Hash Browns Unfashionable?

[f1jim]

I have always loved hashbrowns as a meal anytime. I stick them in the air fryer and in 20 minutes they are ready
But lately I am having a hard time finding them in stores. Ore Ida hash browns were always a staple in most grocery stores, now they are rarely in stock. Other brands are even more hit and miss. Are they just not popular as f breakfast item anymore?
I don't think it's a problem with the potato supply as they seem to be as popular as ever as french fries and tots at fast food places.
What gives?
f1jim

[Starflower]

Hi Jim,

Do you have an Aldi nearby? Theirs are very good. I have a few bags in my freezer that were bought not too long ago.

[f1jim]

Unfortunately, we have no Aldi's near me. We have lot's of choices but none that stock hash browns consistently.
f1jim

[Daydream]

I have always loved hashbrowns as a meal anytime. I stick them in the air fryer and in 20 minutes they are ready
But lately I am having a hard time finding them in stores.
f1jim

Jim, do you have a Sprouts Market near you? I have bought Cascadian Farm Organic Hash Browns from a nearby Sprouts Market. The only ingredients are organic potatoes. I think Safeway and Bristol Farms markets might have them too.

https://www.cascadianfarm.com/product/hashbrowns/

[f1jim]

We do have a Sprouts close by but they almost never have them in stock. I have spoken to the manager and he says he has no input on availability. He says they show up when they show up!
f1jim

[VeggieSue]

I just chalked it up to the current bugaboo "supply chain issues".

Our local Stop and Shop store had very little Ore-Ida potatoes most of the winter and spring and only recently had that freezer fully stocked. Their store brand hash browns and potatoes O'Brian were also hit and miss for a while. They did have a good supply of other brands of frozen potatoes but they all had oil in them.

As for Cascadian brand, at half the amount but twice the price I'd rather cook up a batch of russets in the InstantPot and shred them myself when I wanted hash browns. I could buy a 10 pound bag of organic russets at Costco for the price of 2 tiny bags of Cascadian frozen! Just keep a few pre-cooked ones in the refrigerator and grab the box grater when you need to shred a spud or 2 for a quick meal.

[f1jim]

Great ides, VeggieSue. I'm going to give that a try. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
f1jim

[Chumly]

I didn't know you could shred them after you cook them. I'll have to give that a try!

Michael

[debknott]

Veggie Sue,

I like your idea, but I would think cooked potatoes would be too soft to shred. If you have already done this, let us know how they turned out!

Deborah

[Homesick]

I always have instant pot cooked red potatoes in the fridge (5 min, natural release). I sometimes rice some and spread them out on parchment paper and air fry them. The peaks and edges get brown and delicious. Not exactly hash browns, but very tasty and easy clean up.

[VeggieSue]

I like your idea, but I would think cooked potatoes would be too soft to shred. If you have already done this, let us know how they turned out!

Jeannine Elder of Potato Wisdom has a slew of videos (plus her Potato Reset book) showing how she manipulates previously cooked potatoes to make tasty spud meals. The secret to grating them is to cool them in the refrigerator first.

https://www.youtube.com/@PotatoWisdom