How to Make a Hash Brown

Potatoes can be used to make tasty hash browns.

Hash browns are quick and simple to prepare and can make a great addition to lunch or breakfast. When making your own, it is best to use starchy potatoes such as Russets. Draining as much moisture as possible before cooking is the key to great tasting hash browns. This recipe makes enough for four to six servings and takes just over half an hour to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Large frying pan
• Grater
• Kitchen towel
• 1 lb/450 g potatoes
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

1. 

   Heat the oil on a medium-high heat.

   Turn on the hob to a medium-high heat and heat 3 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan. You can use olive oil, canola oil or rapeseed oil. It is best to use a large frying pan with a diameter of at least 9 inches (23cm).

2. 

   An upright grater is perfect for hash browns.

   Peel and grate 1lb/450g of potatoes. A standard upright kitchen grater is ideal for this.

3. Squeeze as much moisture as possible out of the grated potatoes using kitchen towel.

4. Add the grated potatoes to the frying pan once the oil has heated up to the point of shimmering. Spread them out around the bottom of the pan so that they are even and packed no more than half an inch (1.2 cm) thick in any one place.

5. 

   Season the hash browns to taste.

   Add salt and pepper to the potatoes and allow to cook for one minute.

6. Check the potatoes by lifting up one side with a fork. If they are golden brown then they are ready to turn. Otherwise, cook for slightly longer until they reach the desired colour. When you are ready to turn the golden hash browns, use a large spatula or break into smaller pieces and flip individually.

7. Cook for a further minute until the hash browns turn golden brown on both sides and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t try to move the hash browns until the bottom is well browned, as this may cause them to stick to the pan and not cook properly.

References

• Simply Recipes: Crispy Hash Browns