Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between potato pancakes and latkes? ›

Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.

Cover with aluminum foil to keep the potatoes from drying out. Reheat at 350˚F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the potatoes reach 165˚F.

Mashed potatoes kept in the fridge should be thrown away if not used after 72 hours. That is the practice adhered to in most restaurants. Some will use it for an extra 24 hours if there's alot left but after that it is no longer fit to be used.

Your pancakes could be falling apart for a few different reasons. First, your mashed potatoes might have been too loose or runny. Or, you didn't add enough flour or eggs to the batter.

Vegetable oil or canola oil is usually best, because of its high smoking point. Latkes were traditionally made with schmaltz, or chicken fat, so if you have access to it, you should certainly add it in, because it does contribute to the flavor.

Beat eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl; stir in potatoes and onion. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of potato mixture into hot oil in batches. Press to flatten.

It can be tricky to reheat mashed potatoes on the stovetop because you can sometimes overstir (which leads to gluey potatoes), or understir (which leads to scorched pots). To avoid all this, try a double boiler approach: Place the potatoes in a bowl (stainless steel works best).

If you're staring down at a bowl of white liquid and wondering what went wrong, ask yourself these questions: Did I use soggy potatoes? It's essential to drain and dry your potatoes well after you've cooked them in water. If you don't, all that excess moisture will have nowhere to go once you start mashing.

Mashed potatoes should easily last three to five days in the fridge if stored correctly and within two hours of cooking. This means ensuring there isn't any moisture buildup under the lid that could encourage the growth of bacteria.

Shelf life of potatoes

Cooler temperatures, such as those afforded by a pantry or root cellar, allow them to keep longer than at room temperature. Once cooked, potatoes last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and 1 year in the freezer, though the quality of cooked mashed potatoes suffers with freezing (4, 5).

How do you know if mashed potatoes have gone bad? ›

If they have a sour flavor or sour taste, throw them away. Discoloration. You know what color mashed potatoes should be (white and/or gold). Iff there is any discolored areas, throw them away.

It depends on whether your potatoes are turning gray before you cook them or after. When you grate raw potatoes, you release starch that can cause them to oxidize, or turn dark. The best way to keep that from happening is to cover the potatoes with cold water, then drain them very well and pat them dry before cooking.

If the potato pancakes are falling apart while you're shaping them before you start cooking, they are either either too wet or they need more flour to hold them together.

If you don't drain the moisture, they won't crisp as easily and that may be why your potato pancakes are gummy. Feel the Heat. Sufficiently heating oil in the pan prior to placing the patty in the pan is the key to a properly crispy pancake.

These potato pancakes (called latkes) are meant to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah, when the oil of the menorah in the ransacked Second Temple of Jerusalem was able to stay aflame for eight days even though there was only enough oil for one day. The symbolism comes in the form of the oil in which latkes are fried.

Hash browns are shredded potatoes, fried (or air-fried), til golden brown. They typically remain loose, or in shreds. Latkes, a.k.a potato pancakes, are grated or ground potatoes that are mixed with egged, flour, or other binding agents. They are one piece, like a pancake.

Tradition says so. Latkes are usually served at dinnertime along with a meaty main, like brisket. Mixing milk and meat at the same meal is a no-no for those who keep kosher, so sour cream would be out as a latke condiment leaving the underdog apple sauce victorious.

Are Hash Browns and Potato Pancakes the Same Thing? Potato pancakes are more complex than hash browns. Hash browns are pan-fried shredded potatoes, whereas potato pancakes are mixed with a binder, seasoned typically with onion or garlic, and formed into patties before cooking.