Kitchn Love Letters

The $5 Freezer Staple I Eat for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

published Aug 22, 2022
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Refrigerator, with freezer door opened. Food in freezer has been neatly organized. On the fridge door the freezer inventory checklist is hanging.
Credit: Sarah Crowley

Breakfast. I know it, love it, but the morning of, am often too sleepy to come up with an elaborate spread. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t shy away from making a great meal, I just know when to rely on a great shortcut — or, in this case, grate — shortcut to help me do it. Enter: Ore-Ida Frozen Shredded Hash Browns. They’re my go-to ingredient for one of my favorite (and filling) breakfast dishes. And you can bet you’ll always find a bag or two in my freezer for brunches — and dinners, too.

Credit: Jessica Prudenti-Montalvo

What’s So Great About Ore-Ida Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes?

An ideal blank canvas and a freezer-aisle sleeper hit, Ore-Ida’s hash browns are a staple in my household. I’ve tested other brands with varying results, and I continue to come back to the bright-red bag with the tiny tractor. The potatoes are uniformly shredded so they cook up evenly in a pan in minutes. And they taste as good as fresh — an advantage of frozen produce that is sometimes overlooked. 

Credit: Jessica Prudenti-Montalvo

What’s the Best Way to Use Ore-Ida Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes?

My preferred way to eat them in the morning is cooked in a skillet with a mix of vegetables and seasonings, then topped with cheese. Lately, I’ve been sautéing the hash browns with some of the surplus sweet summer corn and zucchini I have on hand, and finishing the dish with black pepper, oregano, and a sprinkle of white cheddar or Kerrygold’s Dubliner Irish Cheese. The potatoes add a delightful bit of crunch to each bite. Along with eggs and, when I’m in the mood for it, some bacon, it’s easily become one of my favorite morning meals.

If you’re a frittata fan, I recommend folding in some shredded potatoes for added texture and heft or using them as a crust for quiche for a fun twist. Or keep it simple by turning the hash browns into potato pancakes and serving them with a simple green salad. Come fall, though, I’m looking forward to substituting them for mashed potatoes on top of a shepherd’s pie.

Buy: Ore-Ida Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes, $4.99 for 30 ounces at Amazon

What grocery shortcuts do you keep stocked in your freezer? Tell us about it in the comments.