Eggs Benadict served over hash browns with homefries as served at Brealu Cafe in Portland Monday April 26, 2010.  (Photo by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Food - Drink
Be Careful How Much Oil You Use To Cook Hash Browns
By LAUREN ROTHMAN
One of the most satisfying potato dishes is hash browns, a simple mix of seasoned, grated potatoes that are fried until crispy in a hot skillet. This classic dish only needs potatoes, onions, salt, and oil, but for that last ingredient, just make sure to go easy on it.
Many cooks tend to douse their hash browns in oil, hoping for a crispier result, but too much oil weighs the potatoes down, leaving them heavy and moist. Instead of oil, reach for clarified butter and use a wide pan to spread the potatoes out and help them crisp instead of steam.
If you don't have any clarified butter or simply prefer to use oil, make sure to be light-handed with it. If you want to ensure perfect hash browns, take the extra step of grating the potatoes, rinsing off their starch, wringing them dry, and then frying them.