
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, traditionally lard, but today most commonly oil. You can deep fry just about anything, but most items will turn into dried, unpleasant leather if not handled right. Foods with a lower moisture content, natural starches, or that have been set out to dry beforehand will cook best. Sweet treats you can make in a deep fryer include apple cider donuts, fried Oreos, fried bologna sandwiches, and the unique dessert of fried ice cream. Other popular deep-fried foods include crispy fried pickles and gooey jalapeno poppers.
What You'll Learn
What foods can be cooked in a deep fryer?
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, traditionally lard, but today most commonly oil. There are many foods that can be cooked in a deep fryer, including:
- Spring rolls
- Hush puppies
- Panzerotti
- Giant raviolis
- Mozzarella sandwiches
- Brussels sprouts
- Zucchini blossoms
- Artichokes
- Cauliflower
- Chicken
- Doughnuts
- Fish
- Crispy fried pickles
- Jalapeno poppers
- Fried ice cream
- Fried Oreos
- Fried Bologna sandwiches
- Fried bananas
- Swiss Fondue Fritters (Malakoffs)
- Twice-fried arepas stuffed with soft-cooked eggs
- Fried olives
You can deep-fry just about anything, but most items will turn into dried, unpleasant leather if not handled right. Foods with a lower moisture content, natural starches, or that have been set out to dry beforehand will cook best.
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What oil should be used for deep frying?
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, traditionally lard but today most commonly oil. You can deep fry just about anything, but most items will turn into dried, unpleasant leather if not handled right. Foods with a lower moisture content, natural starches, or that have been set out to dry beforehand will cook best.
When choosing an oil for deep frying, it's important to select one with a high smoke point that can handle the high temperatures used in the cooking process. Refined oils are a good choice, as they have higher smoke points than unrefined oils. Oils with a mild flavour, such as peanut oil, canola oil or safflower oil, are often used as they enhance the taste of fried foods without overpowering them. Olive oil is another option, but it's best to use a refined version (labelled "olive oil" or "light olive oil") as it's more stable for cooking.
Some oils, like avocado oil, are good choices for deep frying but can be more expensive. Oils high in saturated fats, such as coconut oil or palm oil, are not the healthiest options for deep frying. Instead, opt for oils with healthier fat profiles, such as canola oil or sunflower oil, which are lower in saturated fats and higher in monounsaturated fats.
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What is the best equipment for deep frying?
Deep frying involves submerging food in hot fat, traditionally lard, but today most commonly oil. You can deep fry just about anything, but foods with a lower moisture content, natural starches, or that have been allowed to dry beforehand will cook best.
The best equipment for deep frying will depend on how often you plan to fry food, and how much space you have in your kitchen. If you don't want to buy a deep fryer, you can use a Dutch oven or a deep pot on your stovetop, along with a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil. If you're going to invest in a deep fryer, the Cuisinart CDF-200 is a good option for those who fry food often, while the All-Clad 3.5-Liter Deep Fryer is a good choice for beginners. The Breville Smart Fryer is simple to set up and use, and it has an emergency shutoff feature if the oil level gets too low or the temperature gets too high.
When deep frying, it's important to use oils with high smoke points, such as peanut or vegetable oil. You should also always monitor the temperature to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
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How do you deep fry food?
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, traditionally lard, but today most commonly oil. You can deep fry with a deep fryer or chip pan, or you can use a pressure fryer or vacuum fryer. You can also deep fry in a pot, but you need to make sure you add enough oil to go at least halfway up the sides but no more than three-quarters high. You will also need a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil, which should be between 350°F and 400°F depending on what you are frying. You can use peanut oil, safflower oil, canola oil or vegetable oil, which can be heated to 400°F without smoking. You will also need something to fish the food out of the oil, such as a spider or large slotted spoon.
You can deep fry just about anything, but foods with a lower moisture content, natural starches, or that have been left to dry beforehand will cook best. You can deep fry sweet treats like apple cider donuts, fried Oreos, fried bologna sandwiches, and fried ice cream, or savoury foods like chicken wings, jalapeno poppers, and fried pickles.
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What are some popular deep-fried appetizers?
Deep frying is a cooking method in which food is submerged in hot fat, traditionally lard, but today most commonly oil. You can deep fry just about anything, but some foods are more popular than others.
Fried pickles are a crunchy treat that can be made in a deep fryer. Other popular deep-fried appetisers include mozzarella sticks, buffalo wings, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, and fried zucchini.
If you're looking for something a little more unusual, you could try deep-fried pizza, toasted ravioli, or chicken fingers. For a sweet treat, you could try apple cider donuts, fried Oreos, or even fried ice cream.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cook beignets in a deep fryer.
The oil should be heated to 350°F (177°C). Some recipes suggest heating the oil to 360°F or even 380°F.
You need enough oil for the beignets to float. This is usually about 3/4” of oil in a 10” frying pan.
Beignets take about 2 minutes to cook.