My favorite way to make air fryer hash browns. They get much crispier than cooking them on the stove and my kids are obsessed!
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Extra crispy Air Fryer Hash Browns
My kids love breakfast for dinner nights so I’m constantly making breakfast food. One night I decided to throw some hash browns in the air fryer and was amazed at how crispy they got.
I’m talking crispier than you would ever get on the stove — without tasting dry.
Now, it’s the main the way I make them at my house — per request of my son who demands them cooked that way.
I don’t mind it because I just toss them in the air fryer and let them cook. I barely need to move them around or flip them like I did on the stove.
And, if you love a good air fryer breakfast recipe, try my recipes for french toast sticks, hash brown patties, hard boiled eggs, pancakes, and turkey bacon!
Why You’ll Love This Hash Brown AIr Fryer Recipe
The air fryer has become my favorite way to cook shredded hash browns because of how crispy they get. They get crispier than cooking them on the stove or oven, cook much faster, and have much less oil than deep frying! It’s also been less of a mess to air fry them.
Air Fryer Frozen Hash Browns Ingredients
- Frozen shredded hash browns
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Spread the hash browns in the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Spray the hash browns with cooking oil using an EVO Oil Sprayer, then sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
STEP THREE: Air fry them for about 23 minutes. After about 18 minutes of cooking, flip and move the hash browns around and spritz them with a little more oil.
Tips for Cooking Air Fryer Hash Browns
- Use frozen shredded potato hash browns for best results. I toss them in frozen and not thawed.
- Do not crowd the hash browns. I stack them a little since they shrink down as they cook and they have always cooked evenly for me.
- Flip them with 5 minutes left to make sure they are evenly cooked.
- Use any brand of frozen shredded hash browns, but I like using Simply Potatoes!
- Spritz the hash browns with oil again to keep them from getting dry. I find just a little more oil about 5 minutes before they’re done is enough.
- Use your favorite kind of oil. I’ve used canola oil, vegetable oil, and even avocado oil with these and they’ve all turned out great.
- Use a parchment liner to help with clean up and prevent any little pieces from falling through the basket or tray.
- Add some more spices like onion powder or paprika for a more seasoned flavor. I’ve even diced up some onions and cooked them with the hash browns!
What to Serve with Shredded Hash Browns
On a typical morning I love to pair these with air fryer bacon and sweet cream pancakes, but if I have a little more time, I will also add on some air fryer eggs and sausage too.
Air Fryer Hash Browns FAQs
How Many Hash Browns Can I Put in an Air Fryer at One Time?
I find stacking your shredded hash browns a bit will still allow them to cook evenly. The potatoes shrink up as they cook and get crispy, so a little more than a single even layer in the air fryer basket or tray will work perfect.
Why Won’t My Hash browns Get Crispy?
I find that my hash browns don’t get crispy if I put too many in the air fryer at once or don’t preheat my air fryer.
Always place your food in the air fryer when it’s already hot and only cook as much as you can fit in slightly more than one layer.
How Long to Cook Hash Browns in the Air Fryer
When I use frozen shredded hash browns, they take about 23 minutes to cook in a preheated air fryer at 370 degrees F.
Storing and Reheating Hash Browns in the air Fryer
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up 5 days. To reheat them, cook them in a preheated air fryer at 370 degrees F for about 3-5 minutes.
How to Keep Hash Browns From Falling Through the Air Fryer Basket
If I am using an air fryer that has larger holes on the basket, I always use a silicone liner or a parchment round. It not only helps keep the hash browns from falling through, but also helps with clean up! Just remember to put the parchment paper in after preheating your air fryer.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Frozen Pizza
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer
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Crispy Air Fryer Hash Browns
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F.
- Spread the frozen hash browns in a single layer inside, spray the top of the hash brown layer with olive oil spray, then sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Cook for a total of 23 minutes, flipping and spritzing them with a little oil with just 5 minutes left to cook.
- Remove to a serving plate, season with additional salt and pepper if desired, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Reheat hash browns in a preheated air fryer at 370 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
I have two questions:
1. Can I shred fresh potatoes, freeze them and then go on with this recipe? Any suggestions on best way to, or not to freeze them?
2. Are these instructions the same when using an air fryer/oven as for the type you are using?
Thank you
John
Hi John,
1. I don’t see why not! As long as the length and thickness of the potatoes are about the same as the ones you find frozen they should cook fine. You would need to soak them in water to get as much starch off of them and then dry them as best as possible before freezing. To freeze, put the hashbrowns on a parchment-covered baking sheet, spread them out as much as possible, and let them freeze for about an hour then transfer them to a bag. It helps avoid them clumping and freezing together.
2. Yes! Though the oven style may need an extra few minutes to get the crispiness you will like.
You can also use the dehydrate function on your air fryer to dry the potatoes a bit, if it has one. I do this making hand cut fries.
These were so easy in the air fryer and they were delicious!
I love how fast these were and delish!
Either I’m doing something wrong or there’s a problem with the recipe. I have an air fryer toaster oven. I preheated the oven to 375 degrees. I put the refrigerated Shredded Simply Hash Browns in the wire basket that came with the oven and cooked them for 7 min. They didn’t get brown or crisp up. The only thing they did do was make a mess on the bottom of my oven!
Hi Christi, this recipe is for the frozen air fryer hash browns, not the refrigerated version. I also recommend putting some sort of wire rack on top of the hash browns for your air fryer oven as it seems like it was making the hash browns fly around in the oven.
Christi. Couple of things you can try. First parchment paper equals zero mess. Second dab the potatoes as much as you can with paper towels to remove excess water. Third spray some sort of oil on the potatoes. Also you might need to add some more time. I shred whole potatoes and they come out perfect around 12 minutes.
These are all helpful tips, thanks for sharing your insight!
So I saw someone make a similar comment in regards to fresh hash browns, but what I am wondering is if you can just straight do fresh hash browns? Do you really need to freeze them first? I just do not eat hash browns all that often and would not want to freeze them and they get all freezer burnt and then they are gross when I do cook them.
Hi Jenny, yes, you can definitely do them straight from fresh and do not need to freeze them. This recipe is for the frozen hash browns you pre-purchase in the store already frozen. If using fresh, please note the time and temperature will be different!
Do you have a cookbook of all of these recipes for sale? If so, how much, please.
All the recipes sound sooo wonderful!!
Hi Irene! I currently have an ebook available and will be releasing a new set of them soon. I am hoping to get a physical cookbook out very soon as well! I recommend jumping on my newsletter for when I announce everything!
18 minutes is way too long.
It’s a good thing the recipe calls for 23 minutes!
Simply Potatoes hash browns aren’t frozen and aren’t meant to be frozen, their website says “fresh, never frozen” and specifically advises NOT to freeze them.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
You’re so welcome, Bob!
Hi:
I’m confused. In the text on the page you say “When I use frozen shredded hash browns, they take about 18 minutes to cook in a preheated air fryer at 370 degrees F.”
But in the INSTRUCTIONS you say “ Cook for a total of 23 minutes, flipping and spritzing them with a little oil with just 5 minutes left to cook.”
I have a Cosori air fryer that looks a lot like the air fryer in the photos. Do you think 18 or 23 minutes @ 370*F will be required?
Hi Mike, thank you for letting me know about that inconsistency. The hash browns need about 23 minutes in total. I usually flip them around the 18-minute mark. I have corrected this in the post!
Anxious to try it out 🤔
Hi Tom, I think you’ll love it!