What is the difference between home fries and hash browns

Whichever you prefer, you need recipes to make these potatoes happen more frequently in your life. We have those for you right here:. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. If you've ever ordered breakfast at a diner, you've probably been asked this question, perhaps by a harried waitress.

And you probably paused before responding. What is the difference between home fries and hash browns, anyway? Aren't they both breakfast potatoes? Well, yes. And no. And you probably paused before responding. What is the difference between home fries and hash browns, anyway? Well, yes. And no. Home fries are cubed or diced potatoes that are cooked in a skillet until they are brown and crisp on the outside and meltingly tender inside—perfect for mopping up runny egg yolks or extra gravy from a plate of biscuits.

The potatoes are usually pan-fried with thinly sliced onions, which caramelize as they cook, adding sweet and savory notes. Chopped bell peppers or chile peppers are another common addition to home fries.

Hash browns, on the other hand, are all about texture. Potatoes usually russet potatoes are thinly shredded, then fried in oil until they are golden and crisp with frizzled edges. You can shred the potatoes by hand or buy them pre-shredded and frozen. The potato shreds are fried in a hot skillet on both sides, like a pancake, so that the entire exterior is wonderfully crispy. You'll get those caramelized onions and maybe peppers that I mentioned above. Hash browns tend to be a simple combo of fat, potato, and salt if you're lucky.

Why choose a breakfast potato that rests on its laurels? Home fries try harder. Like toast, breakfast potatoes exist to sop up the delicious runny yolks in your fried eggs. So why are hash browns so bad at it? The crispy, shellacked exterior repels the buttery yolk rather than absorbing it like you guessed it home fries do.