Ketchup on Hash Browns: Way or No Way?
So, while talking with a colleague this morning about something totally different, somehow the topic of ketchup on hash browns came up (don't ask). I mentioned how my father always did it, and it always confused me, since I thought that the combination of the two was really disgusting. I think that it has to do with the sweetness of the ketchup, since I am not a big "sweet" person. But I have come to believe - through various family exeriences, breakfast meetings, et cetera - that this can be a very contentioius issue, and people either really like it or really hate it.
For me, hash browns go with a little salt and pepper, and that's about it.
How about you?
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
Start Talking!
Need a question answered? Have advice to share? Start a Talk topic now!
Sign up to get your questions answered and share advice.
70 Comments:
Oh WAY - hashbrowns are yummy with ketchup!
Maureen at 9:41AM on 03/24/09
Way, most definitely. Especially those shredded, greasy ones from I-HOP...ask for them "extra dark" and sprinkle salt, pepper, and then sqeeze the ketchup onto a separate area on the plate. Dip each forkfull into the ketchup, thereby avoiding "soggy" hash browns.
juliebugsmama at 9:41AM on 03/24/09
I've always thought people use ketchup to avoid the taste of the food. So, No Way.
izatryt at 9:45AM on 03/24/09
If that is how you like them. I usually use jalapeno Tabasco on mine if it's available.
chazmo at 9:47AM on 03/24/09
Another way :-) Like @juliebugsmama, I think it's important to have the ketchup separate from the hash browns, then dip individual forkfuls.
littlestcapy at 9:51AM on 03/24/09
WAY! I make my own scattered, smothered and covered hash browns and they have to be topped with ketchup! nom nom nom
caramel at 9:56AM on 03/24/09
Thumbs down.
lemons at 10:21AM on 03/24/09
Gravy yes, ketchup no way.
smokey07 at 10:24AM on 03/24/09
Way, but I like the ketchup on the side. Then I dip my hashbrowns into the ketchup, forkful by forkful. Even better if the ketchup is spicy!
Junie at 10:26AM on 03/24/09
It depends completely on the hash brown recipe.
HeartofGlass at 10:34AM on 03/24/09
No for me. I too prefer just salt and pepper. I'm not a big ketchup person, and will only eat in on fries, if that.
momobotx2 at 10:35AM on 03/24/09
fuck yes! maybe in brown beans, also...
seikel at 10:36AM on 03/24/09
yes, definitely! and basically at a 1:3 potato to ketchup ratio. but i also put it on the most ridiculous of items, like turkey sandwiches. :)
anniedra at 10:45AM on 03/24/09
Only on diner hash browns, not homemade, and definitely not so much as to smother, but I am going to give a Way. Cheap breakfasts + ketchup = love.
annabanannas at 10:58AM on 03/24/09
Definitely way -- homemade or when eating out.
IndyGal at 11:20AM on 03/24/09
WAY for sure. But then again, I eat ketchup on most potato dishes (but not baked potatoes, cheesy/au gratin/scalloped potatoes, etc).
joyyy at 11:21AM on 03/24/09
Why not? By the way, I had the worst hash browns in creation at the Waffle House in Maryland. Avoid them at all costs!
bessfour at 11:22AM on 03/24/09
YUP You need the CHUP. ketCHUP that is all over those boys, I suppose if you are dining on some real regal beagle hashbrowns and don't want to destroy a fancy flavor that is one thing; however ketchup on hashbrowns is truly scrumdiddlyumptious. I think that your wonder of your father's joy of such a pairing and describing it as "disgusting" points to a serious point of contention in your personal psychosis. I think you need to dig much deeper than hash browns to get to the bottom of traveller, sounds pretty oedipal to me.
Timothyrows at 11:31AM on 03/24/09
Only when necessary (which is the usual at my favorite breakfast place), and not too much. If the hash browns come out nice and greasy, though, I usually don't add anything.
jp_bakeupastorm at 11:34AM on 03/24/09
Got to have ketchup on the hash browns, but not too much. Just a really thin layer over the whole thing, salt and pepper, perfect.
coltsfanchris at 11:38AM on 03/24/09
of course they go together! i never thought this was contentious :) just a little on the side to dip in although my husband smothers them. btw at the chain of waffle houses through the South, you can get them covered (with american cheese) and smothered (with diced onions).
nithya at hungrydesi at 11:46AM on 03/24/09
Must. have. ketchup.
FoodieSearching at 11:47AM on 03/24/09
No way! Splash of tobasco for me please - scattered, smothered, and covered too.
TaraTot at 11:49AM on 03/24/09
Ketchup on the side for dipping. Lots of pepper, little salt.
On the issue of hash browns, has anyone ever been served the "hash browns" at Waffle House? They're round, like spaghetti. And they are gross.
daemon at 11:52AM on 03/24/09
Stop the insanity! Hash browns defile our noble friend the potato. The only correct answer is Home Fries!! On which I sometimes use ketchup and sometimes not, depending on mood.
beersnob at 11:54AM on 03/24/09
Yep, that's the way I make mine. =)
scattered = scatttered around while cooking to get really crisp
smothered = smothered with diced onions (I saute them first)
covered = covered with melted cheese
caramel at 11:55AM on 03/24/09
Absolutely. Not a whole lot, just about a 1/2 tablespoon or so, but mixed in. (I like kinda-soggy hash browns, I guess.) I'm weird, though, and I'll put ketchup on baked potatoes on occasion...
missmanders at 11:56AM on 03/24/09
WAY. If not ketchup, then some not-chunky salsa.
Knitter at 11:56AM on 03/24/09
Way - on the side and sqeeze the ketchup onto a separate area on the plate. Dip each forkfull into the ketchup..
nmallory at 11:59AM on 03/24/09
Yes, yes, 1000 times yes.
dbrackst at 12:08PM on 03/24/09
way, way, way, way, way. hot sauce too.
sloppy at 12:29PM on 03/24/09
hash browns get salsa, home fries get ketchup.
MissL at 12:37PM on 03/24/09
way. all the way.
vanillapudding99 at 12:37PM on 03/24/09
silly...ketchup goes with everything!!!
ssultan23 at 12:42PM on 03/24/09
I have to say that hash browns are one of the few foods that absolutely require ketchup. So, WAY.
lo82070 at 12:45PM on 03/24/09
Friends don't let friends eat ketchup.
koeckje at 1:05PM on 03/24/09
Way! I'm confused by the people who like ketchup on fries, but not hashbrowns... why?
Embackus at 1:10PM on 03/24/09
If the hash browns are less than perfect ketchup can make them edible. Well made hash browns don't need it.
sailordave at 1:16PM on 03/24/09
Hot sauce, not ketchup.
Same thing on my fries, Embackus.
shoneyjoe at 1:17PM on 03/24/09
Pass the Ketchup please!!!!!
foodiegal at 1:36PM on 03/24/09
I never thought there was a choice..Ketchup goes on anything fried.
ocarol at 1:40PM on 03/24/09
no way. but if i have plain yogurt, i'll put some of it on the hash brown.
terabithia at 1:46PM on 03/24/09
I just made Ina's hashed browns for lunch. These are yummy on their own, but I still had to have a little ketchup on the side.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/10/brunch-breakfast-ina-garten-hashed-browns-recipe.html
Suzzanne at 1:53PM on 03/24/09
depends on my mood...i like them both ways :P
beagle1 at 2:10PM on 03/24/09
Ketchup! Absolutely must have on the hash browns!
jsd517 at 2:16PM on 03/24/09
I'm one of the few who doesn't have a bottle of ketchup in my refrigerator. I do second the recommendation of Ina's hashed browns - a gazillion times better than any diner.
MMinNYC at 2:16PM on 03/24/09
Never!!
Maryland Crab
Maryland Crab at 2:23PM on 03/24/09
I make my hash browns with onions, so (in my mind) they don't need ketchup. What they DO need is an egg cracked over top!
So, no way on the ketchup, WAY on the egg!
minstrel at 2:27PM on 03/24/09
Yes to Ketchup....Oh YEAH to Tabasco!
vadm130 at 2:27PM on 03/24/09
Most definitely WAY
kalajo at 2:29PM on 03/24/09
Way! (although, I also don't complain if a little bit of the maple syrup from a nearby pancake happens to get onto my hash browns...)
AliceBlue at 2:46PM on 03/24/09
Never! Turns my stomach to see people do that! Maybe sour cream...
pamstar at 2:46PM on 03/24/09
WAY! But it grosses my husband out...he likes cheese on them.
cares951 at 2:50PM on 03/24/09
Sometimes.
chardonnay at 2:51PM on 03/24/09
I love ketchup on hash browns.
Of course, I like ketchup on many styles of roasted or fried potatoes, so why would hash browns be any different?
mejenniferd at 3:11PM on 03/24/09
It depends on how the hash browns tastes plain, I always taste them first before putting anything on them aside from pepper. Aslo my mood plays a bigg factor on whether I put ketchup on them......YUM, hashbrowns.
pjracz10 at 4:21PM on 03/24/09
Bad hashbrowns always need ketchup. Good hashbrowns can go either way. So...midway?
cycorider at 4:31PM on 03/24/09
yes! love it.
sassysprite at 4:39PM on 03/24/09
With Ketchup, OF COURSE!!! But I can have them without ketchup if they're really good too.
MadelynRodriguez at 5:23PM on 03/24/09
By all means! Kethcup on hashbrowns and tabasco sause and a lot of salt.
danrob54 at 5:27PM on 03/24/09
Another yes. I douse mine in ketchup and I usually run out about halfway through. So bring on more ketchup! And some hot sauce, too, please.
PestoGal at 7:31PM on 03/24/09
Never, ever on hash browns, always on home fries.
chisai at 7:47PM on 03/24/09
Way! Just need that sweet tang to balance the salty yumminess.
jo_wang at 10:16PM on 03/24/09
Totally way.
RegrettableFoodie at 11:53PM on 03/24/09
potatoes are a ketchup delivery system...
cybercita at 12:36AM on 03/25/09
If your ketchup is sweet, you have a problem. Switch to Heinz--it's nicely acidic--THEN POUR IT ON THE HASHBROWNS! Delicious! :)
RandyWalker at 1:59AM on 03/25/09
Yep - there's something really good about hash browns, eggs, grits, sausage, even toast dipped in ketchup.
Ribster at 5:27AM on 03/25/09
if the hashbrowns are greasy and not browned enough, then yes. If they are very crispy and brown then no.... sometimes I like to put on a little bit of Cholula hot sauce on them... mainly because tabasco sucks!
Pavlov at 6:18AM on 03/25/09
No ketchup for me- I use hot sauce, preferably Tabasco. The habanero flavor is really good.
Rottenmom at 9:12AM on 03/25/09
I definitely use ketchup, but man, I should take after Rottenmom and start using hot sauce!
I'll put way for now but I might have a new obsession soon...
Hillary
Chew on That at 2:16PM on 03/25/09