20. Fried Bread – French Toast:[1]

*The law below refers to panfried bread, or bread which sizzles in the oil but is not submerged within it. Regarding bread that is deep-fried it follows the same law as cooked bread, as explained above.

A Kezayis in size when fried:[2] If one fries a Kezayis of bread then irrelevant of the amount of oil used, even if deep fried, the bread remains Hamotzi.

Less than a Kezayis in size prior to frying: If the pieces of bread were less than a Kezayis in size from the start of the frying, then if a very minute amount of oil is used, simply so the bread does not stick, then the bread remains Hamotzi according to all.[3] If however one uses a larger amount of oil then it is disputed[4] as to its blessing, and the main ruling follows that it should be eaten within a meal of bread, and if one does not do so then he should recite Mezonos and Al Hamichyah.[5] Alternatively, in order to avoid the debate, one should use a minute amount of oil if the bread pieces are less then a Kezayis.

If the bread started off a Kezayis and through the frying became less than a Kezayis in size:[6] If one fried the bread with a very small amount of oil simply so the bread does not stick, then it remains Hamotzi. If one fried the dough with a nice amount of oil or other liquid, then one is to recite the blessing of Mezonos and Al Hamichya although is to be stringent not to eat such bread to the point of satiation unless it is eaten within a meal [i.e. Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon on regular baked bread].[7]

• Example – What is the proper blessing to say over French toast? Slices of French toast that are a Kezayis or more in size receive the blessing of Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon. Slices of French toast which are less than a Kezayis in size [i.e. entered into the frying pan while less than a Kezayis in size] and were fried with a decent amount of oil, then it is a dispute as to whether Hamozti or Mezonos should be recited, and thus it should only be eaten within a meal, and if one does not do so then he should recite Mezonos and Al Hamichyah.

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[1] Admur Seder 2:12-13; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:11-12; M”B 168:55; Shevet Halevi 7:23; Piskeiy Teshuvos 168:16

Background: The law is that only baked dough receives the blessing of Hamotzi/Birchas Hamazon as opposed to cooked dough. Now, what is law regarding if a baked product was then cooked? So, if the baked product that is being cooked is a Kezayis in size then it retains the blessing of Hamotzi/Birchas Hamazon. If, however, the baked item being cooked is less than a Kezayis in size then it is a dispute as to what blessing it should receive and we rule that Safek Brachos Lihakel and hence one is to say Mezonos and Al Hamichyah on such bread. However, a Baal Nefesh should be Machmir to eat it within a meal if they contain the appearance of bread and he will be eating enough to make him full. All the above is referring to a baked product that was cooked in water. However, a baked product that is cooked in oil, as in our case, becomes even more complex, as there is a dispute as to whether frying is defined as baking or cooking. Accordingly, while if the fried bread retained a Kezayis in size throughout its frying then according to all opinions its blessing is Hamotzi/Birchas Hamazon, if however its size is less than a Kezayis then it is under a double debate as to what is blessing should be and therefore it should be eaten within a meal of bread, and if one does not do so then he should recite Mezonos and Al Hamichyah.

[2] Seder 2:12

[3] Seder 2:11

[4] See Seder 2:12-13 that there are two disputes in this matter, one regarding if frying is considered like cooking or baking [Seder 2:12], and another in whether cooking less than Kezayis bread pieces makes it become Mezonos [Seder 2:13].

[5] M”B 168:55; Shevet Halevi 7:23; Piskeiy Teshuvos 168:16

The reason and explanation: See background!

[6] See Seder 2:12-13

[7] The reason: It is disputed whether the bread has the status of boiled bread and retains the blessing of Mezonos and Al Hamichya irrelevant of how much one eats, or has the status of baked bread which retains the blessing of Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon. Practically, we rule like the former approach that frying is like cooking and hence one is to recite the blessing of Mezonos and Al Hamichya upon eating bread that was fried if it lost its Kezayis size in the process of the frying. Nevertheless, taking into account the latter opinion, one is to be stringent not to eat such bread to the point of satiation unless it is eaten within a meal [i.e. Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon on regular baked bread]. [Seder 2:12-13]