Potato pancakes
Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Potato pancakes are golden, crispy fritters made from grated or mashed potatoes, often bound with egg and flour, then pan-fried to a delightful crunch with a tender, savory interior. They deliver a satisfying balance of starchy comfort and rich, buttery flavor, with a nutritional profile that offers a moderate calorie source and a good dose of energy from carbohydrates and fats.
💚 Why it's loved
People adore potato pancakes for their irresistible contrast of textures—a shatteringly crisp exterior giving way to a soft, potatoey heart—and their incredible versatility, serving as a blank canvas for everything from sour cream and applesauce to smoked salmon or savory stews. They are a beloved comfort food across many cultures, often tied to festive meals and family traditions.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is their high fat content from frying, which significantly increases calories, and their high glycemic load, which can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes, making them a concern for diabetics or those managing insulin resistance. To counteract this, pair them with a source of protein (like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese) and healthy fat (like avocado) to slow digestion, practice strict portion control (1-2 small pancakes), and consider baking or air-frying as a lower-fat cooking alternative.
Key benefits
- Good source of quick energy from complex carbohydrates
- Contains dietary fiber, especially if skin-on potatoes are used
- Provides some essential minerals like potassium and vitamin C
- Versatile base for both savory and sweet toppings
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The world record for the largest potato pancake was set in 2019 in Lithuania, measuring over 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) in diameter and using nearly 2,000 kilograms of potatoes.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 47.8 g |
| Energy | 268 kcal |
| Energy | 1123 kj |
| Protein | 6.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 14.8 g |
| Ash | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 27.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 3.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.8 g |
| Sucrose | 0.39 g |
| Glucose | 0.76 g |
| Fructose | 0.56 g |
| Lactose | 0.03 g |
| Maltose | 0.03 g |
| Galactose | 0.03 g |
| Starch | 20.9 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 32.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.7 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 36.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 128 mg |
| Potassium, K | 622 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 764 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.70 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.18 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.26 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 8.9 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 27.6 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.16 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.17 mg |
| Niacin | 1.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.76 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.45 mg |
| Folate, total | 41.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 6.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 35.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 45.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 74.2 mg |
| Betaine | 3.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.29 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 32.0 ug |
| Retinol | 31.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 4.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 2.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 113 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 87.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.23 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.01 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.13 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.01 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 11.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 2.7 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.5 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.8 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.65 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 3.7 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 3.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 7.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 6.6 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.86 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.01 g |
| Cholesterol | 95.0 mg |
| Phytosterols | 9.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.24 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.28 g |
| Leucine | 0.44 g |
| Lysine | 0.39 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.10 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.30 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.23 g |
| Valine | 0.37 g |
| Arginine | 0.34 g |
| Histidine | 0.14 g |
| Alanine | 0.27 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.0 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.20 g |
| Proline | 0.26 g |
| Serine | 0.36 g |
FAQ
Can I make potato pancakes ahead of time?
Yes. You can prepare the batter or form the patties and refrigerate them, covered, for up to 24 hours. For longer storage, freeze uncooked pancakes on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag; cook directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the frying time.
Why are my potato pancakes soggy instead of crispy?
Sogginess usually comes from excess moisture in the grated potatoes. Be sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible using a cheesecloth or clean kitchen towel. Also, ensure your pan and oil are properly preheated before adding the pancakes.
What's the difference between potato pancakes and hash browns?
While both are fried grated potatoes, potato pancakes are typically bound with egg and a starch (like flour or matzo meal), forming a cohesive patty. Hash browns are usually just shredded potatoes fried without a binder, resulting in a looser, crispier texture.