Making Crispy Onion Rings At Home Without A Deep Fryer

Onion rings are a popular appetizer, and they can be made at home without a deep fryer. The process is simple: cut an onion into rings, coat them in a flour mixture, then in an egg batter, and finally in breadcrumbs. The coated onion rings are then fried in oil until golden and crispy. While a deep fryer is not necessary, a saucepan with enough oil to cover the rings is needed. The oil should be heated to around 375 degrees Fahrenheit before adding the onion rings. This method will result in delicious, crispy onion rings without the need for a deep fryer.

Cut onions into rings

To cut onions into rings, you'll want to start with a large onion. Peel off the outer layer of the onion and cut off the ends. Then, cut the onion into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices. You can use a chef's knife or a mandoline for this. Be sure to use a cutting board to protect your work surface and to keep the onion stable while you slice.

Once you have your onion slices, separate them into individual rings with your hands. It's now time to prepare the onions for frying. Some recipes suggest soaking the onion rings in ice water for an hour or less, or even overnight, before coating and frying them. This can help reduce the strong onion taste and make them sweeter. However, if you are using a mild or sweet onion, you can skip this step.

After soaking, drain the onion rings and pat them dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth. Now you are ready to coat and fry your onion rings!

Prepare the coating

Get three small bowls. In the first bowl, place some flour. You can dust the onion rings with flour first, before dipping them in the batter. This will help the batter stick to the onion rings. In the second bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. You can also add mayonnaise to the egg mixture, which will help the breadcrumbs stick. In the third bowl, place the breadcrumbs. You can use Panko or Italian-style breadcrumbs, or make your own by mixing plain breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt and pepper.

Coat the onion rings

To make crispy and crunchy onion rings, you'll need to coat the onion rings in a few different mixtures. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Set up a breading station with three wide, shallow dishes.
• In the first dish, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt to create a flour mixture. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder or Italian seasoning, to the flour mixture for extra flavour.
• In the second dish, prepare an egg mixture by whisking together eggs and milk. You can also add a small amount of mayonnaise to this mixture, as it helps the breadcrumbs stick better.
• Place breadcrumbs in the third dish. You can use regular or panko breadcrumbs. If you want finer breadcrumbs that adhere more easily, you can use a blender to pulverize the breadcrumbs and then sift to remove any large pieces.
• Take each onion ring and dip it into the flour mixture, turning it several times until it's fully coated.
• Transfer the floured onion ring to the egg mixture and use a fork to turn it until it's coated. Lift the onion ring with the fork and gently shake off any excess liquid.
• Place the onion ring into the breadcrumbs and turn it several times to coat evenly. Scoop the breadcrumbs over the ring if necessary.
• Lift the onion ring with a fork again, tapping off any excess breadcrumbs, and place it on a wire rack or plate while you prepare the rest of the onion rings.

By following these steps, you'll have onion rings coated with a delicious and crispy breading that's ready for frying!

Fry the onion rings

Frying the onion rings is the final step in the cooking process, but there are a few things to prepare before you begin. Firstly, you'll need to decide on your oil. Vegetable or canola oil is best, as these have a high smoke point, which is beneficial when frying at high temperatures.

Next, you'll need to heat the oil in a small saucepan. You'll need around 2 inches of oil, and it should be heated to a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the oil is hot, you can start frying the onion rings. Place the coated onion rings carefully into the oil and fry on each side until they are golden brown. This should take around 2-3 minutes per side.

After frying, place the onion rings on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. You can also sprinkle them with seasoning salt before serving if you like.

And that's it! You've now made delicious, crispy onion rings without a deep fryer. Enjoy your homemade treat!

Drain excess grease

Once the onion rings are done frying, remove them from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. This step is crucial to remove excess oil and maintain the crispiness of the onion rings. The paper towels will absorb the grease, preventing the onion rings from becoming soggy.

It is important to note that placing the onion rings directly on paper towels can make them greasy and lose their crispness. Instead, place some paper towels on a cookie sheet and then lay a wire cooling rack or cooking rack over it. As the onion rings finish cooking, place them on the rack to drain any excess oil. This method ensures that the onion rings remain crispy and delicious.

Another essential aspect of draining excess grease is not overcrowding the fryer. Adding too many onion rings at once lowers the oil temperature, causing them to absorb more oil and become soggy. Fry in small batches to maintain the ideal temperature and allow each ring to cook evenly without sticking together.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your onion rings are crispy, golden, and not greasy.

Frequently asked questions