Many recipes require potatoes to be grated in order to mix them better with the other ingredients. This is the case, for example, of those delicious pancakes, called hash brown, that Anglo-Saxons love to eat for breakfast to accompany eggs and bacon. The only limit to using potatoes is your imagination and this article will tell you how to grate them properly. You will need a grater, a mandolin or a food processor.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Using the Grater
Step 1. Peel the potatoes if desired
It is not mandatory to peel them before grating them, many people prefer to keep the peel which has a greater consistency than the pulp. If you prefer to peel them, use a small knife or potato peeler and be careful not to remove too much pulp.
Step 2. Grate the potatoes
You can place the grater on a plate or directly on the clean kitchen worktop. Modern graters offer several options, you can chop the potatoes more or less finely. Choose the appropriate side, hold the potato with your dominant hand and press it against the grater as you move it from top to bottom.
Step 3. Empty the inside of the grater
If you are using a three- or four-sided grater and need to peel a lot of potatoes, you need to transfer the pulp you have already grated to a plate from time to time to avoid clogging the grater.
Be careful as you approach the end of the potato. Don't get distracted to avoid accidentally grating your fingers too
Method 2 of 4: Using the Food Processor
Step 1. Assemble the food processor
Each model has slightly different characteristics, but generally the first thing to do is to hook the container to the base of the robot. At that point you can connect the blade you need to grate to the support located in the center of the container.
Make sure the robot is not connected to the power every time you need to assemble, disassemble it or replace the blade or accessory in use
Step 2. Pour the potatoes into the robot container
Depending on the size of the bowl, you may want to cut them in half first. There is probably a notch on the container that indicates the maximum capacity, be careful not to exceed it.
Step 3. Grate the potatoes
Attach the lid to the robot container and then press the power button at short intervals until all the potatoes have been grated. It should take very little time, speed of execution is one of the advantages offered by food processors.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Mandolin
Step 1. Prepare the mandolin
The grated pulp will fall under the mandolin, so it is important that the underlying surface is perfectly clean and sanitized. If the mandolin has foldable supports, open them and place the utensil on the cutting board or kitchen worktop.
It is important that the mandolin is stable. Be careful because if it wobbles you have a high chance of getting hurt
Step 2. Use the blade designed to cut the vegetables into julienne strips
For each mandolin model there is a slightly different procedure to follow to replace the blades. It is important to perform the steps correctly so as not to put your hands at risk. Strictly follow the instructions in the instruction manual.
- In some models the blades are directly accessible from the underside, while in others they are enclosed in a housing which can be accessed by opening the special panel.
- Usually the blades are equipped with a plastic base that allows them to be assembled and disassembled from the mandolin without the risk of being cut.
- Some mandolins have a single type of blade. Generally in these cases, to vary the cut, a plastic accessory is used to be placed on top of the mandolin.
Step 3. Moisten the grooves leading to the mandolin blade
As you grate them, they may become sticky due to the starch released by the potatoes. You can make the potatoes flow easily back and forth by moistening the grooves with a few drops of water.
Step 4. Stick the potato with the accessory that serves to protect the fingers
Cut the first potato in half with the knife, then pierce the rounded part with the finger protector. Place the flat side where the grooves begin and slide the potato towards the blade to grate it. Repeat the steps until you have chopped all the potatoes you need to make your recipe.
The mandolin blades are razor sharp. You may easily slice your fingertips or knuckles. Unless you are an experienced chef, always use the finger protector accessory
Method 4 of 4: Prepare the hash browns
Step 1. Put the grated potatoes to soak in the water
After shredding them, transfer them to a bowl full of water. Make sure they are completely submerged.
Soaking them serves to eliminate part of the starch and to preserve their color to obtain pancakes that are beautiful to look at as well as good to eat
Step 2. Squeeze the grated potatoes
Squeeze them between clean fingers to get rid of excess water. Don't squeeze them too hard, they must keep their shape and texture. After squeezing them, place them in the center of a clean kitchen towel. Also squeeze the cloth gently to dry them further.
Step 3. Cook the potatoes over medium-high heat
Put the pan on the stove and butter the bottom and sides as you heat it over a brisk fire. Lower the heat slightly before adding the grated potatoes. Arrange them evenly making sure that the thickness of the pancakes is not too high
Step 4. Flip the potatoes to brown on both sides
Wait for the underside to turn golden and crisp. You can check periodically by lifting the grated potatoes with a flat spatula. When ready, flip them over and cook the pancakes the same way on the other side.
Step 5. Season the hash browns and serve them immediately
Add the salt and a sprinkle of pepper. Hash browns are extremely greedy in their own right, but are at their best when paired with typical Anglo-Saxon breakfast ingredients, such as eggs or pancakes. They create a perfect duo with omelettes too.
