How can I get hash browns to bind without using egg?

How can I get hash browns to bind without using egg? - Overjoyed African American graduate tossing copies of resumes in air after learning news about successfully getting job while sitting in green park with laptop

I don't want to add egg to bind hash browns. What is the best way to bind hash brown without the eggs?

My first thoughts are should I still grate the potato, or boil first to soften to enable them to bind?



Best Answer

I follow Alton Brown's recipe from Good Eats for grated (the only way!) hash browns and never have problems with it binding. It's from the episode "Another Man Food Show: Breakfast" if you want to search it out. He talks on the show about why the type of potato matters and recommends a high starch potato like an Idaho or Russet. I use Russets as they're readily available here and never have any issues.

Summary of the cooking process:

  1. 10 inch cast iron skillet to medium low. I think I've tried it in a non-stick skillet and while it cooks, you don't get the same browning.
  2. Grate potato with large grater. Squeeze out the water from the grated potato. I use my hands, he uses a tea towel.
  3. Add bacon fat to the skillet. Scatter the potato evenly and cook for 5 minutes without touching it at all. I compress them down a little bit after I've scattered them.
  4. Turn down the heat, flip and cook for another 5 minutes. I flip it by sliding it onto a plate, flipping it in the air there, and then sliding it back on. Using a second plate to flip it might be easier.

Notes:

  • I think the biggest thing is the type of potato. I tried it a few times with some other potato because I had them on hand, and it turned out terrible. I've also tried with previously boiled potatoes, and it was even worse.
  • Not touching is important too. You want to give them time to stick together.



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How do you get hash browns to stick together without eggs?

Sprinkle salt over (about a teaspoon), mix salt through the potato and leave for a few minutes. Pick up handfuls of potato and squeeze excess moisture out until you've done all the potato. The salt draws out the liquid. This seems to make the potato stick together really well.

How do you get hash browns to stick together?

Mix the one egg OR two tablespoons of flour into the hash brown mixture evenly. This will allow the hash browns to stay together when frying.

How do you keep hash browns from falling apart?

  • Use russets.
  • Grate into a colander in the sink, so they can drain as you grate.
  • When you're finished grating, dump the potatoes onto a clean towel, close it over them, and wring to squeeze them dry. This gets far more moisture out than any other method I've tried.


  • How do you harden hash browns?

    7 Tips for Crispy, Totally-Not-Soggy-at-All, Hash Browns
  • Shred the potatoes. A box grater works, but ideally you still know where you put the shredding disc attachment for your food processor. ...
  • Rinse the potatoes. ...
  • Dry the potatoes. ...
  • Season the potatoes. ...
  • Clarify the butter. ...
  • Non-stick FTW. ...
  • No touching.




  • How to Make Hash Browns - Diner Style Restaurant Hashbrown Recipe




    More answers regarding how can I get hash browns to bind without using egg?

    Answer 2

    Try this really simple technique I discovered in a hash brown recipe once: Place grated potato into a bowl. Sprinkle salt over (about a teaspoon), mix salt through the potato and leave for a few minutes. Pick up handfuls of potato and squeeze excess moisture out until you've done all the potato.

    The salt draws out the liquid. This seems to make the potato stick together really well.

    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Anete Lusina, Mary Taylor, MART PRODUCTION