Have a few too many hash browns? You might be asking yourself if it’s possible to reheat those crispy golden treats the following day.
Sadly, reheated hash browns are all too often disappointing because they lose their crunch and become soggy or gummy.
To avoid this, I’ve tried out four different ways to reheat hash browns to find the best technique for restoring their crispy golden outsides and soft, tasty, potato-filled interiors.
How you store them will impact how well they fare when you reheat them, so I’ve also investigated how to keep, freeze, and thaw hash browns for later use.
The best way to reheat hash browns is in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Space your hash browns out on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Optionally, coat them with a small amount of cooking spray. Reheat for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping once at the halfway mark. Remove and serve immediately.
A note on my experiment
Hash browns are the perfect “anytime” snack. So much so that I sometimes overshoot and prepare too many.
Intending to restore my hash browns’ crispy outsides and soft, pillowy potato fillings, I tried out four different reheating techniques.
These include:
- Reheating hash browns in the oven (most convenient and effective method overall)
- Reheating hash browns in an air fryer (creates an even, all-over crispiness)
- Reheating hash browns in the microwave (leaves hash browns gummy and lifeless)
- Reheating hash browns by refrying them (fresh taste, but inconvenient)
I found I got the best results from the air fryer and the oven methods. Both these techniques returned the crispiness to my hash browns in a manner that tasted fresh without being too oily.
They also retained all of their flavor.
I was disappointed by the microwave method. My hash browns were hot but lifeless and damp with no crunch. The flavor of the filling also suffered.
To try and fix them, I blowtorched their exteriors for a few seconds. The result was an excellent, crunchy outer coating, but it was a lot of work versus reward.
When I refried my hash browns, I ended up with a delicious, crunchy, and salty result that tasted freshly made. However, for the amount of effort it took, I might as well have made them from scratch.
They were also toeing the line of becoming greasy.
Reheating hash browns in the oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Space your hash browns out on a lightly oiled baking sheet. As an optional step, coat them with a small amount of cooking spray. Then, place your hash browns in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping once at the halfway mark. Remove and serve them hot.
From a practical standpoint, this is the easiest and most effective way to reheat your hash browns.
The result is a crispy, fresh-tasting hash brown with a tender, tasty filling.
How to reheat hash browns in the oven:
- Pre-warm your oven 350°F (180°C).
- Space your hash browns out on a greased baking sheet.
- Lightly coat them with cooking spray (optional).
- Place in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Remove and flip your hash browns.
- Return them to the oven for a further 5 to 6 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Flipping your hash browns halfway through reheating them will ensure an even crisp.
Spreading the hash browns out on your baking sheet will also assist with an even reheat and stop them from sticking to each other.
If you’re reheating multiple hash browns, this method is very convenient. While it may take a bit of time, you won’t end up with cold fillings, which can be pretty unpleasant.
Be careful not to leave them in the oven for too long, as that can dry them out or burn their crispy outsides.
My verdict
In terms of crispiness, the tenderness of the filling, and flavor, I can’t fault this method. My hash browns tasted almost as good as new.
Best of all, this method is low-effort and practical.
It’s very convenient for reheating many hash browns at once, and the result is consistently good.
Reheating hash browns in an air fryer
Set your air fryer to 350°F (180°C). As an option for additional crispiness, spray your hash browns with a light coating of cooking spray before placing them in the fryer basket. Reheat them for 6 to 8 minutes, turning them occasionally to crisp them all over. Remove and serve hot.
While this method undoubtedly produces the freshest-tasting, crispiest results in the shortest amount of time, it’s not accessible for those without an air fryer.
How to reheat hash browns in an air fryer:
- Set your fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- Lightly coat your hash browns with cooking spray (optional)
- Spread your hash browns out in the fryer basket.
- Reheat them for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Turn them occasionally for an even crisp.
- Remove and serve hot.
If you crowd too many hash browns into the basket, they will stick together and crisp unevenly, so instead, reheat smaller quantities at a time.
On this note, the optional cooking spray step will alleviate the risk of your hash browns clumping and provide a superior level of crispiness.
Don’t leave your hash browns unattended in the air fryer, as, depending on size, some may warm faster than others, and you don’t want to risk burning them.
My verdict
This is my favorite reheating method for hash browns, purely because of how crispy and fresh it made them.
The filling was soft, moist, and not at all gummy or starchy.
When reheating enough hash browns just for myself, it’s also a super quick and no-fuss method. However, when reheating for a few people, it’s not the best option.
Of course, not everyone has an air fryer, in which case I definitely recommend the oven as a perfectly effective alternative.
Reheating hash browns in the microwave
Line a microwave-safe plate with a piece of dry paper towel. Spread out your hash browns, not touching. On high heat, warm your hash browns for 30 to 60 seconds, until piping hot. Optionally, broil your hash browns for 2 minutes on a baking tray or crisp them with a blowtorch. Serve immediately.
If you have no other options, the microwave is speedy and easy, but you will end up with gummy or soggy hash browns compromised in flavor and lacking crunch.
How to reheat hash browns in the microwave:
- Line a microwave-safe plate with a sheet of dry paper towel.
- Spread your hash browns out on the plate.
- On full power, warm them for 30 to 60 seconds.
Optional steps for adding crispiness:
- Lightly coat your hash browns with cooking spray.
- On a foil-lined baking sheet, place them under the broiler for 2 minutes.
- Alternatively, blowtorch your hash browns for a few seconds until crunchy.
Hash browns lose most of their signature texture in the microwave and come out soggy and starchy.
I combatted this with a chef’s blowtorch. The results are fantastic, and I ended up with really crispy hash browns.
Granted, that may not be for everyone, though, in which case you can toast them for a minute or two under the broiler.
Either way, crisping up hash browns post-microwave defeats the convenience of this method.
My verdict
I wouldn’t recommend this method if you have an alternative available to you.
My hash browns didn’t taste bad, but they were not fresh, nor did they have any crunch.
I loved them once I’d blowtorched them, but there are far easier ways to crisp up hash browns that take a lot less time and effort.
Reheating hash browns by refrying them
In a deep fryer or pot, preheat cooking oil to 350°F (180°C). Place a few of your hash browns into a fryer basket and dip them into the hot oil for 20 to 30 seconds. After this, remove them from the basket and allow the excess grease to drain on a wire rack or paper towel. Serve hot.
While this method isn’t the healthiest, it does the most in terms of restoring freshness and crunch. My hash browns tasted as if they’d just been cooked.
How to reheat hash browns by refrying them:
- In a deep fryer or pot, preheat oil to 350°F (180°C).
- Place a few hash browns in a fryer basket.
- Dip them into the hot oil for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Once removed, drain excess oil on a wire rack or paper towel.
- Serve hot.
I only recommend attempting this method if you have a thermometer to measure the oil temperature.
Getting the oil temperature wrong can be disastrous.
If the oil is too hot, you’ll burn the hash browns.
If it’s too cold, the has browns will absorb lots of oil and come out really greasy.
My verdict
While this technique restores every bit of exquisite flavor and texture to hash browns, it is not a healthy way of reheating them, nor is it convenient.
It’s also quite messy and uses an unnecessary amount of oil, particularly for a small portion.
How to store hash browns
Once cooled to room temperature, hash browns can be refrigerated in an airtight container lined with paper towels to soak up excess moisture. In the fridge, hash browns will stay fresh and edible for 3 to 5 days. You can also freeze them for consumption within 4 to 8 months.
You should not leave hash browns out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and you should discard them if they have been standing for 6 hours or more to avoid nasty bacteria forming.
With that being said, do not seal them up when they’re still hot, as this will trap moisture inside the container and make them soggy.
As a final note, make sure they are not overlapping inside the container, as that can lead to them sticking together and make it challenging to reheat them.
Can you freeze hash browns?
Hash browns should first be frozen individually and then placed in a freezer bag. Start by spreading your hash browns out, not touching on a baking tray. Freeze them for 2 to 3 hours. Then, place them in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing. Consume within 4 to 8 months.
How to freeze hash browns:
- Spread your hash browns out, with no overlap, on a baking sheet.
- Freeze them for 2 to 3 hours.
- Remove frozen hash browns from the baking sheet and place them in a freezer bag.
- Remove the air from the freezer bag or vacuum seal it.
- Reheat and eat your hash browns within 4 to 8 months.
Individually freezing your hash browns stops them from sticking together or getting squashed. It also enables you to remove limited quantities at a time.
To remove the air from your freezer bag, partially seal it, press down on it to remove excess air, and then close it completely.
How to thaw hash browns
Frozen hash browns can be thawed on the kitchen counter or left to stand in the fridge for a few hours. If you’re in a hurry, use the defrost setting on your microwave.
In each case, lay them out on a paper-lined plate or baking sheet to remove as much of the moisture from the freezer as possible.
Do note that if you use the microwave method to defrost them, you’re going to want to grill them under the broiler to restore their crispiness.
How to reheat frozen hash browns
Use a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven to reheat frozen hash browns. Place them spread out on a baking tray, covered with foil, in the oven for 20 minutes. Check them regularly to see how they are progressing. After 20 minutes, return them to the oven uncovered for a further 5 minutes to crisp them up.
You can microwave them briefly beforehand to reduce their time in the oven.
If you have an air fryer, arrange your hash browns in the basket with no overlap. Then, reheat them at 350°F (180°C) for 10 to 15 minutes, checking regularly.
How long do hash browns last?
If you’d like to store your hash browns to enjoy at a later stage, use the following guidelines to keep them as fresh and tasty as possible.
- Room Temperature: Hash browns should not be left standing at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Refrigerated: When stored in an airtight container, you can keep hash browns for 3 to 5 days.
- Frozen: Individually frozen hash browns stored in freezer bags can last for 4 to 8 months.
The BEST Way To Reheat Hash Browns
Ingredients
- 1 portion hash browns
- 1 spray cooking oil optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven 350°F (180°C).
- Space your hash browns out on a greased baking sheet.
- Lightly coat them with cooking spray (optional).
- Place in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Remove and flip your hash browns.
- Return them to the oven for a further 5 to 6 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
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