Oh, the eternal struggle of the latke! We all love that crispy, golden edge, right? But deep-frying them always felt like such a greasy chore, and the clean-up afterwards? Forget about it! I spent years trying every skillet trick imaginable, only to end up with soggy bottoms more often than not. That all changed when I truly embraced my air fryer. Seriously, making Air Fryer Latkes isn’t just easier; it unlocks a crispiness I thought was only possible submerged in hot oil. These little powerhouses deliver that perfect crunch in a fraction of the time and with next to no mess. Get ready, because this method is a weeknight Hanukkah miracle!
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Latkes
I’m not one to tell you the sky is blue, but I swear these Air Fryer Latkes are going to change your potato game forever. No more standing over a spitting hot skillet! They are fast, they are ridiculously easy, and they get that beautiful texture we all crave.
- Incredible Texture: They manage to be wonderfully crisp on the outside without being greasy at all.
- Super Speedy: Seriously, you’re looking at less than half an hour from grabbing the potatoes to having them on your plate.
- Minimal Mess: Goodbye, giant oil splatter mess! Cleanup is a breeze now.
- Perfect Patties: They hold their shape beautifully, thanks to that quick squeeze of moisture.
- Great for Volume: You can easily cook these gorgeous things in batches without losing any quality.
Achieving Ultimate Crispiness with Air Fryer Latkes
This is the real magic trick here. When you deep fry, you get crispiness, sure, but you also get weight. In the air fryer, that hot air circulates perfectly around each little patty. The exterior turns a deep, beautiful golden brown, almost shatteringly crisp when you bite into it, while the inside stays fluffy and completely tender. It’s the best of both worlds, trust me!
Quick Prep and Cook Time for Air Fryer Latkes
Life is too short to spend an hour making a side dish, especially when holidays roll around and you have a million other things going on. The best part about this recipe is the sheer speed. We’re talking just 15 minutes of actual prep time, and then they are zipping through the air fryer in only about 12 minutes. The whole thing—total time—is under 30 minutes! That speed means you can serve these fresh and hot off the appliance without breaking a sweat.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Air Fryer Latkes
When it comes to potatoes, you can’t just throw anything in there and expect perfection. For these Air Fryer Latkes to shine, we need the right structure. I always stick to Russets because they have that high starch content that helps them bind and crisp up beautifully. You only need two big ones, plus a small onion for that little bit of savory bite.
Binding is handled by one egg and just two tablespoons of flour—super simple! And, of course, salt and pepper tie it all together. Don’t forget the oil; we aren’t deep frying, but we need a little bit to help those patties get gorgeous and golden in the air fryer basket.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Air Fryer Latkes
Listen, I know sometimes you don’t have exactly what you need, so let’s talk substitutions. If you can’t find Russet potatoes, Yukon Golds are your next best bet, but Russets really work better because their starch level is higher. That starch is what sucks up moisture and gives you that fantastic crunch we are aiming for!
The biggest expert move you can make is making sure those potatoes are bone dry after grating. After grating the potato and onion, you absolutely must squeeze out every drop of liquid you can using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. If you skip this, you’re going to end up steaming your latkes instead of frying them. It’s worth the effort, I promise!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Crispy Air Fryer Latkes
Okay, now that we have our dry, beautiful potato mixture ready, let’s get these Air Fryer Latkes cooking! The process is fast, but you have to follow the steps in order so the air fryer can do its job properly. Remember, this machine needs to be hot before anything even goes inside—that’s key for instant crisping!
Preparing the Potato Mixture for Air Fryer Latkes
First things first: grate your potatoes and onion using the coarse side of your box grater. Then, you need to drain them—and I mean *really* drain them! Take that mixture, wrap it up tight in a clean kitchen towel, and just squeeze hard over the sink until you think no more water can come out, and then squeeze again! Seriously, the drier they are, the crispier they get!
Pop that very dry potato and onion mix into a bowl. Gently add your egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Just stir it enough so everything comes together. Stop mixing as soon as you don’t see any dry flour pockets. Overmixing makes them tough, and we want crunch, not chewiness here!
Air Frying Your Golden Air Fryer Latkes
While you were mixing, you should have preheated your air fryer to a roaring 400°F (200°C). Lightly brush the basket with some of that vegetable oil. Now, form your mixture into small patties—I like mine about 2 inches wide and half an inch thick. They need space to breathe, so place them in the basket without letting them touch. You’ll probably have to do two batches, and that’s totally fine!
Brush the tops of those little beauties with a little more oil. Now, slide them in and cook them for 10 to 12 minutes total. The crucial step? You have to flip them halfway through. Around the 5 or 6-minute mark, give them a flip so both sides get that gorgeous, even golden brown color. When they smell heavenly and look perfectly done, pull them out immediately!
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Latkes Results
Listen, I’ve made enough of these Air Fryer Latkes that I’ve figured out a couple of little secrets that take them from good to absolutely mind-blowing crispy. The squeezing is number one, of course, but if humidity is high or you just want total guaranteed crispiness, try this: after grating the potatoes, give them a quick rinse under cold water. This washes off extra surface starch.
Rinsing is great, but if you do that, you *must* dry them even more thoroughly than before! Pat them down with paper towels before using your kitchen towel. It sounds like an extra hassle, but that extra effort ensures they don’t steam at all in the machine. And please, don’t overcrowd that basket; these need space to let the hot air circulate freely beneath them. That’s how you get that perfectly uniform golden crust all over!
Serving Suggestions for Your Air Fryer Latkes
Once those gorgeous Air Fryer Latkes are out of the basket, the only question left is what you’re going to slather on top of them! Latkes are such a perfect canvas because they pair beautifully with so many textures and flavors. While they are incredible all by themselves, a topping really elevates them from a side dish to the star of the show.
You absolutely cannot go wrong with the classics. I always have a big bowl of cool, tangy sour cream ready—nothing cuts through the heat and richness of the potato quite like it. On the sweet side, applesauce is non-negotiable for many folks, especially around holiday time! Just make sure it’s chunky, not that smooth baby-food kind. You need that texture!
But if you’re looking to get a bit outside the box, because why stick to tradition when you can innovate? Try topping a latke with a dollop of smoked salmon and a tiny sprinkle of fresh dill. It feels fancy but takes zero extra energy! Or, for a really savory bite, smash a little avocado on top, maybe add a tiny dash of hot sauce, and you have a breakfast or brunch superstar.
Storage and Reheating Air Fryer Latkes
I know what you’re thinking: how do I keep these masterpieces crispy when I inevitably have a few leftovers? Don’t panic! Unlike a regular fried potato that turns to mush overnight, these Air Fryer Latkes hold up surprisingly well if you store them right.
The absolute best advice I can give you for storage is cooling them completely first. Once they are totally at room temperature, pop them into an airtight container. You can layer them between a few paper towels inside the container—that helps wick away any lingering residual moisture that could make them soft.
Now, for reheating—this is critical. Do yourself a favor and absolutely avoid the microwave! Microwaving potatoes is the express lane to soggy sadness, and we worked too hard getting them crispy to ruin them like that. Pull out that air fryer! Preheat it again to about 375°F.
Toss the cooled latkes back into the basket in a single layer, just like you did the first time. Give them about 3 to 5 minutes. That quick blast of hot air strips away any moisture absorption they got while sitting in the container and brings back that amazing crunch. Seriously, they taste almost exactly like they did the minute they came out of the machine the first time around!
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Latkes
I get so many questions about these Air Fryer Latkes, which is great because if you have questions, it means you’re going to make them! These are the most common things people ask when they’re trying to get that perfect potato pancake without the oven mess. Don’t worry, we’ll nail this together!
Can I make Air Fryer Latkes ahead of time?
Yes, you totally can! While they are obviously best served straight out of the air fryer basket, life happens. The key here is that you must cook them fully the first time. Let them cool down completely after they are crispy. Store them airtight overnight. When you’re ready to eat the leftovers, do not use the microwave! Pop them back into the preheated air fryer at about 375°F for just a few minutes. That hot air gets all the crispiness right back into the potato pancakes.
Why are my Air Fryer Latkes not crispy?
This almost always comes down to moisture, my friend. I harp on it constantly, but you have to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from those grated potatoes and onions! Think of the cheesecloth or kitchen towel like a tiny sponge fighting for your crispiness. If they are wet going in, they steam, and you get a soft side. Also, double-check that you aren’t overcrowding the air fryer basket. If the hot air can’t touch every surface because the latkes are touching each other, they won’t brown evenly!
What potatoes are best for Air Fryer Latkes?
My absolute favorite, number one choice is the Russet potato. They have the perfect balance for this recipe because they are high in starch and have a lower water content than some of the waxy types. That starch is what helps your Air Fryer Latkes bind nicely and crisp up beautifully. If you only have Yukon Gold potatoes on hand, go for it! They are a great substitute, just make sure you squeeze them aggressively, as they tend to hold a little more moisture than a good Russet.
Estimated Nutritional Information for Air Fryer Latkes
I always try to keep track of what I’m eating, especially when I’m whipping up a batch of snacks like these Air Fryer Latkes. Because air frying uses so little oil compared to traditional methods, the nutrition facts come out looking pretty gentle, which makes me feel a little less guilty when I sneak an extra one!
Keep in mind that these figures are just estimates based on the ingredients I used, and they can shift depending on the exact size of your Russets or the brand of flour you grab. Also, these numbers are calculated for just one single latke, and let’s be honest, nobody stops at one potato pancake, do they?
- Serving Size: 1 latke
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 5g (don’t worry, most of that is the brush of oil!)
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Protein: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg (This is where using low-sodium salt can make a difference if you are watching that!)
It’s always good practice to remember that these are just guidelines. If you want the most accurate numbers, you need to plug in the specific brands of flour and potatoes you use into your favorite nutrition calculator. But for a quick reference while you’re enjoying your crispy Air Fryer Latkes, these estimates should give you a good idea!
Share Your Crispy Air Fryer Latkes Experience
Whew! We made it! Now that you’ve experienced the magic of true crispy Air Fryer Latkes without all the fuss, I really, *really* want to hear about it. Seriously, that’s the best part of sharing these recipes with you all—seeing your successes in your own kitchens!
Did these ditch the deep fryer for good in your house? Give the recipe a star rating right down below—it helps other folks trust the process just like you do now. Even better, if you snapped a picture of those beautifully golden patties, please tag me on social media! I love seeing how you top them; are you a traditional sour cream kind of person, or did you get fancy?
Don’t be shy! Drop a comment letting me know how the potato squeezing went or if you tried any of my sneaky little tips. Happy cooking, and I can’t wait to see your results!
Print
Air Fryer Latkes
- Total Time: 27 min
- Yield: About 8 latkes 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Crispy potato pancakes made quickly in an air fryer.
Ingredients
- 2 large Russet potatoes, peeled
- 1 small onion, peeled
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Grate the potatoes and onion using the coarse side of a box grater.
- Place the grated mixture in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. This step is important for crispiness.
- Transfer the dried potato and onion mixture to a medium bowl.
- Add the egg, flour, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly brush the air fryer basket with some vegetable oil.
- Form the potato mixture into small patties, about 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
- Place the latkes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch. You may need to cook them in batches.
- Brush the tops of the latkes lightly with the remaining vegetable oil.
- Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and crisp.
- Serve immediately with your preferred toppings.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can rinse the grated potatoes in cold water after grating and dry them thoroughly before mixing.
- If you do not have Russet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes work as a substitute.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 latke
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 0.5
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 30
Keywords: Air Fryer Latkes, potato pancakes, crispy latkes, air fryer recipe, potato side dish