Hash browns
Hash browns, also spelled hashed browns and hashbrowns, are a popular American breakfast food consisting of finely julienned potatoes that have been fried until golden brown. Hash browns are a staple breakfast item at diners in North America, where they are often fried on a large, common cooktop or grill.
Hash browns are a popular mass-produced product sold in refrigerated, frozen and dehydrated forms.
Etymology
The word hash is derived from the French word hacher, which means 'to hack' or 'to chop'. In other words, hashed brown potatoes can be interpreted literally as "chopped and fried potatoes".History
The following recipe for "brown hashed potatoes" appears in the 1835 edition of the Minnesota Farmers' Institute Annual:Hash browns first started appearing on breakfast menus in New York City in the 1890s. The name was gradually changed to "hash-brown potatoes".
Preparation
A chef may prepare hash browns by either grating potato or forming riced potatoes into patties before frying with onions ; however, if a binding agent is added, such a preparation constitutes a potato pancake.Hash browns are sometimes made into patty form and frozen for ease of handling, and the compact, flat shape can also be cooked in a toaster oven or toaster. For best results, in both cooking and flavor, it is recommended that hash browns be made using starchy potatoes such as russet potatoes. If a dish of hash browned potatoes incorporates chopped meat, leftovers, or other vegetables, it is commonly referred to as hash.
Hash browns are also manufactured as a dehydrated food, which is sometimes used by backpackers.
In the United States, hash browns may refer to shredded, pan-fried potatoes or diced/cubed potatoes, the latter also being known as country fried potatoes or home fries. Some recipes add diced or chopped onions, and when bell peppers are added to cubed home fries the dish is known as Potatoes O'Brien.