McDonald's Customers' Biggest Complaint About The Hash Browns — And Where You're Better Off Spending Your Money

The hash browns at McDonald's are generally well regarded, with some fans saying they're better than the fries. Our ranking of fast food hash browns placed them in the top three. However, customers do have one big complaint — they are very expensive. While prices vary across locations, the average cost of a single McDonald's hash brown is $2.29 (per mac-menus). On forums online, several customers said the hash browns sometimes cost between $3 and $4, with the unanimous view being that's way too much.

"I'm in SoCal. My nearest McD is selling a hash brown for $3.29. I feel like this is such a horrible deal compared to fries," one customer complained on Reddit. "Even small fries are somewhat filling, but this small single hash brown isn't really enough. So you end up having to buy at least two or maybe three." Another Redditor's rough calculation put the cost in perspective. "That's $32 a pound for potatoes. You could definitely get a 12 to 16 ounce cooked steak with a side of mashed potatoes at Outback Steakhouse for less than $32," they wrote.

People pointed out that you'd be better off spending your money at the supermarket, where you could buy a pack of 10 frozen hash browns for just $4. Considering that's over five times cheaper than the average McDonald's hash brown, it's definitely the smarter choice.

In some good news for customers, hash browns found a spot on McDonald's new McValue menu. Introduced earlier this year, it features 10 items that cost under $3. It can either be ordered as a standalone breakfast item, or as part of the $4 breakfast meal deals alongside a Sausage McMuffin or a Sausage Biscuit and a small coffee. Even at this discounted rate though, a run to the grocery store makes more financial sense.

If you're worried about what you'll do with so many hash browns, we've got you covered. Frozen hash browns can be used in many creative ways. They make for a great base for a creamy potato soup, and the perfect topping for a shepherd's pie. You can also crisp them up to make awesome hash brown waffles. If you're more of a DIY kind of cook, you can make frozen hash browns from scratch at home — you can buy a 5 pound bag at Walmart for under $4! Just make sure you don't make one of the most common mistakes with homemade hash browns, which includes buying the wrong kind of potatoes.