Classic Hash Browns

One of my favorite things to eat is a crispy portion of hash browns with a fried egg on the side. Morning, noon or night, it is my go-to comfort food, and a dish we often serve up when we make breakfast for dinner mid-week.

Pan-fried or oven-fried, the trick with a crispy hash brown is to rinse out the starch, keep them thin and cook on high heat. And if the taste of crispy buttery Idaho Potatoes isn’t enough to get you excited, then the fact that you can prep this dish and freeze the uncooked hash for later should.

These hash browns are so versatile, you can make them small and dip them in your favorite sauce for an afternoon snack, or even add a little chutney to them for a party-worthy appetizer. 

Ingredients:

  • 3 Idaho® Russet potatoes, about 1½ pounds
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon (or more) of salted butter

Directions:

  1. Peel the potatoes and let soak in a bowl of room temperature water while you peel the remaining potatoes.
  2. Use a cheese or box grater to shred the potatoes into a colander. The shredding disc attachment for your food processor also works really well. 
  3. Rinse the shredded potatoes until the water runs clear to remove the excess starch.
  4. Drain the shredded potatoes and place them in a large kitchen towel. Squeeze to get as much water out as possible. Open the towel, toss the potatoes and then gather the towel and squeeze again.
  5. Place potatoes in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
  6. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter to the pan. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the potatoes and cook undisturbed until a deep golden crust forms on the bottom, about 5 minutes.
  7. Using a spatula, break up potatoes. Flip and continue cooking 5-8 more minutes until golden brown, adding more butter if the pan becomes dry. 
  8. Season with salt and pepper and serve. 

Hash Brown Benedict - Hollandaise Sauce - Poached Eggs

Hash Brown Burgers

Spicy Chipotle Breakfast Idaho® Potato Hash Browns

Notes:

Time Saving Tip: Freeze uncooked dry hash in an airtight freezer bag for last minute hash browns any time.

5 Tips to Make Hash Browns Like a Pro

Hash browns are the worst when they are soggy, greasy and half raw in the center. Here we have 5 tips to help assure they turn out perfectly.

  • Rinsing the potatoes removes the excess starch and is key to making sure you don't end up with gummy hash browns.
  • Get serious about removing the extra water. It makes all the difference between crispy and soggy. 
  • Hear a sizzling sound? That's what you want. If you've lost your sizzle, add a little more butter. 
  • Use a nonstick pan if possible. Cast iron comes in a close second. 
  • This tip might be the hardest one to follow but it's an important one – leave the potatoes alone. No fussing. Cook until one side is completely crispy and golden before turning and doing the same on the other side.