A Short History of Latkes

Latkes Weren’t Always a Hanukkah Go-To. According to the Encyclopedia of Jewish Food by Gil Marks (Buy from Indiebound, $50), Pancakes Were First Served at Hanukkah After a Rabbi in Italy Included Them on a List of Foods That Were Appropriate to Eat During the Holiday. When the Jewish People of Sicily Were Expelled in 1492 by the Spanish, They Took Their Tradition to Northern Italy. the Pancakes Caught on from There, but They Were Very Different from the Ones We’re Used to Now. the Italians Made Theirs with Ricotta, Which Worked Perfectly, as Dairy and Fried Foods Are the Two Traditional Hanukkah Treats. the Resulting Pancake Was Crispy and Cheesy. Potato Latkes Caught on a Few Centuries Later in Poland and the Ukraine, After a Crop Failures Led to Mass Planting of Potatoes.

The Trouble with Latkes

A Couple Centuries Later, Fried Potato Latkes Are a Staple in American Hanukkah Celebrations, and Anyone Who Tries Them, Loves Them. But, They’re Not So Easy to Make! Since the Potatoes Are Shredded Before Frying, Small Bits Tend to Break off While They Cook — and Those Little Pieces Can Cause a Lot of Trouble When They Burn to a Crisp in the Hot Oil, Turning It Brown.

Now That You Know the Secret to Cooking Perfect Latkes, It’s Time to Actually Fry Them up! Here’s What You’ll Need:

This Hack Will Keep Your Potato Latkes from Burning

By Alexander Ross

• Oct 8, 2026 • 3 min read

This Hack Will Keep Your Potato Latkes from Burning

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Latkes, or Potato Pancakes, Are a Staple of the Hanukkah Season, as Families Everywhere Gather to Light the Menorah, Celebrate, and Enjoy Traditional Treats Together. but the Delicious Food Can Be Hard to Master, and an Improperly Fried Latke Can Really Mess up the Holiday. No One Likes a Soggy Latke, or a Burnt One. Luckily, We Found the Best Hack to Use While Cooking Latkes — and You Won’t Believe How Useful a Carrot Can Be!

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.

Tags: potato latkes hack with carrot