The History of Hash Browns

The origins of hash browns are somewhat murky. Some experts believe that either rösti, a potato pancake that dates back to 16th-century Switzerland, or tortilla de patatas, a potato omelet from Spain, may have been the original inspiration(s) for hash browns. We do know that the first mention of hash browns occurred in the United States in 1835 when the Minnesota Farmers' Institute Annual detailed three different recipes for hash potatoes, brown hashed potatoes, and brown creamed hash potatoes. Based on this information, some experts think hash browns may have been invented in Minnesota. (It’s also thought that the term itself has its roots in the French word “hacher,” meaning to chop or hack.) The first person to really define hash browns is believed to be Maria Parloa, who described them as a “fried mixture of cold boiled potatoes" in her 1888 book, Kitchen Companion: A Guide for All Who Would Be Good Housekeepers. Their popularity increased in the 1890s and soon, “hashed brown potatoes” began popping up on hotel breakfast menus in New York City. Many early versions were not shredded, but rather made with whole boiled potatoes that were then pressed into a skillet and cooked into a large cake. Some people theorize that shredded-style hash browns became popular after the introduction of frozen, shredded potatoes and pre-cut French fries from brands like Ore-Ida in the mid-1900s, as they provided a way to use up the slivers, side cuts, and short pieces that were screened out from French fry bags. By 1970, the many names of the dish had coalesced into the one we use today — hash browns. There are four main styles of hash browns today: shredded (think diner-style), patties (think fast-food restaurants or frozen food aisle fare), country-style (cubed), and O’Brien (named for a New York City restauranteur, these include peppers and onions). When fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s began serving hash browns in the late 1970s, their popularity skyrocketed and today, hash browns are considered a beloved breakfast food throughout the United States.