Serves 4

To ensure that the potatoes fan out evenly, look for uniformly shaped potatoes.

Serves 4 to 6

This recipe is designed to work with potatoes 1½ to 2 inches in diameter; do not use potatoes any larger. It is important to thoroughly cook the potatoes so that they will smash easily. Remove the potatoes from the baking sheet as soon as they are done browning—they will toughen if left too long. A potato masher can also be used to “smash” the potatoes.

Serves 6 to 8

If you prefer to use kosher salt, you will need 1½ cups of Morton or 2½ cups of Diamond Crystal.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
Some Syracuse Salt Potatoes recipes call for three cups of salt, but we found that to be excessive. We reduced the salt content dramatically to create a potato recipe with a well-seasoned (not too salty) crust and ultra-creamy interior. Both kosher and non-iodized salt worked equally well. And small white or red potatoes, left whole and unpeeled, worked best in our Syracuse Salt Potatoes—if cut or peeled, the potatoes absorb too much salt. Adding chives and black pepper brought this dish to a new level.

Serves 6 to 8

Avoid extra-sharp cheddar, which becomes grainy during slow cooking. And don’t soak potatoes in water before using or the scalloped potatoes will be watery.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
Potatoes contain moisture that diluted the sauce after hours in the slow cooker. We thickened our Slow-Cooker Scalloped Potatoes with a generous amount of cornstarch to ensure that the sauce could handle the added moisture given off by the potatoes. The prolonged heat of the slow cooker overheated most cheeses, causing them to clump up and ooze grease. We found that Monterey Jack—which melted easily without separating—paired with sharp cheddar produced a flavorful, lump-free sauce. Russet potatoes proved to be the variety of choice due to their high starch content. The starch helped the cheese sauce adhere to the potatoes, and tasters liked the fluffy texture of the russets. The potatoes wouldn’t cook evenly in the slow cooker, so we started them in the microwave before transferring them to the slow cooker. When direct contact between the potatoes and the slow cooker caused them to burn, we created a barrier with parchment paper to protect them.