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I’ve been going through a lot of frozen shredded hash brown potatoes the last few months. It’s not something that I used to use much, but I started making breakfast casseroles and I’m using them like never before and loving it. My favorite breakfast casseroles usually involve ingredients like - shredded hash brown potatoes, cheese, milk, eggs, bacon, sausage, and more cheese…. :) Yum! It’s a great dish to bring to a brunch potluck.
I found out how to make homemade hash browns from The Finer Things in Life and decided to give it a try.
I have to tell you that I changed it up a little by baking them at a higher temperature and also just placing them on the oven racks, rather than in a covered dish. My method probably made them be a bit drier. They seemed to turn out fine when I used them, though. I also peeled my potatoes before shredding. I’m including my steps so you can decide which way you prefer. Amy’s tutorial is great and very helpful, too.
I gently washed and pricked an almost-full ten pound bag of potatoes and placed them in my 400 degree oven. I baked them on the racks for about 45-50 minutes until they were completely soft.
Once they were fully baked, I removed them from the oven and placed them in a bowl in the refrigerator. I allowed them to cool overnight. The next day I peeled the chilled potatoes.
Peeled, cooked and chilled potatoes are not the prettiest things I have ever seen… They definitely have “character.” Peeling the potatoes wasn’t hard, but it did take a few moments. It was probably the most time consuming part of the whole process, but it wasn’t difficult because the peel comes off easily once they are cooked.
I set up my food processor and shredded all of my cooked potatoes in a few minutes. (If you don’t have a food processor you can hand grate them.) I was so thrilled! I’m not sure why I never thought of shredding my own cooked potatoes before. I ended up filling approximately 3 1-gallon Ziploc bags and I felt that they were each equivalent to a 32 ounce bag from the grocery store.
If you prefer for your hash browns pieces to break apart easily it is recommended that you spread them out on a large cookie sheet and freeze them that way before putting them into a bag together. I opted to just put them in the bag together right away.
I’m so happy I no longer have to buy shredded hashbrown potatoes from the store. I know that I saved money by making them myself. Even better is that I have another great way to use up a bag of potatoes before they go bad, and I can tuck the shredded potatoes away in the freezer for easy use when I need them. Win!
I used my first batch of shredded potatoes to make a casserole that I took to a brunch this morning. It turned out wonderfully! Too bad I forgot to snap a picture.
Have you ever made your own cooked and shredded hash brown potatoes? What’s your favorite way to use them?
Happy Wednesday!
Update: I found it’s definitely best to lay them out on a pan if you want to be able to use just a portion of the bag. By freezing them all together in the bag, they froze together in a solid mass. That’s fine if you want to use an entire bag and thaw them before use. :)
I’m linking up at a few wonderful sites: Saving 4 Six, Diana Rambles, A Humble Creation, A Pinch of Joy, The Gunny Sack, Skip to My Lou, The Dedicated House, Home Stories A to Z, Naptime Creations, Crystal and Co., Fluster Buster,
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What blade did you use in the food processor to shred them. They look like they didn’t get all mushed together, but that’s what I would be afraid might happen with my food processor.
Hi Carolyn. Good question! I used the medium shred disc that came with my Cuisinart. It worked great!
Your hashbrowns look fabulous! And… you’re making me want a food processor. ;)
Amy @ Finer Things recently posted…Just Do the Next Thing {A Fresh Start}
Thanks, Amy, and thank you for the wonderful hash brown tutorial, too! The food processor is fairly new to me, but it’s been so handy, especially for something like this. I admire the fact that you hand-grated all of your potatoes! They have to taste better just for doing that! Thanks for stopping by.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing this at my Pin Me Linky Party.
Diana Rambles recently posted…Valentine Candy Bark
Thanks! Who knew they were so easy to make?! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you!!! I was wondering how I could make these myself and save money.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/make-one-new-recipe-a-week-french-onion-soup-grilled-cheese-sandwich
Simplee Sue recently posted…Valentine Date Night Ideas and Craft Jar
Wonderful! They’re so easy! Thanks so much for stopping by. I loved visiting your sweet blog.
I found you from Diana Rambles Party! I’m your newest follower via GFC. I host Fluster Creative Muster Party on Wednesdays and I would love it if you would come by and party with us. Hope to see you there!
Hugs, Smiles, and Blessings,
Robin
Fluster Buster
Robin recently posted…Vick’s VapoRub – WWII Tips and Tricks
Thanks so much for following along! I’m so glad to have you join in the fun. I will head over your way. Thanks for the invitation to party with you!
for sure going to try this… I live in HOng Kong and they don’t sell shredded frozen like the US… I always miss them for recipes :o) pinning!
emily recently posted…25 Amazing things to eat, make, bake and craft for Valentines Day! And Tasteful Tuesday Party
Oh, wonderful! I have been making so many dishes with shredded potatoes recently that I know I would really miss not having them available. It must be quite a change to be in a different culture without the ingredients you’re used to. It would take some adjusting. Thanks so much for the pin!
Yum! Thanks for linking up at my Monday Makeover party, Laurie! I’m with you on those breakfast casseroles. They always seem to show up at breakfast at church groups and they are great!
Jessica @ A Humble Creation recently posted…Monday Makeover Link Party Take 9
I’m loving the potato casseroles for taking to church brunches. They’re so easy to fix the night before and pop them in the oven in the morning. They taste wonderful, too!
This is a great idea! We ALWAYS have potatoes that go bad before we can use the entire bag since it’s just the 3 of us (and our little one is under 2 so he doesn’t eat much). Pinning!
Lora @ Craftivity Designs recently posted…Anthropologie Inspired: Chalkboard Globe
Wonderful! I know it’s hard to get through a bag of potatoes fast enough sometimes. Thanks so much for the pin!
Hi Laurie,
I found you at the Fluster Buster Party! I have also heard of cooking the potatoes in the microwave. Have you ever tried that? Love the info on freezing them flat, if you only want to use a portion of them. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly at everythinginbetweenbykelly.blogspot.com
I have only cooked potatoes in the microwave when we do them one or two at a time to eat as a snack. I’ve never cooked that large of an amount in the microwave. Yes, I think I will definitely be spreading them out on a tray to prefreeze them before bagging them up. I didn’t realize they would stick together quite so hard! So glad you stopped by. Have a wonderful afternoon!
Great tip that this is a good way to use up a bag of potatoes! Thanks so much for sharing on Busy Monday!
It is a wonderful way to use up potatoes! Thanks for hosting.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing at Fluster’s Creative Muster. Looking forward to seeing what you link up next week.
Robin recently posted…Vick’s VapoRub – WWII Tips and Tricks
Thanks, Robin!