❗❗❗It's important to understand that this is a two-step process, which requires time for the hashbrown patties to freeze for at least two hours before finishing them.
The Prep:
Grate & Prepare the Potatoes:
Peel and rinse the potatoes.
Grate potatoes using a box grater into a large bowl.
Optionally rinse grated potatoes under cold water to remove excess starch, then drain.
Place grated potatoes on a clean towel, gather corners, and twist tightly to wring out excess water.
Spread potatoes on towel to continue drying for a few minutes.
Par-Fry (not "pan-fry") the Potatoes:
Heat 2 inches of oil in a wok or cast-iron skillet to 200-210°F (93-98°C).
Add potatoes and fry for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Strain potatoes through a metal strainer over a heat-safe bowl.
Save the cooled oil for future frying.
Finish the Mixture:
Transfer strained potatoes to a large bowl.
Add a generous sprinkle of salt and the cornstarch.
Mix with a spatula to distribute cornstarch and rough up potato exteriors.
Let mixture cool until workable with hands.
Shape & Freeze:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Form potatoes into hash browns by squeezing about 3.5 oz (100g) of mixture into a compact mass.
Shape into classic hash brown rectangles about 4x2.5x0.5 inches (10x6x2 cm).
This should make about 6 hash browns.
Space evenly on baking sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Transfer to freezer-safe container for storage up to 2-3 months.
Cooking them to eat:
Cooking Methods:
Deep Frying: Heat oil to 350°F (176°C) and fry frozen hash browns for 5 minutes until golden.
Shallow Frying: Heat oil to 350°F (176°C) in cast-iron pan, fry frozen hash browns 2-3 minutes per side, flipping twice for even browning (6-8 minutes total).
Baking: Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C), heat oiled baking sheet for 5 minutes, bake frozen hash browns 10-15 minutes, flip, bake 5-10 minutes more.
Sprinkle with salt immediately after cooking and serve warm.