Are Tater Tots And Hash Browns The Same?
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Tater Tots and Hash Browns are the lip-smacking delicacies that have been on our breakfast menu for ages! If you cannot get enough of potatoes, these two are definitely in your top ten favorite dishes. Now, a lot of people often get confused between the two. So, are tater tots and hash browns the same?
Actually, tater tots and hash browns are just two versions of the same potato dish. Hash browns are grated potatoes fried in oil. On the other hand, tater tots are the same grated potatoes shaped into balls and then deep-fried.
Tater tots and hash browns have the same basic ingredient –potato. If you take a detailed look at the two, you will better understand the basic differences between them. In this article, I will try to point out the similarities and the obvious differences between tater tots and hash browns. So, to analyze the facts in detail, please read the entire article.
Hash Browns VS. Tater Tots
Tater tots and hash browns are like the staple breakfast foods for Americans! Right from the school cafeteria food of your childhood days to your breakfast in the forties, these two have never left our plates and our hearts!
However, if you have never heard of tater tots or hash browns, it is not very unusual. You may not have heard of these two, especially if you live outside of American or British territory. Don’t worry; you will get to know about them in this article!
Hash Browns
Hash browns, hashed browns, whatever you want to call them, are so widely popular in the whole of America. These are some finely grated or chopped potatoes that are fried in oil to give them a crispy brown texture.
They are also popular as pan-fried potatoes. Mainly, they are eaten for breakfast with some loaves or buns or can be used as a side dish. You can serve it with sunny side-ups, bacon, patties, etc. They are available as packaged frozen items, so you can buy them and fry them whenever you want to!
Moreover, different shapes of hash browns can be seen now. The hash browns from McDonald’s look like flattened cakes of grated potatoes, which slightly resemble tater tots. Hence, people often get confused between hash browns and tater tots. But both are not the same and are available as distinct dishes.
Basically, hash browns started as a breakfast item in the last part of the nineteenth century. They are completely made of potatoes, so they majorly contain carbs. They also have fat and protein. A 100g portion of hash brown contains about 330 calories.
When these items started to gain popularity, they began to be commercially sold by various big industries like Burger King, McDonald’s, etc. These days you can find several restaurants that include hash browns on their lunch and dinner menus, also as a snack item.
Tater Tots
Tater tots are another popular American dish. These are small chunks of grated potatoes shaped into balls and deep-fried in oil. They look golden brown on the outside, which gives them a delicious crispness. And inside, there is a rich potato filling! They taste heavenly if you use seasonings or even with some cheese stuffing!
Mainly, it depends on you as to what course you want to associate it with. You can keep it as a side dish for your lunch, or have it as a breakfast or evening snack. They are also available as frozen and packaged food items.
Overall, it consists of potatoes, a little flour, and spices. So, tater tots contain carbs mostly, followed by fat and protein. A small serving may contain about 160 calories.
Basically, tater tots first came into being in the mid-twentieth century. Nephi Grigg and Golden Grigg came up with an idea to use the residual potatoes from dishes. They prepared this dish, and then it started to gain popularity as tater tots! Later, they started to sell tater tots commercially through their company, Ore-Ida.
Actually, the word “tater” is a shortened version of “Potato.” So, whenever you hear the name tater tots, all you can think about is potatoes! However, now, there are many other versions of tater tots. Now, several healthier versions are popular. In particular, cauliflower tots, veggie tots, cheese tots, etc., are becoming very popular.
Why Are Hash Browns So Hyped?
Among the breakfast dishes made with potatoes, hash browns are the most loved and most demanded, especially because they are easy to prepare and taste incredibly delicious!
You can make hash browns anywhere in any part of the world. They are so versatile and can fit into any menu. You can hardly find someone who doesn’t love potatoes. And this is where hash browns play their trump card. It is one of the tastiest dishes made out of potatoes, maybe even better than French fries!
Besides, you may not know this. People eat hash browns in many parts of the world, including many parts of Asia. In fact, it has different names in different areas.
To be fair, people have introduced their own styles of making hash browns now. For example, a popular kind of snack is the hash brown waffle. It is very easy to make. Just use some grated potatoes and seasonings and then cook them in the waffle iron. Shape it the way you want. Adding a little cheese will make it even tastier!
This waffle hash brown has a very crispy outside and is very soft and juicy on the inside. It tastes good with some sauce and dip! Adding a cheesy top will enhance the taste even more!
Tater tots are also very popular, just as much as hash browns. Just thinking of these chunks of crispy potatoes is mouth-watering! The ease of making tater tots is an important factor behind its popularity as well. The ingredients are easily available, and you don’t need to put much effort into making one portion. Add some cheese to prepare the best tater tots!
Tater Tots Vs. Hash Browns – Which One Is Easier To Make?
If you take a close look at their recipes, you will understand that tater tots and hash browns are not the same. In fact, you can make a comparison as to which one is easier to make!
Yes, both are available as packaged frozen foods. But the taste of homemade food is next level. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal. So, below I have included the recipes for the two. Keep reading to know in detail!
Easiest Hash Brown Recipe
Take some fresh potatoes. Peel them and soak them in a large bowl of water. After a while, grate the potatoes or simply shred them. Now take the shredded pieces and wash them under tap water. When the water turns clear, soak these shreds in a bowl of cold water. It is the trick to making your hash browns crispy!
Now, take a pan and add some butter. You can add some garlic to infuse the flavor. Then, add the shredded potatoes and keep frying. Add your spices as per your preference. The simplest spices are black pepper, paprika, red chili powder, vinegar, and salt to taste. Then fry until golden brown.
You can use some cheese on top if you wish. Voila, your hash browns are ready now! You can make it in just 10 minutes! Check out this easy recipe!
Quickest Tater Tots
It is like the easiest potato recipe to date! Take some fresh potatoes and boil them properly until they are soft. Then, using a grater, finely grate these boiled potatoes. Now, take these gratings in a bowl and add some flour and seasonings. Shape these into small balls or squares; however, you wish.
Now, deep fry these pieces of balls until they are golden brown. Try frying in low heat so that you don’t end up with a raw inside. Take your time to fry them properly.
So, as you can see, tater tots are very easy to prepare. You can easily make this at home, on your own. Check out this recipe!
As you can see from the two recipes, hash browns and tater tots are totally different kinds of food. There are hardly any similarities between them. Choose your own favorite dish and enjoy the goodness of potatoes!
