Question: how to cook mash potato pancakes without them sticking?
By: my
Published: January 8, 2011

i love mash potato pancakes & have tried to make them several times. everytime i make them they stick to the pan. i don't like to .use non-stick pans. am i cooking them at a too high temperature? i put plenty of butter in the pan. why do they always stick?

Answers:
Chris Paulk

With a paper towel-try rubbing the bottom of your pan with either a little olive oil or vegetable oil first. You can also try coating them with panko crumbs. It might help a bit and they'll get a nice crunch from the crumbs.
Celia R. Muller

I use grated potatoes instead of mashed: more texture, less sticking.  And rub the pan with oil.
Dr. Mitchell R....

Amy, here's the quandary.  Butter smokes at higher temperatures, and the pancakes stick at lower temperatures.  Chris and Celia both note that oil (olive, vegetable) helps.  They allow you to cook at a higher temperature without smoke or burned butter.  The high temperature causes the potatoes to release water into steam more quickly, and that actually helps the skillet be non-stick!
I like Celia's idea of using grated potatoes, but of course, if you're using up leftover mashed potatoes, that's not an option.  A non-stick skillet is another option, although I'd still use a very thin layer of oil there too.  Non-stick (Teflon) skillets shouldn't be taken to high temperatures, as the coating can begin to decompose.  I use a stainless steel skillet with a heavy bottom, medium-high to high heat, and peanut oil (highest smoke point).  I also slide the cooking pancakes around in the pan regularly, which reduces sticking.  And don't walk away, these tasty morsels burn easily...