This article was co-authored by Katie Hake RDN, LD. Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.
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These breakfast favorites are easy to make and can turn any meal into a feast. The secret to perfect, crispy hash browns is that the potatoes are dry before cooking, and are cooked in plenty of butter. You can make hash browns using raw or cooked potatoes.
Ingredients
- 4 medium Russet potatoes (or other high-starch variety)
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Steps
Using Raw Potatoes
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1Peel the potatoes. Wash the potatoes well in cold water, then peel using a small knife or a vegetable peeler. Russet potatoes, or other potatoes with a high starch content, work best for hash browns.
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2Shred the potatoes. Line a bowl with a clean dishtowel, then shred the potatoes directly into the towel-lined bowl, using a cheese grater.Advertisement
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3Squeeze out the moisture. You must squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the shredded potatoes. This is the most important step in achieving crispy (rather than mushy) hash browns. To do this, gather the corners of the dishtowel containing the shredded potatoes and twist the neck until you form a tight package. Continue twisting the cloth and squishing the potato in your fist until you've squeezed as much liquid as you can from the potato.
- Alternatively, you can try squeezing the moisture from the potatoes using a potato ricer. You do not need to force the potatoes through the ricer, simply use it to press out the moisture.
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4Heat the skillet. Heat a large skillet pan (preferably cast iron) over a medium-high heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow to melt. Once the butter has melted, add the dry, shredded potatoes to the pan and toss to coat with butter. Season with salt and pepper.
- Consider switching out the butter with olive oil as a source of healthy fat.
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5Cook the hash browns. Once the potato has been coated with butter, flatten it using a spatula to maximize contact with the hot pan. It should be no more than 1/2 an inch thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side, flip, then cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. The hash brown potatoes are ready when each side is crisp and golden brown.
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6Serve. Slide the hash brown from the pan, or lift using a large spatula. Cut it into halves or quarters, if necessary. Serve on its own, with hot sauce or ketchup, or alongside bacon and eggs for a top notch breakfast.
- Salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika can also provide some extra flavor.
Using Cooked Potatoes
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1Cook the potatoes. Wash your raw potatoes well in cold water. Cook the potatoes, either by baking or boiling.
- If boiling, place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil, then cook potatoes until tender. This should take about 20 minutes.
- If baking, pierce the skin of the potato with a fork 3-4 times. Wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil or place directly on the middle shelf of an oven, preheated to 350 °F (177 °C). The potato will bake in about an hour.
- If you already have leftover, cooked potatoes from a previous meal, you can go ahead and use those to make hash browns.
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2Leave to cool, before peeling. Allow the cooked potatoes to cool. Leave overnight in the refrigerator, if possible. Once the potatoes have cooled, you can peel them using a small knife or vegetable peeler.
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3Shred the potatoes. Shred the potatoes using a cheese grater. They will shred very easily as they are soft when cooked. At this point, you can either cook them, or freeze them.
- To freeze them, lay them flat on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer for a couple of hours or until the potatoes are frozen, then transfer them into freezer bags to use at your convenience.
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4Heat the skillet. Heat a large skillet pan (preferably cast iron) over a medium-high heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow to melt. Once the butter has melted, add the cooked, shredded potatoes to the pan and toss to coat with butter. Season with salt and pepper.
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5Cook the hash browns. Once the potato has been coated with butter, flatten it using a spatula to maximize contact with the hot pan. It should be no more than 1/2 an inch thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side, flip, then cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. The hash brown potatoes are ready when each side is crisp and golden brown.
- If you are using the frozen potatoes that you prepared earlier, you can cook them in the exact same way. They will just take a few extra minutes.
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6Serve. Slide the hash brown from the pan, or lift using a large spatula. Cut it into halves or quarters, if necessary. Serve on their own, or alongside breakfast or dinner.
Shopping List and Recipe
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use oil instead of butter? And how can I flatten shredded potatoes into rectangles?
Community AnswerYes, you can use oil -- it just won't be as crispy. You can use your spatula to flatten the potatoes and manipulate their shape. -
QuestionCan you freeze hash browns?
Community AnswerYes. -
QuestionCan I make potato crowns using shredded potatoes?
Community AnswerYes, as long as the potato is fresh!
Things You'll Need
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet pan (preferably iron-cast)
- Cheese grater
- Potato ricer
- Large bowl
- Clean dishcloth
- Aluminum foil
- Large saucepan
- Spatula
References
About This Article
To make hash browns, you'll need 4 medium Russet potatoes, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. After you peel the potatoes, shred them into a towel-lined bowl using a cheese grater. Next heat a skillet over medium-high heat, melt your butter in it, and add the potatoes. Cover the potatoes in butter, season with salt and pepper, and flatten the mixture with a spatula. Cook until both sides are golden brown, remove from the heat, and enjoy. If you want to learn how to use cooked potatoes to make your hash browns, keep reading the article!
