7 Kitchen Essentials For Perfect Latkes

Labeling any one food as the star of a holiday can be tricky — after all, does turkey really make Thanksgiving, does brisket define Passover? But when it comes to Hanukkah, there’s near-universal agreement: The sound of sizzling oil and the promise of a perfectly crispy latke are what many people picture first.

Of course, latkes themselves can be a bit of a project. There’s the question of which oil to use, which potatoes are best (it’s russets or Yukons, people), and then comes the delicate technique of not squeezing out ALL the starchy liquid that collects at the bottom of the bowl.

Like most culinary feats, a few pieces of equipment make all the difference. And while there are plenty of nice-to-haves (a designer apron, a cozy British cottage kitchen, Jonathan Bailey offering moral support), a handful of tools are truly essential — think a reliable fry thermometer and a splatter screen.

And if the idea of heating up a pot of oil feels too cumbersome (or raises health concerns), grab the air fryer below and give our air-fryer latke recipe a try.