There are few treats that are better than air fryer hash browns …the lovely crispy crust and soft potato and onion inside…delicious.
Yes, you guessed it…we are big fans of hash browns in my house. We love them in fact. Whether it is part of breakfast or a little light snack in the afternoon, they are great…a little bit of ketchup and voila!
It’s not just the taste of them that makes them so appealing, it’s the simplicity too. Within 10 minutes, you can have wonderful air fryer hash browns sat on your plate. It is so simple, even my kids can do it…and they don’t do much let me tell you.
Depending how much time I have, there are two types of hash browns that I will make. The fresh ones and the bought ones. Air fryer frozen hash browns are perfect for a quick snack or when you are short on time. My preferred way is shredded hash browns in air fryer…fresh and delicious, they taste a little more rustic and genuine. The taste is different too so if you have never made your own air fryer hash browns, keep reading, I show you a simple method to make your own.
Having said that, they are both great and they both serve a purpose depending on the occasion.
In this post, I will show you how to make air fryer hash browns; the air fryer frozen hash browns method and the traditional hash browns in air fryer method. Both will taste great…a lovely crust with a soft melt-in-your-mouth center.
Method 1
Frozen hash browns in air fryer
There are lots of brands that make and supply hash browns. The ones I buy are normally Idahoan or McCain’s…both are great. To make them frozen hash browns in air fryer could not be simpler. It is difficult to get it wrong but follow this method to get great results on your air fryer frozen hash browns.
Frozen hash browns in air fryer method
- Preheat the air fryer at 390F
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or pour a little cooking oil into the base
- Put your Frozen hash browns into the basket
- Cook for 9 minutes – flip them half way through
- Add extra time if you want them crispier
Quick tip: If you want to make your hash browns even tastier, season them before you put them into your air fryer.
This method is pretty much fool proof. Obviously, all air fryers cook slightly differently so keep an eye on them towards the end. Crispy hash browns are great…burnt ones…not so great!



Method 2
Hash browns in air fryer
Let’s move onto the second method. This involves more work but the results are lovely. I use this method a lot but remember, you can also make a big batch of them and freeze them to…so win/win. Delicious home-made hash browns with all the goodness and without all the preservatives.
I thoroughly recommend them…even a novice cook can follow this method and get great results.
You will need the following to make air fryer hash browns;
- Bowl of potatoes
- ¼ Onion…I recommend a ½ shallot
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Pepper – ½ teasoon
- Cajun seasoning – 1 Tablespoon
- Flour – 1 Tablespoon
- Coconut oil – 1 Tablespoon
- 1 Egg white
This process makes fantastic hash browns. It basically involves two steps to get great results.
The first part of it deals with the main base of this which is the potatoes. The second part of it is creating the ‘bind’ to ensure they stick together.
Once you put them together in the air fryer, the hash brown will be wonderfully light and crisp.
The potatoes…
Let’s deal with the potatoes. You are using a bowl of potatoes here. The first thing you are going to do is grate your potatoes with a grater. Once you have done that, fill the bowl with salted cold water. The reason we do this is to remove some of the starch in the potato and also, it helps draw the water out of them. Leave them to one side for 5 minutes while you prepare the bind.

The ‘bind’

Preparing the bind is simple enough too. The first thing to do is to grate your half shallot…as finely as you wish. It gives a lovely taste and compliments the potato give another level of depth.
In another bowl, we are going to put the coconut oil, flour, salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning and shallot into it. Simply mixing together using a spoon. This is the bind that will keep your potato together…it could not be simpler.
The next step is to return to your potatoes. We need to remove the water and moisture out of them so the hash browns are crispy. To do this, I am using a cheese cloth. I drain the water and with a handful of grated potato, I place it in the cheese cloth and twist the top of the cloth together. I am literally squeezing every drop of water out of them. You will know when it is done as the moisture stops coming out and the potato looks and feels very dry. We are going to do that to al the potato we have shredded.
Once done, you will have the potato and the bind in two bowls. Simply mix them together. It is better to use your hands so that all the potato is coated…remember to wash your hands afterwards.
Time to cook them…
Time for the air fryer hash browns. You need to preheat your air fryer to 400F. When that is ready, you need to work quickly. I suggest that while your air fryer heats up, you use that time to prepare the air fryer patties.
Simply grab a palm full and pat them together. Make sure they are at an even level so they cook evenly throughout. You can make them as big or small as you wish…I recommend smaller.

Time for the air fryer, simply place them into the basket…you don’t need to add any oil but you can brush some onto the top if you want them extra crispy. At 400F for 15 minutes, check to see if they are crispy and cooked through. Remember that you need to turn them around after half the cooking time.
The end result should be a fantastic homemade hash browns in air fryer. They should light and crispy with a lovely crunch. With these ingredients, they should be lightly spiced with the taste of shallot coming through. They are simply beautiful.
Quick tip: If you are going to go to the effort of making them, make a large batch and freeze them. This means you get homemade hash browns whenever you want without going through the effort. Homemade air fryer frozen hash browns taste just as good.

FAQ’s
Do air fryer shredded hash browns take the same time?
If they are cooked from frozen, then they will take slightly longer to cook. You should keep an eye on them towards the end, you will know when they are cooked.
Do all frozen hash browns in air fryer, take the same time?
In most cases they do, give or take a minute or so. I would always refer to the producers guidelines first to give you an idea of how long they will take to cook in your air fryer.
Are air fryer hash browns healthier?
They are definitely the best option you have. If you consider deep fat frying, then air frying them is the best option. It also retains the nutrients in the food too.
Do I need to use oil for shredded hash browns in air fryer?
You should not need to add any oil as the bind will contain oil. If you want them extra crispy, you can brush some oil on top.
Does the hash browns air fryer method produce the best results?
I think they do because they give the right balance of great tasting food without all the nasty excess oil deep frying them gives. Why not give them a try, you have nothing to lose…trust me, they taste great. Perfect as a snack or part of a traditional full English breakfast.
Let me know what you think…is there anything you do that makes your air fryer hash browns different? How do you cook the perfect hash browns in air fryer?
Share your tips with us…leave a comment below.
See you soon…Jayne x

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