Almost everyone around the world loves to eat hash brown, why not? It is delicious, handy, and easy to eat, can make you feel full, and it can be cooked in multiple ways. Although it is popular, and truly loved by many, the biggest question still remains, is hash brown healthy?
Are hashbrowns bad for you? This question is being asked all around the world, but debates and discussions were not put to an end up to this moment.
If you come to think of it, potatoes are healthy, hence hash browns should be the same mainly because hash browns are generally made of that. Basically, hash browns are made of sliced potatoes, pepper, and salt. Although its popularity is more prominent in the US, this appetizer is available on the menu of most restaurants all over the world.
So why are hash browns healthy or considered to be a healthy food to take? Here are the beneficial elements you can get from eating hash browns:
Fiber
The resistant starch found in a potato produces less gas compared to other food rich in Fiber. This root crop is also known for providing aid to intestinal problems. It is also used in the treatment and prevention of constipation. If you eat potatoes, for this matter hash browns, you can feel full for a longer period of time.
This element also answers the question “can diabetics eat hash browns?” The fiber content and the rest of the minerals and vitamins in hash browns made this a perfect option for diabetic patients, provided that they are consuming it moderately.
Potassium And Magnesium
This is a food being consumed by people who want to minimize the risk of stroke and heart disease and it also provides help in controlling blood pressure.
Antioxidants
Yes, potatoes are known for their high oxidant content. This helps in minimizing cell damage and combating free radicals, lowering the risks of cancer and heart problems.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
This root crop has a chemical in it called Lipoic acid or Alpha-lipoic acid, which helps in converting glucose to energy.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, potatoes are a good source of calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus, all of which are known for their ability to boost bone health.
How many calories in homemade hash browns?
Generally speaking, the total calories in a homemade hash brown is 179.6, but since homemade hash browns recipe can be tweaked and interchanged, this may not be an exact variable. If you want your hash browns healthy, then the best way you can do is to actually make it with less sugar and salt, and cook it in less amount of oil.
What makes hash browns unhealthy is when it is deep fried. If hash browns are cooked this way, expect that your calorie intake will be larger plus you might also experience bloating and inflammation, the same goes if you use more salt in it.
If you want to make your hash browns healthy, the best and most efficient way to do it is by making one yourself and cooking it differently apart from deep frying.
You have to remember that hash browns are only healthy if you want to make them healthy. To know more about the cooking ways of hash browns, read the following:
Baking
Baking can give you a healthy hash brown. This process will not require you to use oil, hence, definitely, a perfect option for you to consider.
Grilled
Although it requires a small amount of oil to be cooked, it is still healthy compared to other cooking options.
Other Things You Need to Know About Hash Browns
One of the most popular foods you can find in a fast-food restaurant is hash browns, particularly at Mcdonald’s. If you are wondering how many calories are in 2 McDonald’s hash browns, as per the site of one of the most successful and popular fast-food chains in the world, Mcdonald’s, each of their hash brown has a 140 calorie content, meaning, if you consume two, you are consuming 280 additional calories in your body. Not bad, but definitely not as healthy if you eat more than two and you do it every day.
Due to the popularity of hash browns, people can buy them in different forms, some of which are the following:
Frozen hash brown patty
People are asking, is this form of hash browns healthy? One of the things you need to be aware of is that food that is frozen requires more sodium to be preserved. The additional sodium on the hash brown patty makes it unhealthy, gives you additional weight and increases your blood pressure.
Frozen shredded hash brown
This is actually the same as the patty, only that this comes in shredded form. Sodium can cause extra weight and a bloated stomach, hence not a perfect option if you want to maintain good health.
One of the things that you may not know is if you add eggs to your hash browns, it makes it healthier. Eggs are known for their protein content while hash brown contains carbohydrates and not proteins, meaning if you add an egg to it, it becomes good for your weight loss and also, it becomes rich in protein.
Tips When Cooking Healthy Hash Brown
Cooking healthy hash brown is just easy, and here is a guide you can follow:
Step 1
Peel a huge-sized potato using a knife or a peeler. Shred it using a shredder or if you do not have one, you can just cut it into cubes.
Step 2
Get a pan, non-stick, if possible, preheat it to medium-low fire, add the sliced potatoes, cover the pan and leave it for a few minutes.
Step 3
After a few minutes add herbs, garlic, or chopped onion, whichever you prefer.
Step 4
Once the potato is soft and cooked, you can start plating it.
If you want your hashbrown to be healthy, add only a little amount of oil, sugar, and salt or if possible, remove them completely.
Conclusion
Hashbrowns are generally healthy, but when you are asked are hashbrowns bad for you? The answer might vary depending on how it was cooked and prepared. The more you add oil, sugar, and salt, the more hash browns become unhealthy.
If you will come to think of it, potatoes are full of great elements, pantothenic acid, fiber, carbohydrates, phosphorus, manganese, vitamins C and E, vitamin B6, potassium and magnesium, and a lot of other elements to keep your body healthy and strong, but the way it is cooked and the add ons when preparing it can make this healthy option go bad.
Is hash brown healthy? Yes! If it was cooked and prepared without oil and other add-ons, like salt and sugar. It is good for weight loss, but it will turn the other way if you use oil when frying them.
There are other ways to cook your hash brown, baking, and grilling are two of the best ways to do it.
If you are a hash brown lover, there is no reason not to serve it on your dining table for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Adding eggs can make your meal not only more exciting but healthier too.
