How To Reheat Latkes – I Test 5 Methods

Latkes are a popular party food (and for good reason), but sometimes it would be a lot easier to make them in advance and reheat them on the day of the party. Or maybe you cooked to many?

Either way, this article is for you! I tested five different methods of reheating latkes to find he best one.

The best way to reheat latkes is in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F and arrange the latkes on a wire rack. Heat them for around 10 minutes, allowing a few minutes extra if the latkes are frozen. You can also use an air fryer if you have one.

How I Tested Reheating Latkes

I make a delicious batch of latkes following my tried and tested recipe (this one). The next day, I tested reheating them in the following ways:

• Oven: Great for big portions.
• Frying pan: Slightly greasy.
• Air Fryer: Extra crispy latkes.
• Broiler: Good for smaller portions.
• Microwave: Avoid this method.

Reheating Latkes In The Oven

Time: 10 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (or 350°F if you’re using a convection oven).
2. Lay the latkes out on a wire rack or a foil-lined baking sheet and place them in the middle shelf of the oven.
3. Heat the latkes for around 10 minutes.

I like using a wire rack because it means the heat can circulate freely and crisp the latkes from all angles. If you use a baking tray, you need to flip the latkes over halfway through to crisp both sides.

Results: This was my favorite method, the latkes were crispy and tasted pretty fresh. You can also reheat lots of latkes at once, so it’s a great method for parties.

Reheating Latkes On The Stove

Time: 2-4 minutes
Rating: 7/10

1. Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan on the stove on high heat.
2. When the oil is hot, add the latkes and fry them for 1-2 minutes on each side.
3. Let the latkes rest on a wire rack for 60 seconds before serving, this will drain any excess oil.

Don’t add too much oil to the pan or you will end up with really greasy latkes. A very thin layer is all you need. If your latkes are already pretty oily, you might even be able to get away with using no oil.

Results: The latkes reheating on the stove were tasty and they had a nice crisp on the edges, but I found the middle a little soggy and greasy compared to the oven-reheated latkes. Note this method works much better with thinner latkes because they can heat through before they absorb too much oil.

Reheating Latkes In The Air Fryer

Time: 4-5 minutes
Rating: 9/10

1. Set your air fryer to 350°F.
2. Spread the latkes out in the air fryer giving each one as much room as possible.
3. Heat the latkes for 4-5 minutes, giving the air fryer a shake halfway through.

If you take your eye off the ball, it’s very easy to burn food in the air fryer (I’ve done it so many times!).

Make sure to check the latkes regularly.

And don’t overcrowd the basket. If the air can’t flow properly, the latkes will steam and won’t crisp up as effectively.

Results: The latkes reheated in the air fryer were great! They had that ‘just-fried’ texture and were super crispy. If you have one, definitely use it. Problem is not everyone has one. And they aren’t always big enough to reheat big portions.

Reheating Latkes Under The Broiler

Time: 4-5 minutes
Rating: 8/10

1. Set your broiler to medium heat.
2. Spread the latkes out on a wire rack and place them under the broiler.
3. Heat for 4-5 minutes, flipping half way through.

Just like with the air fryer, you need to keep a careful eye on your latkes when they’re under the broiler so they don’t burn.

Avoid using the highest heat, because this can burn the edges before the middle has heated through.

Results: The broiler is a decent method for reheating latkes, and a good option if you want them extra crisp by don’t have an air fryer. It’s quicker than the oven too, so better if you only have a small portion of latkes to reheat.

Reheating Latkes In The Microwave

Time: 1 minute
Rating: 2/10

I never recommend reheating latkes in the microwave. They’ll go soggy, greasy, and chewy. If the microwave is your only option, microwave a few latkes at a time in 30-second increments until warm.

Once the latkes are warm, eat them straight away. If you let them cool down again, the potatoes will get really dry and tough – basically becoming inedible.

How To Store Latkes

The best way to store leftover latkes is to cool them to room temperature on a wire rack and then store them in a single layer in an airtight container. Use a paper towel to separate any stacked layers. You can also stack them sideways like dominos.

The latkes will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

The most important thing is to keep the latkes from getting soggy. Cooling them before storing is step one of this, so there’s no steam or condensation in the container. Keeping them in a single layer helps as well because it prevents them from absorbing grease.

Can You Freeze Latkes?

Yes, you can freeze latkes. Cook them as normal, then let them cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, arrange them in an airtight container with parchment paper separating any layers. Freeze them for up to 3 months.

How To Reheat Latkes From Frozen

Because latkes are so thin, you can reheat them straight from frozen in the oven or air fryer. Set the oven to 375°F and heat the latkes for 12-15 minutes, or until they’re hot and crispy. Or heat them for 5-7 minutes in a 350°F air fryer.

Other Ways To Use Up Leftover Latkes

Latke Benedict: Use a latke as the base instead of an English muffin. Top it with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and perhaps some smoked salmon or crispy bacon for a delightful brunch option.

Latke Grilled Cheese: Place cheese (and perhaps some tomato or bacon) between two latkes and grill until the cheese is melted and the latkes are crispy.

Salad Topper: Crumble latkes over a salad for a crunchy addition. They work well with both green salads and more substantial ones like Caesar or Greek salad.

Latke Nachos: Instead of tortilla chips, use latkes as the base for nachos. Layer with cheese, beans, jalapenos, and bake until the cheese is melted. Top with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

How To Reheat Latkes [Tested Methods]

In this short recipe, I show you the best way to revive and reheat your leftover latkes.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Polish

Keyword: How To Reheat Latkes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 236kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion Latkes

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375℉.
• Lay out the latkes out on a wire rack or a foil-lined baking sheet and place them in the middle shelf of the oven.
• Heat the latkes for around 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 236kcal