7 Mistakes Everybody Makes When Deep Frying
Updated: Aug. 14, 2023
When you're cooking up onion rings or breaded chicken, it helps to have some deep frying secrets!
What’s better than golden doughnuts or crispy crinkle-cut fries? It’s all good stuff. But for anyone who hasn’t quite mastered deep frying, we’re here to help. You’ll need the right pan, our handy deep-frying guide and some insider knowledge.
Read on for seven common deep-frying mistakes and how to fix ’em!
Mistake #1: Frying at too high a temperature
For a perfectly crispy piece of fried chicken, make sure your oil is between 325 and 390o F. Any higher, and your food will cook too quickly and get dry, or even worse, burn on the outside and be under-cooked inside. Next, try this delicious Japanese fried chicken.
Mistake #2: Frying at too low a temperature
Be particular about your cooking oil–the temperature can’t be too low, either. It will result in soggy food that hasn’t been properly crisped. (No good!)
Invest in a clip-on thermometer like this when you’re frying at home so you can make sure your temperature is just right every time.
Mistake #3: Using the wrong oil
Avoid oils like avocado and olive because these have a low smoke point (and are on the pricier side, too). Peanut and canola oils have high smoke points and neutral flavors, so they won’t accidentally flavor whatever you’re frying.
Mistake #4: Frying too much at once
Like with strips of bacon, or just about anything else, you don’t want to crowd the pan. Everything needs room to move around and cook properly. You might be tempted to throw a lot in at once, but do a couple small batches instead so everything cooks evenly.
The perfect piece of crispy chicken is a lot easier than you might think, and we’d say this buttermilk recipe could rival KFC any day.
Mistake #5: Frying pieces that are too big
There’s a reason french fries work so well in the fryer—they’re the perfect size! Cutting your food in half can reduce your cooking speed by four. So not only does keeping your pieces on the smaller side make things cook faster, they also cook more thoroughly.
If your oil ends up splattering when you drop your pieces in, we’ve got a few tricks to clean the grease off your kitchen surfaces.
Mistake #6: Not blending the right batter
If your batter isn’t right, whatever is on the inside won’t come out right either. (And we’d hate for anything to go wrong with these deep-fried Oreos!) Add seasonings to your flour and whisk thoroughly so the mix is nice and airy.
The fresher your flour and seasonings, the better!
Mistake #7: Using leftover oil
Don’t plan to reuse the oil when you’re done frying—toss it instead. (Here’s how to do that.) Using leftover oil not only makes your food greasier and ruins the flavor, but also increases your risk of starting a grease fire. The breakdown of oil lowers the flash point, and makes it easier for the oil to flame up.
Originally Published: May 31, 2018
