Most people would agree that homemade dishes are always the best because we know what they’re made of and how they were prepared.
While many don’t have the luxury of time making homemade dishes or snacks, it’s good that there are available premade dishes, like hash browns, for those with busy schedules who still want to make this delicious dish quickly.
Hash browns are the best breakfast dish that is quick and easy to make to jump-start your day.
You may cook your frozen hash browns in an oven, air fryer, waffle iron, or even in a skillet.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in the Oven
Before starting, it is essential to know that these should be thawed when using an oven. Otherwise, there’s a big possibility that it won’t cook all the way through.
Start by preheating your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. While waiting for your oven to preheat, start arranging your hash browns in a single layer on a baking sheet. Hash browns already have oil in them, so there’s no worry that your hash browns will stick.
Once your oven is ready, it’s now time to cook them.
The ideal cooking time is 20 minutes. Each side will cook for around 10 minutes. Don’t forget to flip them to ensure that they are cooked thoroughly.
You may have to extend or reduce the cooking time depending on your oven and how many hash browns you put inside the oven at a time. Once you see that your hash browns have turned into golden brown, you can now take them out. Serve while hot to enjoy the crispy crust.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in an Air Fryer
If you have an air fryer at home, you may also use them in cooking your frozen hash browns. The advantage of an air fryer is that it’s simple, fast, and there’s no need for additional oil.
There’s no need to thaw your hash browns when using an air fryer. You can pop them out of the freezer and arrange them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Be sure not to crowd them to avoid steam developing between your hash browns; otherwise, they will become soggy.
Cook them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in about 10 to 12 minutes. Flip once in the duration of your cooking time to ensure that both sides are cooked thoroughly.
You may remove them from the air fryer if they are already golden brown. You may add two minutes on your timer if you want your hash browns a little crispier.
Remember, though, that the cooking time in every air fryer will vary depending on the brand and model, so make sure you check and experiment with the best time you would need for your air fryer.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in a Waffle Iron
Dust off those waffle iron as you try this kitchen hack with your hash brown. You may have already seen food cooked using a waffle iron, and you can count hash browns in too.
Try to cook them in your waffle iron and join the craze of trying to cook food in a waffle maker.
In this method, use the shredded premade hash browns that you can find in the supermarket. If you want to make your own, that’s absolutely fine too!
How to Make Homemade Hash Browns
Another option is buying shredded frozen potatoes and seasoning them with salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika in a mixing bowl. Feel free to add some more if you must.
Add butter to your mixture to lightly coat your hash browns.
To start cooking, spray some cooking oil into your waffle iron then, place half a cup of your hash browns. Spread evenly and close the lid. Check on your hash browns after five minutes of cooking. You may add another two minutes and check again if they are fully cooked. They are ready when you see them turn golden brown.
The number of hash browns that you place will depend on the size of your waffle iron too. If you have a bigger waffle iron, you add more than half a cup.
What is the Best Way to Cook Frozen Hash Browns?
One of the benefits of choosing an oven or an air fryer is that you will not need additional oil when you cook hash browns on them. When you use a waffle iron, you still have to spray extra oil so your hash browns won’t stick to the surface. The first two methods make them the healthier choice.
Try this crispy hash brown recipe.
Who doesn’t want a crispy hash brown? The secret to making your hash brown crisp is squeezing all the excess moisture in your potatoes after you grate them. For this recipe, you will need the following:
- Three tablespoons olive oil
- Two medium-sized potatoes (preferably russet baking potatoes)
- Salt and pepper
The first thing to do is peel your potatoes. Then, grate them using a cheese grater and place them in a bowl of ice-cold water.
Stir the shredded potatoes on your bowl of ice-cold water for around thirty seconds and drain. Do this twice with a refill of iced-cold water.
After washing out the excess starch, You can squeeze them using a cheesecloth to remove the excess moisture. Squeeze several times to ensure that you have drained out all the excess moisture that you could. Then, sprinkle some salt and pepper on the potatoes. They’re now ready to be cooked.
What to Serve with Hash Browns
Hash browns are already loaded with carbohydrates. Let’s make it a balanced breakfast and complement it with some of these classic sides.
Eggs
Whether scrambled, fried, boiled, or poached, hash browns and eggs make the great partnership. It’s also very quick to make that’s perfect for a morning rush.
Bacon
The flavor of smoky bacon indeed makes a great combination, too. You can make it a little less greasy by cooking your bacon in an oven.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, start arranging the bacon slices on a baking sheet. You won’t need oil for this. Cook these for 18 to 20 minutes or extend the time if you want it crispier.
It’s convenient, and you get rid of the splatter when you cook it on a stovetop.
Cheese
Give your hash browns a little twist by adding some cheese on top while they’re still smoking hot. You can use either melted cheddar cheese or a cheese sauce. Kids would love it, too!
Sausage
Pair it with some savory sausage on the side, and it’s a perfect combination. You can also avoid excess oil by cooking your sausage in a nonstick pan without adding oil to it. The fat from the sausage will come out as it starts to cook.
You can keep cooking for around 15 to 20 minutes while moving them around to ensure that your sausage is cooked all the way through.
Having hash brown alone is already a great breakfast. Adding some sides will take it up a notch. Take note of the few tips and tricks above and make your hash browns crispy as they should be.
