You know those people who say they’re not big breakfast eaters? Or worse…they don’t like breakfast foods (gasp!)? Yeah, I’m not one of those people. I love breakfast and breakfast food. If I could pick one meal to eat out with friends, it would be breakfast/brunch. And my favorite favorite breakfast food? Potatoes. Hash browns. Whatever you want to call them, I will go out of my way to make sure I have them when I’m ordering breakfast or for special breakfasts at home (like, say, Christmas morning?)
I know this is pretty basic, but this is one of those things like scrambled eggs where it seems like it should be easy, but the potatoes just never come out quite right, you know? The key here is to not overwork the potatoes–you want to touch them as little as possible. Also, don’t be afraid of letting the potatoes get a little brown and crispy (if that’s your thing; if you prefer them cooked but not crispy, that’s cool, too). If you cook them just until they’re done, they’ll still taste good, but the texture might be a bit soggy.
You’ll need 4 smallish-medium russet potatoes (peeled or unpeeled, it’s up to you; I prefer the skins on mine), 1 small onion, salted butter, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, smoked paprika, and Tabasco sauce. You can also substitute 2 tablespoons of bacon grease for 2 tablespoons of the butter.
Bring a medium-large pot of water to a boil and cut your potatoes into 1/4″-1/2″ cubes (depending on how big you like ’em). When the water is boiling, add the potatoes and cook for about 5 minutes or until they are slightly softened but not completely cooked. Drain and rinse in cool water.
In a large skillet (preferably cast-iron; if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, Santa needs to bring you one for Christmas this year), melt the butter (or butter and bacon grease) over medium heat. When the butter is melted and bubbly, add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute or until the onions are softened. Add the potatoes in a single layer and combine with the onions, then let the potatoes cook for 3-4 minutes without touching them at all. Sprinkle with paprika, a little salt and pepper, and about 10 dashes of Tabasco sauce. Use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan and flip as many potatoes as you can at once until all the potatoes have been flipped. Cook for another 3-4 minutes and test them for doneness and seasoning; add more salt, pepper, and Tabasco to taste. Give ’em a few minutes more if they need it, stirring gently to prevent the potatoes from burning. Serve immediately. And not just for breakfast–they’re a great quick and easy side for dinner on a cold night!
I kind of completely love them with ketchup; yes, I know that is a completely un-foodie admission, but then I’ve never really claimed to be a foodie. Are you shocked and horrified?
Breakfast Potatoes
Recipe by Our Best Bites
4 medium baking potatoes
1 small white or yellow onion, minced
1/4 c. salted butter
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Kosher salt, to taste
About 10-20 shakes of Tabasco sauce
Bring a medium or large bot of water to a boil. While the water is heating, cut the potatoes into into 1/4″-1/2″ cubes. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes or until they are slightly softened but not fully cooked. Drain and rinse in cool water.
Heat a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat. Add the 1/4 c. of butter and heat until melted and bubbly. Add the diced onion and cook for about 1 minute or until the onions are softened. Add the potatoes in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes (don’t even touch them) and then sprinkle with paprika, 10 dashes of Tabasco, and a little salt and pepper. Using a spatula, scrape the bottom of the pan and flip as many potatoes as you can at once. You just want to handle the potatoes as little as possible while getting every surface of the potato a little crispy.
When the potatoes have cooked for another 3-4 minutes, test them for doneness and seasoning; add more Tabasco, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook until desired doneness is reached, flipping them the same way as before. It’s hard to overcook these potatoes–they should be a little crispy on the outside, but not burned. Serves 4-6.
FAQs
To keep your hash browns crispy, make sure to heat the oil to sizzling before adding the patties and wait until the one side is golden brown before flipping. You can also make your hash browns thinner because they will get crispier and cook more evenly.
Should you soak potatoes before making hash browns? ›
Most recipes require soaking your raw, shredded potato in cold water to rinse off the excess starch, then squeezing every last bit of moisture out before tossing it in a pan.
How do restaurants get hash browns to stick together? ›
Flour and starch are commonly used to help hash browns stick together. You can add an egg if you like, but the flour mix is sufficient.
How do you keep hash browns from getting gummy? ›
Make sure you're rinsing the potatoes and water until the water runs clear. The starch will make the potatoes black very quickly, rising potatoes in water and then draining and pressing the moisture out through cheesecloth or paper towels will do the trick.
Why won't my hash browns get crispy? ›
You'll want to remove as much moisture as possible because this will prevent your hash browns from getting as crisp as possible. All the water will just create steam and as any additional starch is released from the potato it's going to get gummy, just not as gummy as before. So get them dry!
Is it better to cook hash browns with butter or oil? ›
Using a drier, starchier potato such as Idaho, and rinsing away the excess starch is a sure-fire way to crispy, golden hash browns. Butter helps both browning and flavor, while oil lowers the smoke point, allowing your pan to do the steady, even cooking needed for perfectly crisped potatoes.
Why do my hashbrowns come out mushy? ›
In fact, adding too much oil to your pan will result in mushy, soggy hash browns. If there's too much oil, and it's not at the right temperature, it's likely the shredded potatoes will soak up too much of it, which will make your hash browns too moist and weigh them down.
What happens if you don't soak potatoes before cooking? ›
Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.
How to make hash browns not mushy? ›
Squeeze out the moisture: Squeeze out as much moisture as you can from the grated potatoes. An easy way do this with a potato ricer (or an orange or lemon press), using it like you would a garlic press but without forcing the potatoes through it completely. You just want to press out the excess moisture.
How to cook hashbrowns like a diner? ›
Toss the potatoes to coat them with butter and then divide them into portion sizes. Flatten each portion with the back of a spatula to maximize contact with the hot pan. Cook Until Golden-Brown on Both Sides - Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, flip, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes on the second side.
Cover and cook just until the perimeters start to get golden, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to press the top down. Season with salt and pepper and flip. Cook, uncovered, until the bottom is golden and crispy, another 3 to 5 minutes.
Should you rinse shredded potatoes before making hash browns? ›
To ensure ultimate crispness, be sure to rinse the grated potatoes with cold water until the water runs nearly clear and to use a very hot, well-seasoned pan. As with all potato dishes, remember to season well.
What potato is best for hash browns? ›
Yukon Gold potatoes give you a good balance of creaminess and crispness, but will not get as crisp as russets. The type of potato you use can have a great impact on the final result. Waxy red or new potatoes turn nice and creamy when cooked, but are terrible at developing crisp crusts.
What hash browns does Waffle House use? ›
Our supplier, Basic American Foods, works with potato farmers in Idaho to grow the foundation for Waffle House hashbrowns. They only select potatoes grown by multi-generational, family farmers located in the world's most famous potato growing regions of southeast Idaho.
What will prevent the hash browns from becoming crispy? ›
Use a thin layer of shredded potatoes
Overcrowding the pan will cause the hash brown to steam, and instead of a crispy hash brown, you'll get a soggy, mushy one. Try to avoid using too little potatoes in your hash brown, since this can lead to a burnt crust.
What is traditionally the main ingredient of hash browns? ›
Hash browns, also spelled hashed browns and hashbrowns, are a popular American breakfast dish consisting of finely julienned potatoes that have been fried until golden brown.
What makes hash browns so good? ›
The potato pieces are blanched. This trick can be used with fries to make them extra crispy on frying, so it could be this that makes the hash browns so good. After being in boiling water for several minutes, the potatoes are cut up and seasoned, with cornflour and potato flour added.
