Okay, so what's the best brand of hashbrowns?  Say if I want to stay legal and not smuggle in real potatoes, what would be the best potato substitute?  The real thing can be rather heavy - at least that's what I hear, no personal experience you understand.

dlk

Potatoes are not illegal in Canada, but bringing them across the border is.

There really is no "best" brand of box hash browns.  They are all working from the same dried potatoes so it's more about how much you want to pay than it is about quality.

I used to buy the "higher-end" hash browns until I tried some "lower-end" ones and found no difference in taste.  Now I go to the bulk foods section of the grocery store, buy a gallon-sized box (which is never a name-brand), and I am set for several trips.

If you want to fancy them up at all, you can add dried onion (and they always need a little more onion if Old-Salt's in your group  ) and/or dried bell peppers.

I like to start the potatoes rehydrating in cold water as soon as I crack into the food pack in the AM.  Generally by the time I'm ready to start cooking, the potatoes are rehydrated.  Then I pour off the water, add the butter, and start frying them up.  This method makes a very serviceable hash brown.  It's not like fresh, but it's good.

The box will also give you a method where you rehydrate and cook all at once.  Don't even *think* about it.  You don't want to go there.

I want to make sure I am clear on this, but you can bring dried hashbrowns(boxed) into Canada right?  Just not real potatoes?

Thanks

In case you wanted to know, real potatoes are banned from Canada because they are concerned with a blight.  Potatoes which have been processed will not carry the blight.

They will ask you at the border if you have potatoes.  If you lie will you get caught, probably not.  But if you lie and get caught, you just bought yourself a lot of trouble.

Westwood

However you guys get your potatoes into Canada, you must try making Poutine. I made it for the first time on my last trip and it was amazing: make up some hash brown potatoes, fry them in corn oil, while they fry add onion powder, pepper, salt. Just before they're golden brown add chopped mozzerella and melt it in. On the side you should make some instant gravy which you'll pour over the fried potatoes as you serve them. Voila!