Fried food is always associated with fast food, "B" restaurant kitchens and dirty spoons; on the contrary, you can fry at home with few tools available. Frying is nothing more than cooking food in a fat brought to a moderate or high temperature. Vegetable oils are often used and fry, at one time, quantities such as to guarantee a food that is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Frying in a little oil
Step 1. Choose the oil carefully
Butter and fats with a low smoke point should not be used. The best are rapeseed, grape seed, corn, peanut, sunflower and safflower oil.
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Even the olive one is good for small frying in a little oil.
Fry Step 1Bullet1
Step 2. Get a skillet or saucepan
It should be deep enough to fry most food, although you can use a deep cast iron pot. You will need to fill it about ¼ of its capacity with oil.
Step 3. Pour the oil into the pan, turn on the stove and check
If the oil gets too hot and starts to smoke, you will probably burn yourself. Wear a long-sleeved dress and an apron. Keep oven gloves handy.
Step 4. Heat the oil to 160-180 ° C
If you put a wooden spoon inside and it starts to sizzle, the oil is hot enough. You can also use a deep fryer thermometer if you want to be more precise.
Step 5. Put the dishes directly into the oil
Do not drop them from an excessive height or the splashes will cause severe burns.
Step 6. Turn the food over when one side is golden
You need to check the underside of the dish by turning it with a spatula.
Step 7. Use kitchen tongs or a spatula to turn the food
Try to make foods that are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
Step 8. Remove the dishes from the oil with tongs or a skimmer
Place them on a layer of kitchen paper to absorb excess grease. Serve as soon as possible.
Method 2 of 2: Deep Frying
Step 1. Buy a fryer thermometer
This is the only tool that allows you to check the oil temperature. If it is too high, you risk burning the food, if it is too low, the food absorbs the oil and will become mushy.
Step 2. Choose the oil
Since this technique requires large amounts of oil, it pushes you to control costs. Rapeseed oil, peanut oil and vegetable margarines are good and cheap.
Step 3. Purchase a deep fryer, wok, or deep frying pan
You can also cook small pieces of batter, vegetables and meat in a cast iron pan. If you want to fry a whole turkey instead, you will need to invest in a large semi-professional deep fryer.
Remember that you should never fill your chosen instrument more than half of its capacity with oil
Step 4. Put on an apron, long sleeved clothing and oven mitts
Frying can be dangerous and create a lot of confusion in the kitchen. However, you can learn to limit the risk of burns by keeping the oil at the right temperature.
Step 5. Heat the oil to 180 ° C
Immerse the thermometer probe and check it often, so you are sure that the heat will remain constant. You can also check the temperature by throwing a cube of bread into the oil, if it fries in a minute the oil is ready.
Step 6. Divide the foods into homogeneous groups by size
In this way the cooking times will be similar. With deep frying there is no need to turn the food.
Step 7. Dry the food with kitchen paper to minimize splashing
Step 8. Immerse the foods in boiling oil, spacing them several centimeters apart
If the oil is too "crowded" the dishes will not cook evenly. If you are cooking small quantities, get a frying basket.
Larger dishes must be gently placed in the oil to avoid splashing
Step 9. Remove the food when it is golden brown and crisp
Use a slotted spoon or basket to remove it from the fryer / pan. Then absorb the excess grease by placing the foods on kitchen paper, so they do not become mushy.
