Crispy Air Fryer Hash Browns

If you love hash browns but are fed up with waiting for your oven to heat up, then using the air fryer is going to be a game changer.  With an air fryer, you can cook perfectly crispy store-bought or homemade hash browns straight from the freezer in 10-12 minutes. Great for a quick breakfast.

Below I cover how you can air fry store-bought hash browns straight from the freezer. I also talk you through how to make and air fry your own homemade hash browns the easy way.

How does an air fryer make hash browns crispy?

An air fryer is a small convection oven, it has a heating coil at the top with a fan used to circulate the very hot air. Air fryers are smaller than conventional convection ovens, so the cooking space heats up quickly to high temperatures.

The fan’s circulation of the hot air ensures food is evenly cooked and crispy, this is because of a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction. This occurs when food is heated and results in the browning of food.

More information on how air fryers work.

Can I cook frozen hash browns from the store in an air fryer?

Yes, this is by far the easiest and quickest way to put hash browns on your plate. Air fryer hash browns will have a total cook time of 10-12 minutes

There is no need to defrost the hash browns, simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook them.

How to cook frozen hash browns from the store in an air fryer?

To cook frozen hash browns bought from the store follow these steps. The maximum number of frozen hash browns you can cook in one go will depend on the size of your air fryer.

Step 1 – Pre-heat your air fryer to 380F (190c)

Step 2 – Once pre-heated, pull out the air fryer basket

Arrange the hash browns in a single layer in the air fryer basket and leave a little space between each one to ensure the best results.

Step 3 – Put the basket back in the air fryer

Cook for 10 minutes

Step 4 – At the halfway point (5 minutes) pull out the air fryer basket and turn over the hash browns to ensure an even crisp.

Step 5 – After a further 5 minutes of cooking time, check that your hash browns are golden brown and cooked to your satisfaction.

If you like your hash browns darker in color or crispier, return for an extra couple of minutes.

Step 6 – Serve

I used my Tower air fryer to cook the above.

Top tips

Different air fryers will produce different results. You may need to experiment a bit and check on the hash browns regularly the first time you cook them. Once you have them cooked to your satisfaction take note of the time it took. This will help you next time.

When placing the hash browns in the air fryer basket. Do not stack or have them overlap. This will prevent the hot air from circulating around the entire hash brown. If the hot air cannot circulate it will not cook or crisp your hash brown. You don’t want a soggy hash brown.

Can I cook homemade hash browns in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook homemade hash browns in an air fryer.

These could be made fresh and cooked there and then, or taken from the freezer and reheated. There is no need to defrost them, simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook them.

Why make homemade hash browns for cooking in an air fryer?

Easy to make

Making homemade hash browns is quick and simple. To make hash browns you need only a few simple ingredients. Potato, oil, and seasoning.

You also don’t need much equipment, a grater, a mixing bowl, some kitchen towel, and an air fryer.

Making homemade hash browns will take longer than cooking pre-made ones from the store, but not much longer.  

Reduce food waste

I typically make homemade hash browns when I have some spare potatoes in the cupboard, and they are starting to sprout. It’s a great way to use them up. Homemade hash browns can also be stored easily and simply reheated when needed.

Healthier

Cooking food in air fryers uses less oil.  Though this homemade hash brown recipe does list oil as an ingredient it is not as much compared to the oil you would use if you were to fry them.

Less oil = fewer calories.

Family Favorite

My whole family loves hash browns and not necessarily as part of breakfast. I have been known to provide them as a snack or to accompany lunch or dinner. No one cares as hash browns are one of our all-time favorites, homemade or from the store.

Less mess

By using a bit of oil as part of the recipe the homemade hash brown is less likely to stick to the air fryer basket. This means to clean up all you will need to do is wipe the basket around with some hot soapy water with a non-abrasive cloth or sponge. The rest of the equipment can either be put in the dishwasher or washed in the same hot soapy water before the air fryer basket.

To reduce cleaning time, even more, you could put parchment paper or aluminum foil in the bottom of the basket. The parchment paper or foil can be removed and disposed of once the basket has cooled. As you may be unsure what you can put in an air fryer and how to use parchment paper or foil when air frying. I created an article here that will help you understand what you can and can’t put in an air fryer.

By air frying, there will also be no fatty splatter marks on your countertop or hob, as there would be if you fried the hash browns.

How to make and cook homemade hash browns in an air fryer?

Step 1 – Select your potatoes and give them a good clean. You can either peel them or leave the skins on. To save time I leave the skins on. This provides more nutrition and extra texture to the hash brown.

Step 2 – Once cleaned either grate with a box grater or use a food processor to shred the potatoes.

Step 3 – Place the shredded potatoes in a strainer or colander and put them under the tap. Running cold water over them for around a minute.

Step 4 – Leave the shredded potatoes in the strainer or colander over a large bowl for at least three minutes. This will allow the excess water to drain away.

Step 5 – While the water is draining off the shredded potatoes, put some paper towel sheets down on your countertop.

Then tip the shredded potatoes on top. Place more paper towels on top and apply a bit of pressure, to try and soak up as much moisture as possible.

The drier the shredded potato is the crispier your homemade hash brown will be.

Step 6 – Now take your shredded and dried potato and place it in a large mixing bowl. Mix in your oil and seasoning. I use olive or avocado oil. If unsure what oil to use, please read this handy guide.

A simple seasoning option is salt and black pepper. You can experiment by adding garlic powder or onion powder. I like to add some chili flakes to mine.

Step 7 – Spray or put a little bit of oil or cooking spray on the bottom of the air fryer basket. Alternatively add some foil or an air fryer liner (parchment paper or silicone). This will help stop the shredded potato from sticking to the basket. Once the oil has been applied, add an even layer of the shredded potato mix. Press it down so it is nice and flat.

Step 8 – Place the air frying basket back in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 390 Fahrenheit (200 Celsius).

Step 9 – After 15 minutes carefully flip the large patty over and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Step 10 – Once cooked to your personal preference, serve your delicious hash browns, or leave to cool before storing them to eat later.

The recipe card is at the bottom of this post.

Common questions

You may want to vary these times depending on how crispy you like your hash browns. I used my Tower air fryer when cooking this recipe and results will vary by model.

If you don’t want to use oil at the bottom of the air fryer basket, you can use parchment paper.

Why are my homemade hash browns not crispy?

There are three reasons why your hash browns might not be as crispy as you wanted.

1. You have simply not cooked them for long enough at a high enough temperature. If you have followed the above steps, it’s more than likely because of one of the next two reasons.
2. There was too much moisture in the shredded potato when you added them to the air fryer’s basket. You need to try and get as much moisture out as possible. This can be done by leaving them to air dry for longer or by using paper towels to draw out the moisture.
3. The potatoes you have used do not contain enough starch. Waxy potatoes (red and new potatoes) contain more moisture and less starch. It’s the starch that helps make the hash browns crispy. Russet potatoes are the best variety to use.  

How to store my homemade hash browns?

If you have leftovers or you have been prepping for the week ahead, you can store your hash browns in either the fridge or the freezer.

Leave them to firstly cool and then place them in an airtight container or sealable food bag. If storing in the fridge eat within 5 days. If in the freezer they are best eaten within 3 months.

How to reheat my homemade hash browns?

You could use your microwave, heat on the hob, or use your air fryer.

I unsurprisingly prefer to use my air fryer as that is why the hash browns retain their crispiness. Simply air fry for 5 minutes at 390F (200c) turn and then cook for a further 5 minutes.

Related articles

Amazing Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes – A collection of air fryer breakfast options that will inspire you to try something different for breakfast.

Recipe card