How to make Hash-Browns out of Tater-Tots

Poor man's way of making Hash-Browns out of cheap frozen Tater-tots

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A stove
• A pan
• Tater-tots
• A spatula
• A microwave
• Cooking oil
• A bowl

1. Put the frozen tater tots into a bowl and microwave for about 3 minutes. You want to warm them up until they are soft and easy to mush up. While you do this, put a tablespoon of oil in a pan and begin to warm the pan up on the stove.

2. When you remove the warmed/soft tater tots from the microwave, begin to mash them up with the spatula. Crush them, chop them, etc. until they are a jumbled mess of potato shreds.

3. Turn the pan up to high-heat. Wait a few moments. When the pan is hot, pour the mashed-up tater-tots into the pan. Gather them into one central mass, then press them down with the spatula a bit to flatten them out so they begin to resemble a pile of hash-browns.

4. Let them cook like that for approximately 2 minutes. You'll know they are ready to flip when the bottom edges start to look a crisp brown color.

5. Flip and cook the other side in a similar fashion. The sides should be a crisp dark color, and the pile of mashed-up tater-tots should feel stiff and a bit crunchy.

6. Remove them from heat when ready, let them sit for a minute for any extra oil to drip off or absorb in. Then serve them up.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use too much oil, it will make the "hash-browns" soggy.
• Make sure the microwave has fully defrosted the tots. If they are a little cooked from the microwave it is perfectly ok.

[ThenAgainMaybe]

on 2/22/2009 Good idea to multi-purpose those tots and save some room in the freezer. Thanks RRRC

[Alishamitchum]

on 12/11/2008 This sounds great