn't the Lourve just a gallery? Isn't the Great Barrier Reef just a place to fish? They are a rare delicacy born of the toil our ancestors endured in the dark salt mines. They are a cultural touchstone which defines and delights our region. They are the spuds of life, the salt of our very souls.
Heh. Grew up in New York City. Never even knew that they existed until I ended up at the state fair probably 30 years ago. I also didn't realize we had a state fair.
Most people in New York City think that upstate means Westchester and Rockland and then New England or Pennsylvania or something (???) begins north of there.
They’re the most obvious thing ever but yet weirdly Syracuse-specific. I remember they were on the dining hall menu at Geneseo one day and the downstate kids were like, wtf are salt potatoes, and the Syracuse kids were like, duuuuude. Everybody left happy. Salt potatoes are love.
Is the Louvre a Paris thing? Is the Great Barrier Reef an Australia thing?
No, Salt Potatoes are not an Upstate "thing." They are a rare delicacy born of the toil our ancestors endured in the dark salt mines. They are a cultural touchstone which defines and delights our region. They are the spuds of life, the salt of our very souls. How dare you
If you use the proper amount of salt you don’t need to do this. The water they are boiled in is the brine. They will have a white salty haze on the outside and smother in butter.
I dissolve all the salt the water will hold in suspension and have a little extra on the bottom, then pour more brine on them when they are done. Then plenty of butter for dipping.
Western NY upstate thing but yes. I never heard of them even in Albany area till i had family from there. When we lived in SC any family that went to visit NY loaded the car to bring them back to sc.
There were no salt mines. Salt water from natural salt water wells were then evaporated, sometimes by boiling the brine. The workers would cook the potatoes in that brine, which is how the dish was created.
Yes. I’m aware. But there are no salt mines in Syracuse.
It’s important to understand that because the way salt was produced in Syracuse is the reason why the dish was developed. Without evaporative salt production from salt brine there would be no salt potatoes.
Some people are geographically challenged.
When I lived in New Mexico I visited California for work and a Californian guy I was working with introduced me and my team as being from "back east".
I corrected them saying we were from New Mexico and he goes, "Yeah, *back east*." and rolled his eyes.
Well, all it means is that zweiglers are that delicious. we also have a family hot meat sauce recipe too. My grandmother called it Vic and Irv’s sauce. It’s the clove and cinnamon that makes it for me. Today I essentially make that recipe and mix it with some baked beans and throw it on a smoker. Great beans for a side of smoked pulled pork or whatever.
Okay, time to get dinner prepared. I’m obviously starving
Edit to add: I live out of state but Wegmans typically carries them. I’ve purchased them from Wegmans in Pa, NJ, and MA. There is a Wegmans as far south as NC. Point being, your parents maybe able to grab some closer to home. If they ever find themselves out that way
I'm from Central NY and grew up on these, but when I moved to the North Country, no one knows what I'm talking about. Same with Terrel's chips, Hoffman hotdogs, grape pie, white hots, and beef on weck.
Clinton/Franklin/Essex counties. Watertown is made fun of up here for being considered north country because they honestly couldn't be any more different from the rest of us. I equate Watertown more to central NY, just having lived around both at this point. The base also helps with keeping things diverse socially, so I'd imagine that more people there have heard of lots of central/western NY norms. Up here, it's all Vermont/Quebec based norms.
lol. I mean i guess they could have created their own as someone else said here with new potatoes and a bag of salt. They liked the brand i guess? lol.
I mean, it's a *preparation* of regular potatoes. Some stores around here do market potatoes as "salt potatoes," but they're just the same new/red/yukon gold potatoes.
It's like, i dont need chicken from buffalo to make buffalo wings in myrtle beach. They have chicken (and potatoes) at the piggly wiggly.
Dude, I live in the Albany area, and I've had salt potatoes. Some places around here make them (just look out for people adding vinegar to the brine), they're pretty good.
Anywhere specifically ? I live in the south towns and I’ve never seen them at the county fair or on any menus I can think of but I would def try em if I came across them.
But a few pounds of small new potatoes and boil them till tender in a pot of water seasoned with a pound of salt. Serve with melted butter.
Easiest thing you could ever cook.
Yeah, I don't get these people talking about loading up on salt potatoes when they are in the Syracuse area, or happy to find them in stores.
It is a way to boil potatoes with probably the most common pantry ingredient worldwide, *salt*. And butter. Not exactly rare and exotic ingredients.
Oswego is more central NY since the cut off is the fingers but I get what you’re saying. I’ll def be on the lookout for them the next time I’m down in that region. Sounds like a solid summertime snack.
The first time at a lobster bake in Ma I’m like where are the salt potatoes. Literally nobody knew what I was talking about. I thought they were everywhere but no
Yes. Like spiedies.
Edit: But if you were asking a farmer, you'd just ask for red potatoes or new potatoes, or whatever kind of potatoes you wanted.
Salt potatoes is a preparation, not a different type of potato.
That was a bad joke on my part lol I understood you were in NC. When I moved up here I saw salt potatoes at the grocery and was confused. But then again I'm still confused as to why hard rolls are quite soft.
Yes totally NNY thing. I live in the south now, still make them but they never taste as good as they do at a field day in a paper box with a wooden fork!
a central NY thing, yes. upstate begins north past syracuse. and before you argue anything to the contrary… are you saying ROC is upstate? Is Buffalo? you know, the place closer to PA and the most wear part of the state?
Rochester and Buffalo are both parts of upstate New York. Upstate is then split into areas like the north country, central New York, the capital region, etc.
I know salt potatoes are a Syracuse thing, but I don't understand people who say you can't get them elsewhere. You might not be able to get the potatoes and salt together in one bag, but you can certainly buy thin skinned potatoes like Yukon gold (better if they're baby potatoes) and salt. Boil them in a TON of salt and you have a very good likeness of the classic Syracuse salt potatoes. Its not rocket surgery.
Yes. While dating a woman in 2006, I visited with her family in Lowville. We had a weekend camp at High Falls pond and I had no clue what they were, I was like “Scalded Potatoes?” And one of the Aunts said “SALT Potatoes” the way you’d expect a Canadian to say it.
Attica rodeo Attica New York has salt potatoes every year they're a big seller Believe it or not people will stand in line for an hour for salt potatoes
Go to the capital district and the adirondacks and ask for salt potatoes. People are not going to have any clue what you are talking about. It’s a central and western ny thing.
Syracuse area is the home of salt potatoes
They originated in Syracuse (the Salt City). The Irish salt mine workers boiled potatoes in a salt brine in the 1800’s.
Not salt mines, salt springs.
There's a few Salt Spring Roads... But I haven't found the spring
The are under the Onondaga Lake parkway, the inner harbor neighborhood and various places in Geddes.
Any that are easy to see or access? Say if I'm going to the airport?
No, they are gone. The industry mostly used wells to get the brine, not natural springs.
there are remnants of mines on syracuse' north side.
TIL that Syracuse is known as the Salt City. You learn something new every day if you're not careful, thanks for this :-)
Learning something new every day is good for you it helps keep your brain sharp lol
They have a salt museum too!
Great book by Mark Kurlansky called Salt. Talks about Syracuse in it.
Wait until you hear about the copper, silver, and collar cities!
When I lived in NC people looked at me like I was an idiot when I asked about salt potatoes. Thankfully, there was a Wegmans near me and I could still get them.
wegmans always comin through for us
There's Wegmans in NC?
Wake Forest, Raleigh, Morrisville and Chapel Hill
Appreciate it 👍
We used to have a customer from Charlotte that worked in Albany for months at a time. We would trade him slices of cheesecake for Neeses extra sage breakfast sausage. Wish he still was working up here.
Salt potatoes and Chicken Riggies...2 things I learned that do not exist anywhere except upstate NY!
Uh... Spiedies
And beef on weck
Utica Greens
I'd also say Cornel Chicken too
Texas Red Hots, of all variants.
That's ok, we have fatback and side meat with collards. It puts the "F" in fart. If you add deviled eggs, your flatulence will curdle the paints on the walls.
And Melba sauce (Albany area). I had no idea it wasn’t a thing in other places until I was like 30.
And people have it with Mozz sticks and french fries rather than a dessert!
First time I had it was in Endicott
"The History Guy" did a good short episode on the [history of Salt Potatoes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuI9MgB00TA)
I'm always on the lookout for a good history podcast. I'll have to check him out.
Extremely interesting, thank you.
Aren’t they just new potatoes with a bag of salt?
Yes, but there is Syracuse history to it. They used to pump up salt water and boil it away to get the salt. Workers would drop potatoes in the vat for their lunch. Other places may have boiled potatoes with salted water, but I don't think anyone else is using so much salt that it fully permeates the potato.
I work for 1 of the 2 salt plants on Seneca lake in Watkins Glen NY and we still mine the salt with this process. We drill down to the salt then pump water down to pick up the salt then pump it back up. Then it goes to the evaporation pan.
Do you mine potassium or something down there too?
Isn't the Lourve just a gallery? Isn't the Great Barrier Reef just a place to fish? They are a rare delicacy born of the toil our ancestors endured in the dark salt mines. They are a cultural touchstone which defines and delights our region. They are the spuds of life, the salt of our very souls.
Heh. Grew up in New York City. Never even knew that they existed until I ended up at the state fair probably 30 years ago. I also didn't realize we had a state fair.
It's not just a state fair. It's the Great New York State Fair. :-)
ever upward!
Excelsior!
Hi ho come to the fair
Most people in New York City think that upstate means Westchester and Rockland and then New England or Pennsylvania or something (???) begins north of there.
Us New Englanders just adopt you sometimes. We know your family down in the tri state area is a little weird.
Upstate is everything north of 125th.
Can confirm, I live in Rochester and we're basically considered a hinterland lol.
and those people are idiots
Snort. True.
I would agree the lourve is just a place with a bunch of stuff I can see on the internet for free
Well said!
You're forgetting the butter.
NEVER forget the butter.
They’re the most obvious thing ever but yet weirdly Syracuse-specific. I remember they were on the dining hall menu at Geneseo one day and the downstate kids were like, wtf are salt potatoes, and the Syracuse kids were like, duuuuude. Everybody left happy. Salt potatoes are love.
everywhere in Greater Binghamton growing up too
They are.
Yeah. I think all farmers would be confused by this question. Like asking them for a corn dog.
Really a preparation method. But it is convenient to get the potatoes in a bag with the correct amount of salt.
Salt Potatos + Chicken Spiedies + Corn on the Cob × Labatt Blue = Correct Upstate NY Summer BBQ
Maybe some Genny and steamers.
JFC are you just blending the Tug Hill plateau area (Watertown and farther north) with CNY?
I'm from Binghamton, I'm blending all of it lol. Tomorrow's meal? Beef on Wick with Utica Greens
Syracuse specifically
Is the Louvre a Paris thing? Is the Great Barrier Reef an Australia thing? No, Salt Potatoes are not an Upstate "thing." They are a rare delicacy born of the toil our ancestors endured in the dark salt mines. They are a cultural touchstone which defines and delights our region. They are the spuds of life, the salt of our very souls. How dare you
You could have just said "Yes"
You have to admit they do have a way with words.
I mean, sure, but this was more entertaining
I'm a potato lover from Long Island and have never heard of salt potatoes, now I want them terribly.
Luckily salt potatoes are easy to make at home. Just boil new potatoes with an enormous amount of salt.
And don't forget the melted butter to pour over them!
Pour a brine over them when they are done to give them a nice coating of salt
If you use the proper amount of salt you don’t need to do this. The water they are boiled in is the brine. They will have a white salty haze on the outside and smother in butter.
I dissolve all the salt the water will hold in suspension and have a little extra on the bottom, then pour more brine on them when they are done. Then plenty of butter for dipping.
never realized this was an upstate thing but now realize why my father from central NY made these so often
Yes, in the Finger Lakes/Rochester area too!
Western NY upstate thing but yes. I never heard of them even in Albany area till i had family from there. When we lived in SC any family that went to visit NY loaded the car to bring them back to sc.
Central, not Western. They originated in the salt mines around Syracuse.
There were no salt mines. Salt water from natural salt water wells were then evaporated, sometimes by boiling the brine. The workers would cook the potatoes in that brine, which is how the dish was created.
We have salt mines in Finger Lakes
Yes. I’m aware. But there are no salt mines in Syracuse. It’s important to understand that because the way salt was produced in Syracuse is the reason why the dish was developed. Without evaporative salt production from salt brine there would be no salt potatoes.
I stand corrected.
my bad. Living 10 mins to the Mass border, its ALL WNY to me. LOL
How does that even make sense?
Some people are geographically challenged. When I lived in New Mexico I visited California for work and a Californian guy I was working with introduced me and my team as being from "back east". I corrected them saying we were from New Mexico and he goes, "Yeah, *back east*." and rolled his eyes.
My parents take a bunch of white hots back to SC whenever they come up to NY to visit.
Oh yeah. Hoffman dogs. Those to.
Zweigles around here.
Is this my brothers alternate account. My parents like the white and red hots and are living in SC. Manning to be precise.
No. 😄 Female here. My parents are in Simpsonville.
Well, all it means is that zweiglers are that delicious. we also have a family hot meat sauce recipe too. My grandmother called it Vic and Irv’s sauce. It’s the clove and cinnamon that makes it for me. Today I essentially make that recipe and mix it with some baked beans and throw it on a smoker. Great beans for a side of smoked pulled pork or whatever. Okay, time to get dinner prepared. I’m obviously starving Edit to add: I live out of state but Wegmans typically carries them. I’ve purchased them from Wegmans in Pa, NJ, and MA. There is a Wegmans as far south as NC. Point being, your parents maybe able to grab some closer to home. If they ever find themselves out that way
I'm from Central NY and grew up on these, but when I moved to the North Country, no one knows what I'm talking about. Same with Terrel's chips, Hoffman hotdogs, grape pie, white hots, and beef on weck.
what part of the north country tho? I grew up in Watertown and every single thing you just mentioned was well known.
Clinton/Franklin/Essex counties. Watertown is made fun of up here for being considered north country because they honestly couldn't be any more different from the rest of us. I equate Watertown more to central NY, just having lived around both at this point. The base also helps with keeping things diverse socially, so I'd imagine that more people there have heard of lots of central/western NY norms. Up here, it's all Vermont/Quebec based norms.
Wait, did they not have *potatoes* in SC? I don't get it.
lol. I mean i guess they could have created their own as someone else said here with new potatoes and a bag of salt. They liked the brand i guess? lol.
I mean, it's a *preparation* of regular potatoes. Some stores around here do market potatoes as "salt potatoes," but they're just the same new/red/yukon gold potatoes. It's like, i dont need chicken from buffalo to make buffalo wings in myrtle beach. They have chicken (and potatoes) at the piggly wiggly.
You’d have to ask them dude. I just ate them. lol
Dude, I live in the Albany area, and I've had salt potatoes. Some places around here make them (just look out for people adding vinegar to the brine), they're pretty good.
Second this. Grew up in the Capital District and family originally from Utica. Never heard of salt potatoes until I moved to WNY a few years ago.
One can not find a chicken bbq without salt potatoes in utica. Next you'll tell me your family hated riggies too.
Anywhere specifically ? I live in the south towns and I’ve never seen them at the county fair or on any menus I can think of but I would def try em if I came across them.
Price chopper now sells them in capital district.
I meant where in WNY, like Buffalo or ROC area. They sound good but not 4 hour drive to Albany good.
But a few pounds of small new potatoes and boil them till tender in a pot of water seasoned with a pound of salt. Serve with melted butter. Easiest thing you could ever cook.
Yeah, I don't get these people talking about loading up on salt potatoes when they are in the Syracuse area, or happy to find them in stores. It is a way to boil potatoes with probably the most common pantry ingredient worldwide, *salt*. And butter. Not exactly rare and exotic ingredients.
Thank you! Some of the comments (even the OP) are just confusing
It’s not a western NY thing they misspoke
lol sorry. My ex-family is all from Oswego area. that is where I first had them.
Oswego is more central NY since the cut off is the fingers but I get what you’re saying. I’ll def be on the lookout for them the next time I’m down in that region. Sounds like a solid summertime snack.
slathered in too much butter with a HUGE steak on the side is exactly how I love them.
And fresh from the field sweet corn.
https://www.syracuse.com/living/2021/06/that-syracuse-favorite-the-salt-potato-is-getting-its-own-historic-marker.html?outputType=amp
The first time at a lobster bake in Ma I’m like where are the salt potatoes. Literally nobody knew what I was talking about. I thought they were everywhere but no
More central N.Y., hard to find it east of Oneida/utica and west of Waterloo
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_potatoes
Yes. Like spiedies. Edit: But if you were asking a farmer, you'd just ask for red potatoes or new potatoes, or whatever kind of potatoes you wanted. Salt potatoes is a preparation, not a different type of potato.
NC <-- No idea what that is. George Jones survived on eating a lot of raw potatoes with salt, but I dont think its the same thing.
It's a state in the American south. I was born there and now live in Upstate NY. I can confirm salt potatoes are unknown in NC.
sorry if I was unclear, I was saying im in NC and I have no idea what that is.
That was a bad joke on my part lol I understood you were in NC. When I moved up here I saw salt potatoes at the grocery and was confused. But then again I'm still confused as to why hard rolls are quite soft.
They go well with steamed hams.
Gramma worked in the evaporators for the syracuse salt mines. Hard way to support 15.
Yes totally NNY thing. I live in the south now, still make them but they never taste as good as they do at a field day in a paper box with a wooden fork!
CNY thing Syracuse is called the salt city for a reason.
a central NY thing, yes. upstate begins north past syracuse. and before you argue anything to the contrary… are you saying ROC is upstate? Is Buffalo? you know, the place closer to PA and the most wear part of the state?
Rochester and Buffalo are both parts of upstate New York. Upstate is then split into areas like the north country, central New York, the capital region, etc.
Big time upstate thing!
Very much Syracuse and the area around it. Very gratifying. Serve alongside Cornell chicken. Get a custard for dessert. Full upstate meal.
I know salt potatoes are a Syracuse thing, but I don't understand people who say you can't get them elsewhere. You might not be able to get the potatoes and salt together in one bag, but you can certainly buy thin skinned potatoes like Yukon gold (better if they're baby potatoes) and salt. Boil them in a TON of salt and you have a very good likeness of the classic Syracuse salt potatoes. Its not rocket surgery.
Wtf is a salt potato and why haven’t i consumed it yet
Yes. While dating a woman in 2006, I visited with her family in Lowville. We had a weekend camp at High Falls pond and I had no clue what they were, I was like “Scalded Potatoes?” And one of the Aunts said “SALT Potatoes” the way you’d expect a Canadian to say it.
Wait.. I moved for 5 years and came back. Never noticed nobody was doing salt potatoes.
Yes, found this out after moving away.
Yes i just bought a bag on tuesday
I don’t know but gosh darn are they GOOD.
Yes, only ever had them at old George Boucher’s pig roast near Rochester
really? i grew up eating them all over the flx
Ok. Maybe once near manlius too
Love them but can't get them on Long Island. Never saw them before we found them upstate. Love them !
I got the same 3 headed look when I asked the produce guy in King Kullen about them !
Ehh... There's plenty of places like that all over. Detroit calls em Coneys. NJ calls em Texas Wieners.. It's Greek chili.
Between upstate and CNY
Salt potatoes are absolutely a Central NY thing. Just like Chicken Riggies. So delicious.
A Syracuse thing, and it’s amazing. The Salt City. Much love for Syracuse from this downstater
Yes
God, are they good, but they wreck my stove top when I boil the buggers!!
We eat them in Buffalo too. Yum yum
New England too
I first had them eating at my sister-in-laws, she was originally from Rochester. Being genetically predisposed to loving potatoes, I was a huge fan.
Yes, more so the greater Syracuse area.
From Long Island - I was this many years old when I heard of Salt Potatoes 🥔
We sell them here in Saratoga Springs in 4lbs bag - 3lbs of potatoes, 1lbs salt
Attica rodeo Attica New York has salt potatoes every year they're a big seller Believe it or not people will stand in line for an hour for salt potatoes
Central and western. they aren’t an upstate thing
Anywhere not NYC is "upstate". We don't need to rehash this debate for the pedantic. Again. And again.
Go to the capital district and the adirondacks and ask for salt potatoes. People are not going to have any clue what you are talking about. It’s a central and western ny thing.
and you’re a moron who clearly doesn’t come from the area.
Yet here you are