How to stop hash browns from burning?

Question

My boyfriend is the cook, but he has not been able to make hash browns (ones that come in a box, the shredded kind) without burning them. They get black on one side, and the rest is still a bit mushy.
He says he follows the directions on the box, which says to use 4 tablespoons of oil in the pan. Its a dark pan.
He has one of those little grills...should he try it on there?

Answer 1

Use enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Try using using these oils: Peanut oil, best for frying, will take high temps before smoking and gives a great crispness.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, very light.

Virgin Olive Oil, light and you can pick up the flavors in different oils well.

I like to make hash browns in a cast iron skillet. Cast Iron heats evenly and cooks better than thin skillets.

When cooking, make sure to spread the hashbrowns out into an even layer. The cast irons cooking characterists and the even layer of hashbrowns should solve the problem.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Don't buy your hashbrowns in a box. Buy them as fresh taters.

Cook the taters first, then shred them into the pan. You want to have the entire bottom of the pan covered with oil. They taste better if you start off with the grease from frying meat, whether it be sausage, bacon, ham, hamburgers, or whatever.

Keep the taters moving. They will continue to soak up oil, so you may need to add more oil as you go along.

I sometimes add chopped sweet banana peppers to the pan fairly early on. And sometimes, I add parmesian cheese to the pan at the very last moment. If you add peppers and/or cheese to the pan, they aren't really hashed browns, but they're still mighty tasty for a middle-of-the-night snack.

Answer 3

Coat the bottom of the pan with a small amount of oil, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Let the oil heat up and then put the hash browns in. Have the heat on medium and turn often.

Answer 4

You need enough oil to completely cover the bottom of the pan about 1/8 inch deep. If that takes more oil than you want to use, try a smaller pan. And turn the heat down a little.

Bert

Answer 5

Do not wait till your hash browns are really dark on one side.
Flip them ,add little more oil,then press them with spatula, apply little force,by doing it you will press the mushy side down into the hot oil and force them to cook.

Answer 6

the biggest thing is not using too much oil (that can cause the mushiness) and cooking on a medium heat. Don't peek too soon either. Let them get nice and crispy on the first side before flipping them.

Answer 7

It sounds like he should lower the heat, and flip them halfway through cooking.

Answer 8

make sure they're not too thick
use a lot of oil--sometimes more than they say
also use a lower heat setting

Answer 9

i always cook it at low temp takes like 10 mins take out when there brown

Answer 10

Try frying on a lower heat.