I am constantly seeing strange food hacks on the Internet and sometimes I’ve very skeptical whether or not the methods actually work. Stuff like, Hey! You can cook an egg in plastic!

But this method for Waffle Maker Hash Browns made a lot of sense to me. Waffle irons get hot and they also provide some pressure and both can be used to make really solid hash browns.

Normally, to make very crispy hash browns in a skillet, it’s going to take 20 minutes or so, but these take about 10 and are completely stress-free. Because the waffle irons are at a set temperature, it’s almost impossible to burn the hash browns. They just get crispy and beautiful.

I loved this method, especially if I’m only making hash browns for one or two.

Waffle Maker Hash Browns

5 from 1 vote
Author: Nick Evans
Servings: 2 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Making hash browns that get really nicely crispy using your waffle maker is not only possible, but it’s really easy.

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 medium Yukon potatoes, grated
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Paprika
  • 4 Eggs

Instructions

  • Shred potatoes and add to a bowl of cold water. Preheat waffle iron.
  • Swirl potatoes around in the cold water and drain them. Lay them out on a few paper towels and dry out the potatoes thoroughly.
  • Add dried, shredded potatoes to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and a big pinch of salt and pepper.
  • When waffle maker is heated, spread out potatoes on the iron. Try not to get them too thick, but remember that they’ll shrink a bit as they cook.
  • Close the waffle iron and let the potatoes cook for about five minutes. Don’t worry if the timer goes off… it’s almost impossible to over-cook these.
  • After five minutes or so, flip potatoes and rotate a bit. Then drizzle with a tiny bit more oil and continue to cook them for another five minutes or so.
  • Meanwhile, you can cook a few eggs in a drizzle of oil over medium heat. Either flip the eggs and cook for a few seconds on the second side so the whites set or just cover the pan and steam the eggs for 30 seconds or so so the whites are just set but the yolks are still runny.
  • Slide waffle hash browns onto a plate and top with eggs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and a pinch of smoked paprika. Serve immediately!

Nutrition

Serving: 1plate | Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 327mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 1018mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 479IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Breakfast & Brunch, Main Dishes
Cuisine: American

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Waffle Maker Hash Browns

Prepping Potatoes

You could use Russet potatoes for these Waffle Maker Hash Browns, but I prefer Yukon potatoes for hash browns these days. You don’t even need to peel them. Just grate them up!

I like yukons!
I like yukons!

When the potatoes are grated, add them to a bowl with cold water. This will rinse some starch off the potatoes and make sure they are clean. Swirl around the shredded potatoes a bit to make sure they aren’t sticking together.

A quick rinse.
A quick rinse.

Then drain the potatoes and lay them out on a kitchen towel or a few paper towels. Pat them very dry.

This is probably the most important step. Get the potatoes as dry as possible at this point or else they won’t crisp up nicely in the waffle iron.

Very important - Waffle Maker Hash Browns
Very important.

When the potatoes are dried, add them to a bowl with a drizzle of oil and a big pinch of salt and pepper.

You want the potatoes lightly coated in oil so they get nice and crispy and won’t stick to the iron.

Oiled and seasoned.
Oiled and seasoned.

Cooking the Hash Browns

This is pretty straight forward. Heat up the waffle iron and pile on some shredded potatoes!

These Waffle Maker Hash Browns will shrink as they cook so you can pile them on. Also, I have a very intense waffle maker that I’m in love with, but I don’t see why you couldn’t use any waffle iron for this. As long as it gets hot and you can press it down, it’ll work!

Just pile it on! - Waffle Maker Hash Browns
Just pile it on!

Press the hash brown down and cook it for about five minutes. It’s totally okay if the buzzer goes off for the waffle. Just ignore it. We aren’t cooking waffles, we’re cooking hash browns.

This was my hash browns about half way through.

Halfway done - Waffle Maker Hash Browns
Halfway done.

Then flip the hash browns and cook them for another five minutes or so.

They should be a really nice golden browned color. The crispier the better!

Flipped and cooked - Waffle Maker Hash Browns
Flipped and cooked.

Eggs

Eggs are the obvious serving choice with these Waffle Maker Hash Browns. I did mine sunny side up by cooking them with a drizzle of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the whites are set (90 seconds or so), then I just cover the pan and let the eggs steam for about 20 seconds.

Perfect sunny-side up eggs!

Eggs any way!
Eggs any way!

Serve the eggs on the Waffle Maker Hash Browns with a pinch of salt, pepper, and paprika!

Waffle Maker Hash Browns
Done

If you have a hard time making hash browns that get really nicely crispy in a skillet, try this method out.

The hash browns will get crispy and it’ll leave your stove for other uses.

Plus, it’s pretty fun!

How to make perfect, crispy homemade Waffle Maker Hash Browns!

Has anyone cooked potatoes in a waffle maker before? Good right? Leave a comment!