10. Compilation – Boiled and fried dough and batter:[1] [See chapter 8 Halacha 16-17]

*Important note: This law refers specifically to cooked or fried dough or batter. For cooked or fried bread [i.e. dough that has already been baked], see Chapter 8 Halacha 20!

1. Boiled dough [or batter]:[2]

While baked dough has the potential of becoming the blessing of Hamotzi, depending the various factors listed above in Halacha 2, boiled dough always receives the blessing of Mezonos irrelevant of any other factor. This applies whether it was boiled in water or any other liquid.

1. Submerged in Oil – Deep fried dough [i.e. Spingim; Sufganiyot] [or batter]:[3]

Deep-fried dough has the same status as boiled dough, and hence the before blessing of deep fried dough is Mezonos and the after blessing of deep fried dough is Al Hamichya. This applies irrelevant of how much one eats and even if one sets a meal over it. [Thus, Spingim and Sufganiyot are always Mezonos.]

1. Sizzling in oil – Pan Fried dough or batter [Non-deep fried]:

Thin batter [i.e. Lachmaniyos/Truknin in Hebrew, or Pancakes]:[4] All liquidly batter made from five grain flour which is fried in a nice amount of oil, similar to Latkes, have the same status as boiled or deep fried dough, and hence the before blessing is Mezonos and the after blessing of is Al Hamichya. This applies irrelevant of how much one eats and even if one sets a meal on it.

Dough:[5] If one fried the dough with a nice amount of oil or other liquid, it is disputed whether the dough has the status of boiled dough and retains the blessing of Mezonos and Al Hamichya irrelevant of how much one eats, or has the status of baked dough which retains the blessing of Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon.[6] 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 made from fried dough. 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].

1. Non-Stick Coating or Greasing – Pan baked dough or batter:

Definition: Coating or greasing the pan refers to creating a non-stick surface through using a small amount of oil without deep frying. The question is whether this small amount of oil makes the dough or batter defined as baked and is therefore Hamotzi, or as fried, and is therefore subject to the above law

Thin batter [i.e. Lachmaniyos/Truknin in Hebrew, or Pancakes]:[7] All liquidly batter made from five grain flour which is fried in a very small amount of oil simply so it does not stick, one is to recite Mezonos and Al Hamichya if one does not set a meal over it, and is to recite Hamotzi and Birchas Hamazon if one sets meal over it.

Dough:[8] All dough made from five grain flour which is fried in a very small amount of oil simply so it does not stick, has the same status as baked bread and hence one is to recite Hamotzi on any amount of it that one consumes and recite Birchas Hamazon if he ate a Kezayis within Achilas Peras.

[1] Admur Seder 2:11-13; SHU”A 168:17; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:8-10

[2] Admur Seder 2:12-13; SHU”A 168:18-21; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:11-12; M”B 168:55; Shevet Halevi 7:23; Piskeiy Teshuvos 168:15;

[3] Seder Birchas Hanehnin 2:12; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:9; P”M 318 M”Z 7

[4] Seder 2:11; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:8

[5] Seder 2:12; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:8-10

[6] Some say it is Hamotzi as only a small amount of oil was used and it is actual dough, hence it is similar to baking. Others however argue that frying is like cooking and the law by cooking is that the dough is always Mezonos even if one sets a meal on it. The final ruling: The main opinions follows the second opinion that frying is like cooking nevertheless one is to be Machmir to not eat an amount that would make one full unless within a meal.

[7] Seder 2:11; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:8

[8] Seder 2:11; Ketzos Hashulchan 48:9 footnote 23