It is possible to bring back memories of the fair or the carnival when you bite into a fried chicken sandwich or battered onion ring, but what about when it is time to eat at home?The most important part of deep frying is keeping your oil at the right temperature.You can check to see if the food is safe to eat by using a deep fry thermometer to cook it all on your own.
Step 1: 2 liters of oil is what you need to fill your pot.
As you add food to the oil it will warm up.Pick out your pot and fill it with oil, just enough to cover the bottom.You can burn yourself if you use too much oil.You can deep fry with peanut oil, soybean oil and vegetable oil.
Step 2: The side of the pot has an instant read thermometer on it.
Since they can tell you the temperature of your oil right then and there, instant-read thermometers are an absolute necessity for deep frying.To make sure the bottom of your pot is submerged in oil, snap it onto the side of the pot.At most home goods stores, you can find deep fry thermometers.If you don't have a deep fry thermometer, you can use a candy one.If you keep it nearby, you can check the temperature regularly.A piece of bread can be thrown into the oil when you think it is ready.The oil is at a moderate heat if the bread turns brown within 30 seconds.This is a ballpark reading, but it is not as good as a thermometer.
Step 3: The stove top should be turned to medium heat.
You can prepare the rest of your food if your oil takes a little while to heat up.As the oil starts to heat up, keep an eye on the temperature.If the oil is too hot, it could make your food taste bad.
Step 4: Wait for the oil to reach the right temperature.
You shouldn't have to wait long because deep fry oil takes about 5 to 10 minutes to heat up.Depending on what you are cooking, your oil may need to be cooler or warmer.If you want to find out, double check your recipe.Common oil temperatures include: chicken pieces, 350 F, chicken fingers, Turkey, and fish fillets.
Step 5: When you bring your food in, turn the stove up.
The food will probably lower the temperature in the room.If you need to keep the oil at a consistent temperature, turn the heat up on your stove.If your oil drops too much, it can cause food to be undercooked.
Step 6: When you're done cooking, turn off the heat.
It can make your oil go bad if you leave your pot of oil on the stove.When you are done with it, turn the stove off and let the oil cool down.It is possible to reuse the oil once or twice.It is a bad idea to reuse oil that smells rancid.You can store your oil in a dark place.
Step 7: Before putting food in the oil, make sure it is dry.
Adding too much water to hot oil can cause a fire.If your food doesn't have a batter on it, pat it dry with a few paper towels before slowly lowering it into the oil.Don't worry about drying your food if it has a batter on it.
Step 8: As you remove the food from the oil, drain it.
It's a bad idea to grab your food and put it on a plate.As you remove the food from the pot, use a spoon or tongs to remove most of the oil.Put the food onto a paper towel to keep it from draining as it cools down.You will end up wasting less oil.
Step 9: If the oil starts to smoke take the pot off the heat.
Smoke can make your food taste bad if your oil is too hot.Take your pot off the burner and keep it off until the oil cools down.The smoke point of peanut, safflower, and soybean oil is 450 F, while the smoke points of grapeseed and sesame oil are 445 and 229, respectively.
Step 10: If there is a lot of smoke, then throw the oil away.
If your oil has been smoking for a while, it will probably flavor your food, but not in a good way.The only way to save your meal is to throw out your pot of oil and start fresh.Wait for your oil to cool down completely before throwing it away.Then putting it in a container.The whole thing should be thrown into the garbage.
Step 11: If you see flames, turn off the heat and grab baking soda.
Grease fires can start if your oil gets too hot, and pouring water on them can make it worse.If you see flames in your pot of oil, cover it with a lid.If that doesn't work, smother the flames with baking soda or salt.Pouring water on a grease fire will only make it worse.Call for emergency services if the fire continues to spread.You can use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.