Air Fryer Cubed Hash Browns: Quick, Easy Breakfast

Making cubed hash browns in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a crispy, delicious breakfast side dish. Using an air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep frying, and it's also faster than using an oven. It's a simple process: first, preheat your air fryer to around 350–400°F. Then, place your hash browns in the basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with no overcrowding. Spray the hash browns with cooking oil or olive oil, and add seasonings like garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Air fry for around 15–20 minutes, flipping the hash browns halfway through. And that's it! You'll have perfectly crispy hash browns with minimal effort.

Choosing the right potatoes

The type of potatoes you use will determine the texture of your hash browns. For the air fryer, you want to use potatoes that will give you crispy results.

Starchy potatoes, like Russets, are best for hash browns. They have a drier, fluffier texture, which helps to make the outside of the potatoes crispy. Waxy potatoes like red new potatoes have a higher moisture content and tend to hold their shape better, so they will not get as crispy.

If you want your hash browns to stick together easily, you can opt for a waxy potato, but they will not crisp up as nicely.

Tips for Choosing the Right Potatoes:

• Look for starchy potatoes, like Russets, for the crispiest results.
• Avoid waxy potatoes like new potatoes, Yukon Golds, or red potatoes, as they have more moisture and will not crisp up as well.
• If you want your hash browns to stick together easily, you can use a waxy potato, but be aware they will not get as crispy.
• Buy potatoes in bulk to save money; 10-pound bags are often cheaper than buying single potatoes, and they keep well in storage.
• Check your local discount grocery store for deals on potatoes if they are not on sale at your regular supermarket.

Preparing the potatoes

To begin, select the right type of potatoes. Russet potatoes are a popular choice due to their drier, fluffier texture, making them ideal for crispy hash browns. Alternatively, Yukon Gold potatoes are slightly smaller, with a waxy skin, and have slightly less starch, resulting in crispier hash browns.

Once you've chosen your potatoes, it's time to peel and grate them. Use a box grater or a food processor with a grating disk to grate the potatoes into shreds or small cubes. If you're using a box grater, the largest grating side is usually best.

After grating, place the potatoes in a large bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak for at least 10 minutes, but preferably about 30 minutes. This soaking process helps remove excess starch, which can make the hash browns sticky and gummy.

After soaking, drain and rinse the potatoes thoroughly. Transfer them to a clean lint-free kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. It's important to get them as dry as you can before the next step.

Now, transfer the potatoes to a large mixing bowl and add your desired seasonings. You can keep it classic with just salt and pepper, or add some garlic powder and onion powder for extra flavour. Drizzle a little oil over the potatoes and toss to coat. You can use vegetable oil, olive oil, avocado oil, or even refined coconut oil if you don't mind a hint of coconut flavour.

Your potatoes are now ready to be placed into the air fryer! Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking, then add the seasoned potatoes. Spread them into an even layer, lightly pressing down to flatten the potato shreds. If you want extra crispy hash browns, spray the top of the potatoes with a little more cooking spray.

Now, it's time to air fry! Set your air fryer to 350-400°F and cook for about 10 minutes. Then, use a spatula to carefully flip the potatoes and air fry for another 10 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

And that's it! You've successfully prepared the potatoes for your cubed hash browns. Now you can enjoy delicious, crispy hash browns straight from your air fryer.

Adding seasoning

The seasoning you add to your hash browns will really make them stand out, and there are so many options to choose from.

A simple seasoning mix could include garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add smoked paprika, rosemary, or parsley to taste.

If you want to add a little more heat, you could add some cayenne pepper or chilli powder to your hash browns. Alternatively, you could add some dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, or basil for a more subtle flavour.

For something a little different, you could try adding some nutritional yeast to your hash browns for a cheesy flavour.

When adding seasoning to your hash browns, it's important to taste as you go and adjust the seasonings to your preference. It's also a good idea to make sure your seasonings are well combined before adding them to the potatoes, so you get an even distribution of flavour.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment and create your own unique seasoning blend!

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for cubed hash browns in an air fryer will depend on the type of hash browns you are cooking and the model of your air fryer.

For frozen shredded hash browns, cook at 350°F to 370°F for 20 to 23 minutes, flipping them with 5 minutes left.

For frozen hash brown patties, cook at 375°F for 7 to 8 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

For freshly grated hash browns, cook at 360°F to 350°F for 14 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so it is recommended to check your hash browns periodically to ensure they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. Additionally, for even cooking, ensure that the hash browns are spread out in a single layer in the air fryer basket and are not overcrowded.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer hash browns are a versatile side dish that can be served at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:

• For a classic breakfast, serve them with eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, and fresh fruit. You could also add some avocado toast, vegan blueberry pancakes, or a dipping sauce like vegan sour cream or hot sauce.
• For a heartier breakfast or brunch, pair them with air fryer bacon, sweet cream pancakes, air fryer eggs, and sausage.
• For a quick and easy lunch or dinner, serve them with a simple protein like air fryer chicken tenders or salmon.
• As a side dish for dinner, they go well with meatloaf, bean chili, lentil sloppy joes, or jackfruit pulled pork sandwiches.
• For a vegetarian option, serve them with a cozy soup, or load them up with toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, bacon bits, guacamole, and more.
• For a fun snack, serve them with ketchup or a dipping sauce.

Frequently asked questions