Hash brownsare integral to the classic American breakfast plate.
Sure, bacon and eggs may take center stage, but what props up those two superstars?
Yet, too often, home cooks will skip these satisfying starches completely.
Photos by brands.
The reason is simple: they’re a pain to make.
Even something seemingly labor intensive like pancakes or waffles takes considerably less time than hash browns.
To make them from scratch, you better peel and grate your potato, along with an onion.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
Then, you fry those up, waiting patiently for them to get that IHOP-quality crust you desire.
It just seems like an awful lot of work when the payoff is merely potatoes.
But, that’s why you have a freezer!
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
To make your life simple and easy.
Just take your hash browns out of a bag and throw them in a pan.
Even so, it helps to start with a well-made product.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
None of these products come pre-seasoned or uniquely flavored.
They all taste like plain potatoes, because they are plain potatoes.
As a result, texture becomes an even more crucial element for this taste test.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
A 28-ounce bag cost $5.69 at Harris Teeter.
The Prep:At first glance, the directions looked pretty simple.
Just drizzle a little oil into a skillet.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
These are hash whites, or hash grays.
The Taste:The producers weren’t kidding when they said “thick.”
And these just didn’t make the cut.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
Potatoes without enough salt have a strangeaftertaste, and that aftertaste definitely comes through.
The brand also producesthese shredded hash browns, which cost $5.99 at my local Giant.
The Look:These potatoes actually browned up pretty nicely.
Giant
The Taste:In a word, mushy.
While they did get a better crust than the previouscandidate, the inside was basically mashed potatoes.
Hash browns, at least in my view,shouldn’t be mushy.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
And it’snot a ball of mush that I was excited about.
That’s why it’s ranked at three.
Perfectly in the middle.
Courtesy of Trader Joe’s ©2023
Not toogreat, but not bad, either.
The Taste:Not bad, butthe potato comes out mushy and a little more limp than crispy.
However, these are definitely stillmy pick among the shredded hash browns.
Robby Haynos for Eat This, Not That!
Otherwise, stick to the patty varieties, which take the number one and two spots.
A pack of 10 cost $4.19.
The Taste:The texture of these is fluffy with a crispy outside.
I do wish the outside crisped up alittle more, but it still delivers a nice crunch.
This Giant brand takes second place just for being crispy.
After trying them myself, it’s easy to see why.
A package of 10 cost $2.79.
The Look:Look at that hash brown.
I feel like I’m cheating because it’s golden brown straightout of the package.
It’s got that perfect oval shape reminiscent of the hash browns at a certain fast-food company.With golden arches.
Golden and crispy on theoutside, soft and flaky on the inside.
Do you like a lot of potato in there?
Do you wanta crisp?
Somewhere in the middle?
This will check all those boxes.
