If you’ve been avoiding making deep-fried dishes because you cannot cook them properly, we’re here to help. Know how to deep fry properly in 10 easy steps.
With tons of food you can deep fry, the skill remains sought by many. Whether you cook as a profession, at home, or for business, deep frying is a skill you must perfect.
While deep frying seems difficult, it is not. So, as long as you have high-quality oil, you can cook deep-fried dishes easily.
In this article, we will talk about how you can deep fry the right way.
How to Deep Fry
- Choose the right oil.
- Prepare the batter.
- Prepare a large, deep frying pan or pot.
- Fill the pan or pot with oil.
- Heat the oil.
- Monitor the oil’s temperature.
- Dip the food into the batter.
- Put the food into the oil.
- Let the food cook.
- Remove the food from the oil.
How to Deep Fry in 10 Easy Steps
1. Choose the right fat.
Having the right fat is crucial in properly deep frying food. Deep frying requires fat that can tolerate a high temperature before it burns and smokes.
In general, you can use saturated and monosaturated fat for frying. Fat rich with polyphenols or antioxidants are excellent to work with as they become less damaged at high temperatures.
In addition, some fats are processed to make certain dishes. For instance, CrispFry Frying Fat contains antioxidants. This non-lauric vegetable fat also does not produce an oily taste, making it perfect for making french fries and the like.
You can also opt to use fat made for meat. Professionals use Beef Tallow Frying Fat made from vegetable and real beef fat. This fat also lasts four times longer than animal-based oils like lard or clarified butter.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to choose what fat you want to use. Just make sure it can tolerate a high temperature.
2. Prepare the batter.
Aside from the fat, you need an excellent batter as well.
To make a deep-fry batter, you need half a cup of flour, cornstarch, and milk. You also need half a tablespoon of baking powder, one-third tablespoon of salt, and one-third cup of water. If you don’t have a measuring cup or tablespoon, check this tablespoon to cups conversion chart.
First, mix the dry ingredients in one bowl. Then, mix the wet ingredients in another bowl. Slowly combine the wet mixture into the dry one. Mix until the batter becomes smooth.
After this, cover the bowl containing the batter.
3. Prepare a large, deep frying pan or pot.
As its name suggests, you need a deep pan or pot for deep frying. However, you cannot just use any deep pan or pot.
For one, choose a pan or pot that’s deep enough so your food gets completely submerged in oil. You must also choose a pan or pot large enough to contain the food that you will deep fry.
Additionally, you need a pan or pot that is thick and sturdy enough to withstand high temperatures.
4. Fill the pan or pot with fat.
After choosing the right pan or pot, make sure to dry it properly before putting oil in it. First, wipe it using a kitchen towel. Then put it under the heat for a few minutes. Make sure that the remaining moisture dissipates.
Then, put the fat into the pan or pot. If you are using liquid fat like vegetable oil, pour enough of it to cover the food you are frying. However, do not fill more than one-third of the pan or pot with oil.
If you are using solid fat, let it liquefy first. Make sure that the liquid is enough to cover the food you are frying. Similarly, do not fill more than one-third of the pan or pot with liquid fat.
5. Heat the oil.
Once you put the right amount of oil, turn the heat up. You can set the what to medium or high. If the fat you are using indicates specific temperatures on its label, follow it.
6. Monitor the oil’s temperature.
Next, monitor the oil. The best way to do this is through a food or kitchen thermometer.
Put the thermometer into the oil. You can heat the oil to 160 degrees Celsius for low, 180 degrees Celsius for low, and 190 degrees Celsius for high.
Do not heat the oil higher than 190 degrees Celsius because it can catch fire.
If you do not have a kitchen thermometer, test the oil using a pinch of bread. The bread should look brown in 30 to 40 seconds under moderate heat.
Remember, do not rush this process. If the oil is not hot enough, your food will become greasy.
7. Dip the food into the batter.
Slightly pat your food to remove some moisture. A lot of moisture can interfere with the process, making your food soft and not crispy.
Next, dip the food into the batter using tongs. Let the excess batter drip off.
8. Put the food into the oil.
Then, put the coated food into the oil. Carefully place the food into the hot oil. Make sure not to put the food quickly into the oil, as the hot oil may splash.
9. Let the food cook.
Cook the food until golden brown. As you cook, adjust the heat to keep the oil’s temperature within 180 to 190 degrees Celsius.
10. Remove the food from the oil.
Lastly, remove the food from the oil using a slotted or spider spoon. Put the food on a wire rack placed on top of a baking sheet or baking pan covered with paper towels.
This allows the air to properly circulate so the food does not end up soggy.
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We also have a Free Ebook with 300 Recipes for chicken.
Conclusion
Every home cook and professional chef must know how to deep fry. So, if deep frying has been dreading you since you started cooking, it’s time to overcome it.
Print or bookmark this guide so you can make your favorite deep-fried dish anytime. Happy deep frying!
About HICAPS
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- About the Author
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Lynley Mabait is an Industrial Engineering graduate with units in Masters in Industrial Engineering Management from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She has over 15 years of experience in Production, Product Engineering, Quality Management, Research and Development.
Currently working as a Product Sourcing and Development executive for HICAPS Marketing Corporation for 3 years now, Lynley’s skills have been put to great use in the company. Apart from her main job, she also loves to bake cakes and other pastries during her free time. Her creations are often lauded by her friends and family for their wit and creativity.