How to Deep Fry Without a Deep Fryer

Some foods simply must be deep fried in order to retain the desired flavor and texture commonly associated with the food. Deep-fried mushrooms, french fries and fried chicken often head the list. Due to the health concerns related to consuming fatty foods, many have turned to baking or grilling these foods to reduce fat and calories, and some have even given up the deep fryer for good. For those occasions when you simply want to deep fry a serving of fries or your favorite fried chicken recipe, you can use a heavyweight pan on the stove instead of a deep fryer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavyweight pan or skillet Oil Metal slotted spoon Paper towels or newspaper

1. Select a heavyweight pan with a depth of at least 3 inches. Cast-iron pans are ideal for deep frying, as they disperse heat evenly, resulting in golden-brown foods that are cooked consistently.

2. Add 3 or more inches of oil to the pan. The amount you need depends on the depth of the pan and the size of the food pieces you are frying. Chicken requires enough oil to cover the piece of meat. French fries or mushrooms can be cooked in an inch or two of oil, if they are turned promptly.

3. Heat the oil so that a small sliver of potato or a frozen fry cooks quickly and begins to brown within a minute or two. Watch the oil carefully, as overheating poses a danger of combustion. If you notice smoke coming from the oil, turn the heat down immediately. Generally, medium-low heat will maintain the proper temperature.

4. Add the food to be fried, being careful not to splatter oil in the process. Sliding the food into the oil from a metal spoon works well.

5. Cook for the specified amount of time for the particular food you are cooking. Turn the food if necessary to brown it evenly on all sides.

6. Remove fried food with tongs or a slotted spoon, and allow the oil to drip back into the pan. Place the food on a layer of newspaper or paper towels to drain and cool before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Place freshly cooked french fries in a brown paper bag. Add salt. Roll the bag closed and shake to remove excess oil and to coat the fries with salt.
• Never leave oil unattended. Do not allow children or pets in the kitchen while deep frying foods on the stove.

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