What technique should I use to make latkes for a party so that I don't have to stay in the kitchen? What usually happens is that I fry up fresh latkes during a party and I end up in the kitchen for the majority of the party.

Is there a way for me to precook the latkes and then still have them taste fresh and crispy when the guests arrive?

Here are some options that I'm thinking of but don't know if it will work well:


Fry them up as usual and keep them on a rack in a warm oven before the guests arrive
Do a quick fry and keep them in the oven...when the guests arrive refry them (hopefully this will take less time).
Get other to take turn to fry up the latkes.  :)
Number 3 will give you the best results. There simply is nothing as great in this world as a latke crisp from the frying pan, having spent but a couple seconds on a paper towel receiving the blessing of a few flakes of good sea salt.

I've never tried number 2. If you do, please report back.

Number 1 will not give you crisp latkes. They will still have the delicious taste of homemade latkes, but they will be soft, not crunchy.