These breakfast favorites are easy to make and can turn any meal into a festive one. The secret to crispy, perfect fries is that they are dried before cooking, and cooked with plenty of butter. You can use raw or cooked potatoes. Here's how.
Ingredients
- 4 medium Russet potatoes (or other starchy type)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Raw Potato
Step 1. Peel the potatoes
Wash the potatoes completely in cold water, then peel them using a small knife or a vegetable peeler. Russet potatoes or potatoes that are high in starch are perfect for hash browns.
Step 2. Grate the potatoes
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth, then grate the potatoes directly into the bowl using a cheese grater.
Step 3. Squeeze out the remaining water
Squeeze as much water as possible from the grated potatoes. This is the most important step for the fries to be crispy (not mushy). To do this, unite the corners of the rag containing the grated potatoes and twist the cloth until it forms a tight package. Twist the cloth and squeeze the potatoes in your hands until you have squeezed as much liquid out of the potatoes as possible.
Alternatively, you can squeeze the water out of the potatoes using a potato masher. You don't need to force the potatoes through the mash, just enough to get the water out
Step 4. Heat the skillet
Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt. Once the butter has melted, add the grated potato wedges to the skillet and stir to coat them with the butter. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 5. Cook the french fries
Once the potatoes are buttered, smooth them out using a spatula to maximize contact with the hot skillet. The butter should be no more than 1/2 inch thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, flip, then cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. The hash brown potatoes are finished when each side is crispy and golden brown.
Step 6. Serve
Remove the hash brown from the skillet, or remove it with a large spatula. Cut into halves or quarters, if necessary. Serve alone with hot sauce or soy sauce, or with bacon and eggs for a sumptuous breakfast.
Method 2 of 2: Using Cooked Potatoes
Step 1. Cook the potatoes
Wash raw potatoes completely in cold water. Cook potatoes, either by roasting or boiling them.
- If boiling, put the potatoes in a large skillet and cover with cold water. Let the water boil, then cook the potatoes until soft. This will take about 20 minutes.
- If baking, pierce the potato skins with a fork 3-4 times. Wrap the potatoes in foil or place them directly on the center rack of the oven, preheating the oven to 350 F. The potatoes will bake in about an hour.
- If you have potatoes cooked from leftovers, you can use them to make french fries.
Step 2. Let cool before peeling
Let the cooked potatoes cool. Leave overnight in the refrigerator, if possible. Once the potatoes have cooled, you can peel them using a knife or a small vegetable peeler.
Step 3. Grate the potatoes
Grate the potatoes using a cheese grater. Potatoes will crumble very easily because they are soft when cooked. At this point, you can cook or freeze the potatoes.
To freeze the potatoes, lay them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the pan in the freezer for a few hours or until the potatoes are frozen, then transfer to a freezer bag to use anytime
Step 4. Heat the skillet
Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt. Once the butter has melted, add the grated potato wedges to the skillet and stir to coat them with the butter. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 5. Cook the french fries
Once the potatoes are buttered, smooth them out using a spatula to maximize contact with the hot skillet. The butter should be no more than 1/2 inch thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, flip, then cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. The hash brown potatoes are done when each side is crispy and golden brown.
If you're using pre-prepared frozen potatoes, you can cook them in exactly the same way. It only takes a few extra minutes
Step 6. Serve
Remove the hash brown from the skillet, or remove it with a large spatula. Cut into halves or quarters, if necessary. Serve alone, or with breakfast or dinner.
Warning
- Be careful when frying potatoes.
- Parental guidance is required for children under the age of 13.
