My waffle iron died the other day.
It didn’t die after my waffles had baked, it decided to retire in mid-stream!
I had only one option . . . buy a new waffle iron.
The shiny new model is a Cuisinart, and it’s been working hard lately.
Waffles? Not Waffles.
Beautiful Crispy Waffle fries . . . or you could call them hash browns.
So good . . . low fat crispy . . . delicious!
If you could take a bite right now, you wouldn’t be able to tell that they weren’t fried in oil or butter. In fact, they are so good we have had them several nights in a row. Come on, grab your waffle iron and we’ll get to work.
Start by grabbing one large potato. You can’t really tell, but this potato is very large. It has 5 settings, from low to very hot. To the left of the potato is 1 tablespoon of butter, that you can just melt in the microwave. That’s all the calories, that you’ll need to add.
See that crazy orange contraption?
Let me introduce you to my friend . . . MOULI.
I love MOULI and I use it often. It’s like an old friend that just keeps on giving. MOULI comes with several different disks that cut different shapes. I do have a fancy schmancy food processors with blades, but I still prefer Mouli. I don’t even know if you could still buy these today, but mine has been working hard for at least 20 years, or longer.
I used the disk that makes hash brown style potatoes. That one potato made a lot of hash browns.
I don’t rinse the starch off of the hash brown potatoes, you’ll want that little bit of natural starch to hold the waffle fries together.
Melt the tablespoon of butter, and toss it around in the potatoes. Season them with some salt, pepper and whatever else you might like.
Heat up your waffle iron . . . nice & hot. I used the hottest temp.
Once the waffle iron is ready, spray it with a bit of non-stick spray. Spread the hash brown potatoes evenly across the surface of your 4 waffle maker.
Shut the lid . . . and walk away!
Come back in 5 or 6 minutes and take a quick peek.
I notice that my waffle maker cooks much faster on the bottom than the top.
That’s alright . . . once the bottom has browned really well . . . Flip it over.
look . . . it’s utterly amazing.
. . . and there you have it.
Low Fat Crispy Waffle fries
Come back soon for more waffle iron magic.
by Get Off Your Butt and BAKE
What a great idea! These look quick to make and so yummy!
Love Love it!
Oh my gosh….these look sooooo good. I’m drooling right now. I have always been afraid to try and cook anything but waffles in my waffle iron but I think I’m about to be brave and try these 🙂
There is a blog/website where everything is cooked in the waffle iron (http://www.waffleizer.com/). Just thought you might like to take a look 🙂
What an amazing idea. I need to buy a new waffle iron myself.
These look so yummy! Thanks for the idea. Growing up my mom made our grilled cheese sandwiches in the waffle iron. She would butter each side of the bread that touches the waffle iron and put cheese in the middle. It makes them crunchy! 🙂
Very cool! I just got the same waffle iron. Such a step up from my old one. We are eating lots of waffles here too 🙂
I have a waffle iron and I love hashbrowns, going to try this sometime this week. 🙂
Ever seen this? http://www.waffleizer.com/
That is the most delicious use of a waffle iron I’ve ever seen. I don’t have an iron but I guess I could use my ordinary sandwich press for the same thing. Yum yum yum!
What a fabulous idea! I was surfing yesterday looking for some last-minute dinner inspiration (and I always try your blog for some more fabulousness!) when I discovered these and KNEW we were having breakfast for dinner. 🙂 I made them on my wimpy el-cheapo waffle iron and they were great! Mine didn’t get as crisp as yours…but that could have been due to lack of patience. Either way they were yummy, fast, and so super easy. Thanks again!
Love the idea of doing Waffle fries….I love crispy hash browns!
My friend (Mouli) has been working for me since the mid 1970’s. I’ve even found some of the original metal ones at Thrift stores. My Food processor lives in the closet!
May I suggest the following pancake & waffle mix: “Golden Malted”. I first got it at Cost Plus, we live in Bay Area (CA). I have ordered it online at Amazon…it is really good!
Forgot to say, have seen “Mouli’s” for sale on Ebay.
These look fabulousfantasticphenominally wonderful.
I can not wait to try these. I have the old fashioned waffle iron and suprisingly it still works quite well. I have two teenage boys who are always hungry. Imagine that! 🙂
Love your idea, I cooked french toast in mine over the weekend and they can out so good with a nice little crunch. Can’t wait to try the hash browns.
I think I will try this for breakfast tomorrow, looks good and easy!
These look so yummy! Thanks for the idea.
wow these look awesome i didnt know you could make fries with a waffle irons!
This is such a brilliant idea!! I think this would be really yummy for breakfast. Just put it with a fried egg and a couple slices of bacon. I’m definitely trying this THIS WEEK! I wonder how it would turn out with the frozen hashbrowns? You’d probably have to thaw them first, right?
Wow! I think I’m going to try this with sweet potatoes.
would we cook the potato beforehand or just use one that is raw?
Hi Lila,
I use raw potato. I’ve never cooked them before adding them to the waffle iron.
We have these every other night….low fat!
Jonna
What a creative way to cook hash-browns/fries! I will definitely try out this recipe soon!
The browns are always extra crunchy when using the waffle Iron. My 1923 waffle iron has a red light in the bottom enclosed section that turns off when the waffles/potatoes are done !
Okay, here’s the deal. I was making my birthday dinner. Yes, like many I see my birthday as a chance to jump in the kitchen and have some fun. I thought these waffle iron fries would be perfect for the occasion along with a fried brussels sprouts salad and some honey-chipotle chicken that I love. Iron light goes off giving me the signal that it has reached temp, layer those suckers in and wait… and wait… and wait. Checked the very simple well explained recipe again, checked the time, figured a little longer since my waffle iron doesn’t have a heat setting, and still nothing. If I was one who used profanity, it would have been flying in the direction of “Get Off Your Butt and Bake” as at this point as everything else for my birthday dinner was ready and on the table waiting for these soggy, pale potatoes to crisp up and turn brown. Then it hit me… I checked the outlet – nothing. I’d tripped the breaker, and the light didn’t go off because it was up to temp, but because the power had gone out. Not only did I trip the breaker, but I broke the breaker. Not having time to run to Home Depot to get another, I quickly cooked the hash browns the old fashioned way and will have to give the waffle fries another go at a later date. We had a big laugh about it and enjoyed our meal. I’m sorry for sending bad thoughts your way for a few seconds when it should have been directed at my electrical system!
I LOVE hash browns and have been trying to adapt eating habits so I was excited to find this via pinterest. I tried last week using frozen hash brown shreds. My waffle maker is a little cheap-o model so it took longer to cook, but I was really happy, and will definitely make these again!
I also have a mouli that I have owned for many years. I have almost sold it in a garage sale twice but in the end couldn’t part with it. I just made these hash browns for lunch. They are awesome. I have a walmart cheap-o waffle iron so it took 8 minutes on high to cook.
There are a few of these graters on ebay if you search for “mouli grater”.
I am going to try these very very soon! Have to go and buy some potatoes! They look amazing.
I just love your Mouli. I am sure that is so much better than an electric food processor.
Hi Leslie,
I love it as well! It was one of those ifommercial buys, and it has served me well for
many many years. I use it for everything. It’s sooooo much easier than cleaning up my big food processor!
Jonna
wow these look amazing – can’t wait to try them – thanks!
Okay, these are genius. I can’t wait to make these.
Thanks Sophistimom…. I love your blog!
Jonna
Never would have thought of doing potatoes on the waffle maker!!
So doing this over the weekend!
So did you use a raw shredding potato? I tried this today with boiled potatoes grated and butter and they didnt brown up like yours or stay together.
Hi Katie,
Yes….I just use a raw shredded potato. I don’t rinse the potatoes once they are grated, because I don’t want to lose the starch in them. They bind together much better, if you don’t rinse them. As for browning, certain varieties of potatoes brown better than others. I’m using good ol Idaho potatoes.
Jonna
I have a Cuisinart Griddle. I has top and bottom plates. One set is a griddle on one side and a grill grooves on the other side. You can also buy a set of waffle plates separately — and mine is being shipped now!
The griddler has two settings, one for the griddle with continuous, real temperature settings, and the other set if for the grill plates graduated from low to sear.
I’ve almost not used my stove top since buying the Griddler. Now with this recipe, I may never use it again! (just kidding, I think)
great idea for using your waffle iron for hash brown potatoes. I’m going to try this and try using shredded sweet potatoes, too. Have you tried sweet potatoes yet?
I have the same waffle iron, and I have made more omelettes and breakfast burritos than waffles so far. It’s amazing, and I can’t wait to try your potato recipe.
I put one whipped egg in each waffle square, top with one slice of cheese, and finish each waffle square with another egg. I cook it on the lowest #1 setting, and they come out amazingly fluffy and ready to eat. They can easily be wrapped up in a warm tortilla with a little bit of Salsa, sour cream, and even chorizo. When I’ve made them with sausage I just dice a little bit of sausage up and put it on top the cheese before adding the second egg. Try it!
I just had to look. Amazon has a white Mouli for under $27.00 Now I am going to have to buy one.
I love this idea! Hash browns are my favorite but I don’t like to fry because of the calories and the mess. I plan to add tons of shredded onions to the mix. Can’t wait to try this.
You write like a bitch.
Hi Rachel,
Gee . . . I’ve received a lot of comments over the years, but never that one!
Merry Christmas,
Jonna
This is an amazing idea!!! The fries look so crispy. I’m going to try it for sure! Thanks!