By Alice Sjoberg
Many argue that hash browns are a crucial element of a traditional breakfast , with their crispy exterior and soft interior complementing the meal perfectly. But where does one find the best hash browns? Food reviewer Becca, also known online as ‘BeccaTriesEverything’, set out to answer this question by comparing a variety of supermarket and branded hash browns in a video she posted on social media to declare the ultimate winner. The 28-year-old shared her findings in a TikTok video with her impressive following of over 494,000, providing her first impressions and detailed reviews of each of the different hash browns. “I’ve bought hash browns from every supermarket, so let’s try them and see what they taste like,” she said at the beginning of her video, before realising she had forgotten to add Waitrose to her lineup, but deciding to continue without them. Kicking off with the branded options, Becca sampled a McCain hash brown but found it not worth the hype. “I like the crunch around the outside, reminds me of the same sort of flavour as McDonald’s hash brown,” she commented. “The inside, I’m finding it really mushy. They seem to have dulled down the black pepper in this from when I did like a review a couple of years ago. God it was so strong.” After rating them a six out of ten, she moved on to rostis from M&S, noting they were double the price at 拢4 per bag compared to the 拢2 she spent on the McCain ones. “I’ve tried a lot of rostis and a lot of hash browns, I’m not getting on with this,” she expressed. “It’s got like a fish cake consistency. It’s mashed potato essentially. It’s meant to be shredded, but it’s really lost it’s texture,” she added before giving them a score of four out of 10. Next, she tried the 拢2.20 hash browns from Sainsbury’s, which she promptly dubbed the worst ones yet due to the overpowering taste of the oily grease. This resulted in a disappointing score of two and a half out of 10. Tesco was next in line, offering the most affordable option so far with a pack of their own brand hash browns priced at 拢1.90. Upon tasting, Becca announced: “It’s a pretty good hash brown.” She explained that she appreciated the consistency and the chunks of potato within, as well as the crispy exterior. However, she suggested they could be improved if they were slightly thinner. Overall, Becca awarded them seven and a half out of ten, making them the top choice thus far. She then turned her attention to Aldi’s Breakfast Hash Browns, available in a box of 10 for 拢1.99. Becca noted that while she enjoyed the crunch and texture of the hash brown, she found the aftertaste a bit ‘weird’, describing it as having a slight vinegar tang, which brought its rating down to five out of 10. Regarding Co-op’s hash browns, which she’d spent 拢2 on, she was quick to draw a comparison with Sainsbury’s version due to their strong oily taste. She rated them only four and a half out of 10. Meanwhile, Becca found Iceland’s 拢2 hash browns more to her liking, suitable for accompanying a hearty breakfast due to their ideal taste. “It is a bit greasy. It’s greasier compared to some of the others and I’d like the potato in the centre to be a little bit more refined. But I am taking the price into consideration and I think these are the best so far,” she noted, giving them a high score of eight and a half out of 10. Asda’s 拢2.02 hash browns left something to be desired, being limper than its competitors and possessing a strong onion flavour without satisfying crunch, commanding a mediocre score of four and a half out of ten. On the other hand, Morrison’s 拢2 hash browns were praised for tasting as if just made, allowing the potato flavour to come through. “They got a little bit of a weird after taste, almost tastes burnt. I don’t think I’d go back for them,” Becca commented before assigning them a score of six out of 10. “Then finally, one of the cheapest, it’s Lidl,” she remarked, brandishing the 拢1.69 bag of hash browns. Despite being fairly pale compared to others tested, the taste evidently compensated for their lacklustre appearance. She commented: “That reminds me of like a really good fluffy chip,” but admitted her initial expectations weren’t high due to its appearance. “It’s got a good crispiness. The potato flavour comes through, there’s salt which many of these are lacking.” Her verdict was: “They’re a nine out of 10,” making them not only the best-tasting hash browns in the test but also the most affordable.