Hash browns, our personal guilty pleasure that somehow reminds us of early morning breakfasts on the road, a sentiment we’re sure some of you may share. Many people have the misconception that frozen food just doesn’t cook as well as fresh food, and rightly so.
However, the problem isn’t the food per se (well, sometimes it is), but the way in which it’s cooked. Frozen hash browns can still possess the crunch and crisp as fresh ones – if you know how to do it.
How do you cook frozen hash browns in the oven? The best way to cook frozen hash browns in the oven is to start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, spread the hash browns evenly over an oven pan covered with parchment or aluminum foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
This sounds simple enough, but how do you get it just right, and what if you only have a single-layer oven? Don’t worry, magic can still happen in the form of golden brown hash browns if you know what to do.
Don’t Have Double the Power? A Single-Layer Oven Works Too!
It’s okay if you don’t have a fancy double-layer oven. Not a lot of people bake or roast enough food to cover both layers anyway – not unless it’s a special occasion.
We’d hate for you to miss out on some crispy hash brown goodness, so just follow the instructions if you have a single-layer oven.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in a Single-Layer Oven (Step-by-Step)
- Line the sheet pan with parchment or aluminum foil, preheat the oven to the same 425 degrees but instead of baking, try roasting.
- Note: Roasting is better for delicate foods that cannot take high heat. Since you’re doing this with a single-layer oven, you have less space to work and more heat in a confined area.
- Roast the hash browns for 20 min depending on how thick the slices are. Feel free to go a bit longer for a crispier texture.
How to Cook Frozen Tater Tots?
Ah, the bite-sized potato babies (tater is short for potato and tot is a toddler or young child). Tater tots are essentially the same thing as hash browns, just in a different form.
Tater tots are smaller and chunkier while hash browns are thinner and flatter. So if you have a bag of tater tots in the freezer and not hash browns, don’t worry we have some tips for you too.
The method is very similar to their flatter counterparts. Spread the tater tots on a sheet pan covered with aluminum foil or parchment. Make sure they are spread out so they cook evenly. Preheat to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for around 20 minutes, or when you see the coveted golden tan.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Brown Patties
We’ll be totally honest and say hash brown patties cook best on the stovetop, but it can still be done in an oven.
There are a number of factors that impact how to do it, though. What type of oven you have and the quantity of the hash browns will factor into the “how” and the “how long”.
Generally, in a regular oven, we would suggest placing the appropriate amount onto a baking sheet and baking it at a lower temperature for a slower cook-through at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It could take anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes per side depending on the amount.
Can You Just Follow the Instructions on the Bag of Hash Browns?
Sometimes instructions can be a bit long-winded. So why even bother when you can flip the bag over and read the directions? Sometimes there is damage to the bag that makes the text illegible, or maybe you forgot and threw it out altogether.
While you can read the instructions on the bag, we have always found that it’s better to go by experience. Some people might like hash browns that are a bit soggy on the outside and inside (although we really don’t see why), and to get there, you can’t just follow words on a bag.
The level of crispiness and softness people like will vary, and the hash brown brand instructions won’t account for that. We find it best to give yourself some leeway to play around with the temperature and cooking time until you get the results you want.
Cool Facts About Hash Browns
Hash browns, the name alone sounds like it has a story to tell. It’s for this exact reason that we decided to delve deeper into the history of this yummy snack food and its nutritional properties.
- Hash browns are high in fiber
- They are an excellent source of carbohydrates
- Hash browns also have vitamin C, potassium, and iron
- They come in various forms – chopped/cubed, hashed, shredded
- Their roots (Swiss Rosti) can be traced back to 1598 Switzerland
- They are good wipes – food to wipe up other food with (egg yolk, beans, etc.)
- They are considered a comfort food by many
- Their full name is “hashed brown potatoes”
- Hash is from the French “hacher”, meaning to chop
- It’s pretty easy to make homemade hash browns yourself!
Some of the facts above were no-brainers, such as the comfort food statement because it’s something many people 100% agree with.
Who knew that hash browns, something many people would associate with American and English breakfasts actually got their name from a French word?
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that we’re passionate about food and cooking, but it genuinely brings a smile to our faces when we can learn something new, such as the history and conception of dishes and recipes, and share that knowledge with our readers.
Hash browns are a big love of ours and a snack food that frequently appears on the dinner table. It took time, but we can finally get it to the right amount of crispiness every time – and now you can too!