How To Make Homemade Frozen Hash Browns From Fresh Potatoes
Updated on January 27, 2026
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Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Ready to save money by making your own homemade frozen hash browns from fresh potatoes? Here’s a step-by-step freezer hash brown recipe!
I’m always looking for ways to decrease our grocery budget and save money. Recently, the cost of hash browns seemed too high compared to the cost of a bag of potatoes. That piqued my interest! How hard could it be to make homemade frozen hash browns? It turns out, it’s not hard at all and totally worth the savings!
Table of Contents
Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Hash Browns?
Yes, it is cheaper to DIY hash browns than to buy them pre-made. A 20-oz bag of shredded hash brown at Walmart sells for $2.72, while a 5# bag of Russet Potatoes sells for $2.64. A 5# bag of potatoes will make 4, 20-oz bags of homemade frozen hash browns. That’s only $0.66/bag!
Do You Need To Blanch Homemade Hash Browns?
Yes, you need to blanch (or par-boil) homemade frozen hash browns. This short boil ensures the potatoes stay crisp white instead of turning black from oxidation. I did try to make these without blanching them, and they stayed white in the freezer, but turned a disappointing black when cooked.
Ingredients In Frozen Hash Browns
The only ingredient you need in frozen hash browns is shredded potatoes. This makes homemade hash browns easy to prep and perfect for filling your freezer. Cost is low, and they are a versatile ingredient to add to your favorite recipes
How To Make Frozen Hash Browns From Fresh Potatoes
It’s so easy, you’ll kick yourself for ever paying pre-made prices!
Time needed: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Active Time: 20 min. 1-2 hours in the freezer.
- Wash Potatoes
No need to peel the potatoes, but you’ll want to remove any dirt from the outside
- Shred Potatoes
You can do this by hand, with a food processor, or with a grater attachment for a mixer. I use the KitchenAid grater attachment because it is fast and efficient!
- Ice Bath
Completely submerge your shredded potatoes in an ice bath for 5 minutes. This will keep them from oxidizing and becoming black. I did 5# of potatoes at a time, and this took 2 batches of ice baths because of the size of my bowls and the size of the towels I was using. Make sure to plan ahead for space so none of your potatoes go black from waiting too long!
- Par-Boil (Blanch)
Drain the water from the potatoes and transfer the shredded potatoes to a pot of boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes. The water should be at a rolling boil before adding the potatoes. It’s okay if the boil slows when the icy potatoes are added.
- Ice Bath #2
Return potatoes to the ice bath for another 5 minutes. This will cool them down to stop the cooking from the boiling water.
- Remove Water
I found the best way to separate the shredded potatoes from the water is to first pour it through a strainer. Then, dump the potato shreds from the strainer into a kitchen towel. Wring out the towel as best you can to remove as much water as possible.
- Flash Freeze
Lay out the homemade hash browns in a single layer on a baking sheet. I like to put down parchment paper on the sheet to make the removal of the hash browns easier later. Freeze for 1-2 hours.
- Seal
Remove from the freezer and portion out your hash browns as desired into freezer Ziplocks or vacuum seal.
How To Use Homemade Frozen Hash Browns
You can substitute homemade frozen hash browns in any recipe you would regularly use pre-made hash browns. They are delicious fried up on their own as a side dish to a classic egg and bacon breakfast, or they can be used to bulk up an egg bake for a more filling meal. Some recipes even call for hash browns as a soup thickener! Because of their versatility, hash browns are a great addition to any capsule pantry freezer!
Storing Homemade Frozen Hash Browns
Hash browns store best in the freezer. Do not thaw before using. They can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer Ziplock, or up to a year if vacuum sealed.
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