Hash Browns are our most favorite breakfast, that’s why I buy them in bulk and keep in freezer to cook later. So, the question is can you cook frozen hash browns in the microwave? The answer is Yes.
Yes, you can cook frozen hash browns in the microwave as they are convenient to microwave and get ready in minutes. Some people believe that frozen hash browns can be cooked in an oven or stove only but it’s not true.
There are many brands that make and sell frozen hash browns with step-by-step cooking instructions. Among these instructions, they recommend to cook frozen hash browns in the microwave as one of the methods. So, the hash browns are suitable to cook in the microwave.
As I said most brands provide cooking instructions on the package of hash browns. If there is a warning on your hash brown patties pack saying “Don’t cook in the microwave” then you must not microwave them.
Are Frozen Hash Browns Safe to Cook in the Microwave?
Yes, frozen hash browns are safe to cook in the microwave except the manufacturer’s instructions are against it. Generally, people prefer to microwave frozen hash browns to cook them faster than the stove or air fryer or oven.
It is completely safe to microwave frozen hash browns but don’t cook it for longer. The maximum duration of cooking frozen hash browns in the microwave should not exceed 5 minutes otherwise it can burn the hash browns and/or make them dry.
As I said earlier, the manufacturer provide specific instructions to microwave frozen hash browns properly without sticking or drying problems. You should follow all the instructions to safely cook frozen hash browns in the microwave.
Should I Thaw My Hash Browns before Cooking?
No, you don’t need to thaw your hash browns before cooking, you can cook them directly from frozen condition. The frozen hash browns get cooked in the microwave in 3 to 5 minutes and it is completely safe to microwave frozen hash browns without thawing them.
The hot dogs, burgers and other frozen food need to be thawed before cooking because those food items are thick and have more ice particles. These particles, water and moisture go away when you thaw them. But the frozen hash browns don’t have that much of ice or moisture.
So, you can directly put the frozen hash browns in the microwave. Simply, microwave them at full power for 1 minute & 30 seconds. Then flip the hash browns and microwave them for another 1 minute & 30 seconds. That’s all, your hash browns are ready to eat now.
If your hash browns are very thick then I recommend to thaw them before cooking. You can thaw them in the microwave wrapping in paper towels and using the defrost setting on your microwave. Thereafter you can cook them in the microwave.
How to Cook Frozen Hash Browns in the Microwave
You can cook frozen hash browns in the microwave with help of some basic knowledge about the process. I have microwaved frozen hash browns of various brands and prepared a basic method for cooking them to help you do it yourself.
In order to microwave frozen hash browns, you need to take care of size of hash browns, microwave power wattage and some other things. If you cook hash browns incorrectly, they will either get burned or remained half-cooked.
You should have a microwave-safe bowl with lid or two microwave-safe plates. You also need some tiny paper towels to cover frozen hash browns and a cooking spray for coating the plate before cooking them. You should keep some oil to use to prevent hash browns from drying during the cooking process.
Step-by-Step Process to Microwave Frozen Hash Browns
Cooking frozen hash browns is easier than frozen hot dogs, pizza or burgers. Moreover, the process is not time taking, so you can complete it within 5 to 8 minutes including some intervals needed during the task. The cooking time inside the microwave is 3 to 5 minutes only.
Here I provide the step-by-step process to microwave frozen hash browns in an ideal way. Kindly follow the steps given below to get your frozen hash brown patties ready to serve and eat shortly.
Step-1: Get Frozen Hash Browns Out of Freezer.
First of all, you should get the frozen hash browns out of freezer. You should check the packaging for expiration date. Make sure that the hash browns are not expired yet otherwise eating them will cause food poisoning and severe health problems.
Step-2: Pour Cooking Spray on a Microwave-Safe Plate for Coating.
During the cooking process, the heat waves will make hash browns warm which may cause them stick on the plate. Therefore you should pour some cooking spray on a microwave-safe plate in which you want to cook frozen hash browns in the microwave.
The coating will prevent hash browns from sticking on the plate during and after they are cooked.
Step-3: Remove Packaging and Place Frozen Has Browns in the Plate or Bowl.
Remove packaging from frozen hash browns and place them in the plate. Keep the hash browns in a single layer, don’t stack them and keep each hash brown separate from the other in the plate. If the plate is small, cook only 4 hash browns at once to avoid mess.
Step-4: Wrap Frozen Hash Browns in Paper Towels If Mentioned in Manufacturer’s Cooking Instructions.
You should check manufacturer’s instructions on the package of hash browns to know if you should wrap them in paper towels. You should do it only if it is mentioned in the instructions otherwise place the hash browns in the plate as they are.
Step-5: Add Some Oil and Cover the Hash Browns with Another Plate.
Some hash browns become dry after cooking in the microwave or stove. You should check the condition of your hash browns and if they seem dry or likely to dry then add some oil around each hash brown on the plate. Thereafter cover all hash browns with another microwave safe plate.
Step-6: Microwave Frozen Hash Browns at Full Power for 1 Minute and 30 Seconds on Both Sides.
Put the plate of frozen hash browns in the microwave and cook them at full power for 1 minute and 30 seconds. If there are only two hash browns, cook them for 1 minute only. If there are 8 or more hash browns, cook them for 2 minutes or more.
After 1 minute and 30 seconds, open the microwave door and take the cover plate out. Now, turn all hash browns upside down one-by-one and cover them with the same plate. Then microwave them at full power with another 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Step-7: Get Hash Browns Out of Microwave and Get Ready to Eat.
Now, you should open the microwave door and get the hash browns plate out. Remove the cover plate and let the hash browns stay in the plate for one minute. Thereafter transfer all hash browns to another plate or bowl and serve them.
In this way, you can cook frozen hash browns in the microwave in a few minutes. Once the hash browns are cooked, you can take them on your dining table to enjoy eating them with your family and friends.
How to Make Crispy Hash Browns in the Microwave
I always cook frozen hash browns in my microwave because it saves time. When I microwaved hash browns first time, they were soft after being cooked. The warmth and taste were awesome but the crispiness was missing. So, I started looking for something that can make my hash browns crispy.
Many of my friends have asked me how to cook frozen hash browns in the microwave and I have helped them. But they complain that the hash browns remain soft and their kids want to eat crispy hash browns. So, I did a research and found a microwave crisper pan to solve the issue permanently.
You should get a Microwave Crisper Pan to make crispy hash browns in the microwave. The crisper pan is made to cook crispy food in the microwave, you can use it for hash browns, pizza, French fries and other food items.
Here I provide some easy steps to cook crispy hash browns in the microwave as under.
- Put the empty microwave crisper pan in the microwave.
- Heat it up at full power for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Place the hash browns in the crisper pan.
- Put the crisper pan with hash browns in the microwave.
- Cook them at full power for 1 minute, then get them out.
- Flip each hash brown and cook again for 1 minute.
- Get the hash browns out of microwave and wait for 1 minute.
- Enjoy eating crispy hash browns with your family.
So, this is how you can make crispy hash browns in the microwave. You need to use a microwave crisper pan to prepare crispy hash browns that are really delicious.
Can I Cook Shredded Hash Browns in the Microwave?
Yes, you can cook shredded hash browns in the microwave in a microwave-safe plate or bowl. The shredded hash browns are small pieces of potatoes made with help of a box grater. The small pieces make shredded hash browns cooked faster than regular hash browns.
To make it easier for you, here I have shared steps for cooking shredded hash browns in the microwave.
- Shred some potatoes with help of a box grater.
- Put potato shreds on a cheesecloth and close it from all sides.
- Squeeze the cheesecloth to remove liquid from potato shreds.
- Place the potato shreds on a paper towel in a microwave safe plate.
- Cover the plate and put it into the microwave.
- Cook it for 2 minutes at full power and your shredded hash browns are ready.
The shredded hash browns get cooked faster, so you should not cook it longer than 2 minutes. In case you have any leftover shredded hash browns, you can reheat them in the microwave. For that, you need to reheat them in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds only.
Can I Reheat Leftover Hash Browns in the Microwave?
Yes, you can reheat leftover hash browns in the microwave but before they start to disintegrate. When you cook so many hash browns for an occasion, it is possible that you have some leftovers.
You should not throw away the leftover hash browns as you can keep them in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. It means that you can eat them within 5 days but you must reheat the leftover hash browns before taking them into your meal.
At the time of reheating leftover hash browns, you should have a food thermometer to check the inner temperature. First of all, get the leftover hash browns out of refrigerator and put them in a microwave-safe plate, make sure there is a gap between each hash brown.
You should put the plate in the microwave and heat up the hash browns for 1 minute at full power. Get the hash browns out and insert the food thermometer to check if its inner temperature reached 165°F. If not, heat it up for more 30 seconds and check again.
At 165°F temperature, the heat waves kill all bacteria and germs inside the hash browns. Once the inner temperature reaches 165°F, you can serve the hash browns in a plate and enjoy eating them with tomato sauce, chili sauce or other stuff.
FAQs about Microwaving Frozen Hash Browns
When you have frozen hash browns and only 10 minutes to cook them, microwave is the only option for you. However, you need to know some important things about the cooking process before you microwave frozen hash browns at home.
Q.1 How do you cook frozen hash browns?
You can cook frozen hash browns in the microwave or air fryer or stove or oven. Out of all these methods, cooking frozen hash browns in the microwave is the quickest way.
Q.2 How can I thaw frozen hash browns?
You can thaw frozen hash browns by wrapping them in paper towels and putting them in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. You can also microwave paper towel wrapped hash browns for 30 seconds to thaw them quickly.
Q.3 How long do you microwave frozen hash brown patties?
You should microwave frozen hash brown patties for 3 to 5 minutes to get them ready to eat.
Q.4 Are frozen hash browns already cooked?
Yes, frozen hash browns are already cooked (half-cooked) but you need to microwave them for 3-5 minutes to cook them completely and serve on your dining table.
Conclusion: Cook Frozen Hash Browns Quickly
The hash browns are very delicious and easy to cook with a microwave. You don’t need to wait too long to get frozen hash browns cooked in the stove or oven or air fryer. You should simply cook them in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes and they are ready to eat.
At the time of cooking frozen hash browns, you should consider the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. You don’t need to thaw hash browns before cooking, you can cook them directly from frozen to warm in a few minutes.
I have explained the safest and quickest way to cook frozen hash browns in the microwave. I hope that my suggested step-by-step method will be useful for you. If yes, do share this with your friends to help them cook frozen hash browns faster.
