This is a complete guide to making hash browns in an air fryer. Be it the shredded hash browns or the hash brown patties. Not just the frozen hash browns, we will also discuss how to make homemade hash browns using an air fryer. They turn out super crispy and delicious.
Air fryers are great to cook frozen meals and whip up a quick breakfast or dinner. Some air fryer breakfast recipes that you might like are:
- Make frozen burgers in air fryer (Frozen veggie burger)
- A Guide to Make Biscuits in Air Fryer
- Best way to cook frozen garlic bread in air fryer
Why should you make hash browns in an air fryer?
There is nothing fancy in making air fryer hash browns. But the convenience and cooking time matters.
- Easy. Air frying is the easy, simplest, fuss-free way to make hash browns that are crispy and delicious.
- No Thawing is required. There is no need to thaw the frozen hash browns before putting them in an air fryer. Just put the frozen hash browns in the air fryer basket as such.
- No oil. You do not have to use any oil spray if you do not want to. Make them healthy.
- No pre-heating. The air fryer does not need to be preheated like an oven and the air fryer hash browns taste better in all ways than the oven-baked ones.
- Quick. Making shredded hash browns or the hash brown patties in the air fryer is quick or rather the quickest and healthiest way to make them.
How to make shredded hash browns
Frozen hash browns in air fryer
You can make frozen hash browns in an air fryer just like the homemade ones. The frozen or the home grated ones, both hash browns take almost equal time to cook in an air fryer. Set the air fryer temperature to 370 0F and gently put the hash browns in the air fryer basket. Spread them evenly in the air fryer basket. Try to keep them in a thin and even layer for thorough and uniform cooking. And air fry them for about 10-12 minutes. Flip or toss them halfway through the cooking process.
Do not make a thick stack of the hash browns if you want them to be crispy. When done, take them out to plate, season, and serve.
It is not convenient to make them on an oven-style air fryer as potatoes shreds fly around with the hot air. Also in basket air fryers, some shreds can get into the bottom of the basket through the mesh.
You can collect them at the end of air frying, by pulling out the basket tray.
Homemade hash browns in air fryer
Wash, peel, and grate starchy potatoes like Russets potatoes. Use the largest holes of the shredder to shred the potatoes. Squeeze out the excess moisture from the shredded potatoes. Then, put them on a parchment paper and press them into a rough large patty.
Then spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or olive oil. Gently flip the parchment paper into the air fryer basket. Now set the air fryer temperature to 370 0F and cook the hash brown for 10-12 minutes.
Halfway through the cooking time, flip them using a spatula and continue cooking till fully done.
Ingredients required to make homemade hash brown patty in the air fryer?
Potatoes
Grab two to three Russets or Idaho potatoes. The starchy potatoes make the best hash browns. They have more starch content and less moisture. They are not the best choice if you want something to bind, but great for making hash browns.
Seasoning:
Use the seasonings of your choice. Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder are what I have used.
How to make homemade hash brown patties in air fryer
Wash, peel, and grate the potatoes. Collect the grated potatoes in a cheesecloth and squeeze out the excess moisture. Then I add the seasonings, mix, and press the potatoes in a greased small loaf pan that can fit into the air fryer basket.
Place the pan in the air fryer and air fry at 400 0F for 5 minutes. Then, remove the pan and flip it to remove the big potato patty on a wooden board. Then, using a knife cut it into equal pieces. Now air fry them by putting them in the air fryer.
They would take about 10 minutes at 400 0F. Flip them using a non-metal spatula halfway through the cooking time. Air fry the hash brown patties to your liking (the crispiness).
How to make frozen hash brown patties in an air fryer
No need for thawing or defrosting the frozen hash brown patties before making them in an air fryer. The method is quick, easy, and makes crispy hash brown patties in a matter of a few minutes!
Just grease the basket of the air fryer and place the frozen patties in the basket. I could fit 5 in my 8 qt basket. Depending on the size of your basket place the frozen hash brown patties in it. Keep adequate space to allow circulation of air. Also, you can spray the patties with some cooking oil.
Using cooking oil spray is optional and you can skip it and make oil free hash brown patties. Then air fry them at 400 0F for 8- 10 minutes. At 4 minutes of cook time, flip the patties to ensure even cooking on both sides.
I cook mine for 10 minutes as I like them super crisp and brown. Pull out the basket at 8 minutes to check if it needs to cook more or not (to suit your liking).
How to serve hash browns?
Serve the air-fried hash brown with eggs, gravy, breakfast sandwiches, etc.
Hash brown patty can also be filled into vegan sandwiches. The shredded hash browns make an excellent side for pizza, burritos, tacos, burgers, or any entrée.
For a quick breakfast side, I simply smear them with some ketchup or sauce.
How to store and reheat the air fryer hash browns
Store the leftover hash brown in an air-tight container and refrigerate for about a day or two. If planning to store for a longer duration, but then in a freezer-safe bag or box and freeze.
For reheating, air fry the shredded hash browns at 370 degrees F for 5 minutes or until crispy.
Recipe notes
- Do not bother to defrost frozen hash browns, they are better this way.
- Place the frozen shredded hash browns or the patties in the air fryer in a single layer. Never overcrowd or overlap the frozen food in an air fryer. The air fryer frozen hash browns will turn out soggy if overlapped.
- Spread them evenly in the air fryer basket. Try to keep them in a thin and even layer for thorough and uniform cooking. This is to ensure that you get the crispiest hash browns
- Depending on the type of air fryer you use, there will a differential of 1-2 minutes. And these minutes do make a crucial difference in the final air fried food. Open the basket at 12 minutes to check how much more time they need.
- Do not forget to flip or rotate the hash brown patties halfway through the cooking time. This ensures even air frying on both sides.
- Adding oil is optional. You can cook frozen fries without oil.
- Use an air fryer silicon mat if hash browns are falling into the base of the basket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, shredded browns can be cooked in an air fryer. The only issue with air frying shredded hash browns is that they are light in weight, and they fly around in the air fryer while cooking. As we all know that the air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air inside the basket. These thin potato shreds can fly around in the basket. As a result, by the end of the cooking time, you will find that many of them have fallen under the basket.
This can be a real issue if you have an oven-style air fryer with wide wired racks. Also if your air fryer basket has very wide gaps, try an air fryer silicone mat. Place the air fryer silicone mat under the hash browns to prevent them from falling under the basket.
I do not recommend parchment paper (with punched holes). The parchment paper can get displaced in the air fryer basket due to the air and hinder the air circulation.
If your hash browns are not turning crispy try turning up the heat. Raise the temperature of the air fryer to 400 0F and see if that helps. Also, avoid adding salt to the raw hash browns. Season them when they are done. Adding salt releases the moisture faster than what an air fryer can evaporate, hence they turn out soft instead of crispy.
For making hash browns choose the potato varieties that are low in moisture and high in starch. Starch is what makes the food crispy. So, wherever you need a crispy result, use starch potatoes like Russets and Idaho potatoes. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes. They are somewhere between the starchy and waxy potatoes.
But you should avoid fingerling, red-skinned, blue, or baby potatoes.
Never stack the hash brown patties in an air fryer. If you have an oven-style air fryer, use only one shelf to air fry the hash brown patties if you want them to cook perfectly crispy.
There is no need to thaw the frozen hash browns before air frying. The frozen hashbrowns cook better than the ones at room temperature or the homemade ones.
Place an air fryer silicone mat in the air fryer basket and then put the hash browns on it. This will prevent the hash browns from falling into the basket.
For the best crispiest frozen hash browns, preheat the air fryer. This can be achieved by turning on the air fryer and setting the temperature to 370 0F. and then the air fryer run with an empty basket for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes put the frozen hash browns in the basket and let them cook for 7-8 minutes. Take them out of the air fryer and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. And that is going to be the crispiest frozen hash browns made in an air fryer.
Related air fryer recipes
There are numerous frozen air fryer recipes on the blog that might interest you. A few suggested air fryer frozen foods recipes are:
- Frozen Cauliflower in air fryer : A Quick Recipe
- How to make Frozen Brussel Sprouts in Air Fryer?
- How to cook frozen pizza bites (veggie pizza rolls) in air fryer
- Frozen potstickers in air fryer: The best way to make frozen dumplings
- Air fryer crinkle cut fries: Quick and easy!
I hope you will make hash browns using the air fryer. And when you do, do let me know how they turned out. Share it with friends if you find it helpful.
Till then,
Make it quick and delicious!
Recipe card fro Air fryer hash browns
Air fryer hash browns
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
Ingredients for making frozen shredded hash browns in air fryer
- A pack of frozen hash browns
- 2 teaspoon of vegetable oil or cooking spray
- Seasoning of your choice
Ingredients for making homemade shredded hash browns in air fryer
- 3 medium Russets potatoes
- 2 teaspoon of vegetable oil or cooking spray
- Seasoning of your choice
Ingredients for making frozen hash brown patties in air fryer
- 5-6 frozen hash brown patties more or less depending on the size of your basket
- 2 teaspoon of vegetable oil or cooking spray
- Seasoning of your choice
Ingredients for making homemade hash brown patties in air fryer
- 3 medium Russets potatoes
- 2 teaspoon of vegetable oil or cooking spray
- Seasoning of your choice I used salt, pepper, and garlic powder
Instructions
Instructions for making frozen shredded hash browns in air fryer
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and then put the frozen hash browns in the basket.
- Take care to spread them evenly and make a thin layer. Then, spray them cooking oil if you want. (optional)
- Set the air fryer temperature to 370 0F and air fry them for 10-12 minutes or until done.
- Do not forget to flip them for even cooking on all sides. Also, the ones at the corners cook faster so, halfway the cooking time, move them towards center and the ones at the center toward the corners.
- When done, transfer them into a plate. Some might have gone under the air fryer basket, so remove the basket rack and collect all the hash browns. Season them and serve!
Instructions for making homemade shredded hash browns in air fryer
- Wash and feel some starchy potatoes ( Russet or Idaho). Use the largest holes of the shredder to shred the potatoes.
- Squeeze out the excess moisture from the shredded potatoes.
- Then, put them on a parchment paper and press them into a rough large patty. Then spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil or olive oil.
- Gently flip the parchment paper into the air fryer basket. Spray them with oil.
- Now set the air fryer temperature to 370 0F and cook the hash brown for 10-12 minutes.
- Halfway through the cooking time, flip them using a spatula and continue cooking till fully done.
- The exact time required will depend on the quantity of hash browns and the size of the air fryer basket.
- When done, transfer them into a plate. Some might have gone under the air fryer basket, so remove the basket rack and collect all the hash browns. Season and serve !
Instructions for making frozen hash brown patties in air fryer
- Start by greasing the basket of the air fryer. Then place the frozen patties in the basket.
- Depending on the size of your basket place the frozen hash brown patties in it while keeping adequate space to allow circulation of air.
- They spray the patties with some cooking oil. Then air fry them at 400 0F for 8- 10 minutes.
- At 4 minutes of cook time, flip the patties to ensure even cooking on both sides. (I cook mine for 10 minutes as I like them super crisp and brown.) Pull out the basket at 8 minutes to check if it needs to cook more or not to suit your liking.
Instructions for making homemade hash brown patties in air fryer
- Wash, peel, and grate the potatoes. Collect the grated potatoes in a cheesecloth and squeeze out the excess moisture. Then add the seasonings, mix, and press the potatoes in a greased small loaf pan that can fit into the air fryer basket.
- Place the pan in the air fryer and air fry at 400 0F for 5 minutes. Now air fry them by putting them in the air fryer.
- Then, remove the pan and flip it to remove the big potato patty on a wooden board. Then, using a knife cut it into equal pieces.
- They would take about 10 minutes at 400 0F. Do not forget to spray them with some cooking oil for the best results.
- Flip them using a non-metal spatula halfway through the cooking time.
- When done, remove them into a plate and serve as a side along with your favorite sauce.
Notes
- Do not bother to defrost frozen hash browns, they are better this way.
- Place the frozen shredded hash browns or the patties in the air fryer in a single layer. Never overcrowd or overlap the frozen food in an air fryer. The air fryer frozen hash browns will turn out soggy if overlapped.
- Spread them evenly in the air fryer basket. Try to keep them in a thin and even layer for thorough and uniform cooking. This is to ensure that you get the crispiest hash browns.
- Depending on the type of air fryer you use, there will a differential of 1-2 minutes. And these minutes do make a crucial difference in the final air fried food. Open the basket at 12 minutes to check how much more time they need.
- Do not forget to flip or rotate the hash brown patties halfway through the cooking time. This ensures even air frying on both sides.
- Adding oil is optional. You can cook frozen fries without oil.
- Use an air fryer silicon mat if hash browns are falling into the base of the basket.
Nutrition Facts
penelope
Easy peasy hash browns.! Thanks for all the info!
Linda
I was trying to make the hash brown patties from scratch. Overlooked the instructions and did not grease the tin. My bad. It was a pain to pull out the slightly cooked patties. It did not come out as a whole. I had to cut them into small patties. They air-fried perfectly though.