Deep Fry at Home

Deep frying is very easy to do, and you can make many foods at home that you would otherwise have to buy pre-made. You can also control the amounts of sodium, fat, etc. going into your food.



Steps

 * 1)  Fill your vessel of choice with oil (see amounts in tips section).
 * 2)  Heat the oil to the desired temperature, which should be in the range of 300-375ºF (150-190ºC).
 * 3)  Place the food into the oil carefully.  Tongs or a basket can help keep things from splashing.  For long or large items, place the bottom of the item in oil and set the rest of it in away from you, ensuring that any splash or spatter goes the other direction.
 * 4)  Wait until it is done. (See ways to check how done it is in tips section).
 * 5)  Remove from the oil carefully.
 * 6)  Drain the food prior to eating to remove the excess oil. Put the food on a rack, preferably, to allow excess oil to drip off.  Paper towels may also be used.
 * 7)  Season to taste while still warm.
 * 8)  Enjoy!

Tips

 * If you are using a fryer, follow the directions. if not, then go with an adequate amount, such as 4-6 inches for french fries. you will generally use 4-8 inches of oil, but if you are frying very large or very small objects you should adjust the oil level accordingly.
 * Always leave at least 3 inches of space at the top of your pot, to prevent oil from bubbling over when food is added.
 * The more oil used, the more constant the temperature of the oil will be, and the longer it will take for the oil to get too cold or hot.
 * To know if something is done you can:
 * Look at it. If it is golden brown it is probably done, but you should make sure the inside is properly cooked, especially for larger pieces of food.
 * Stick a probe thermometer into it. Some even come with internal temperatures indicators that tell you when different things are done.
 * Stick a toothpick in. If it is at the desired level of softness then it is probably done. Some things need further testing.
 * Take a taste test. If it tastes done then it should be done. Only do this if the food is absolutely OK to eat; foods like eggs need to be properly cooked before tasting.
 * Season directly after removing from the oil.
 * Do not overcrowd the pot.
 * Check the oil temperature occasionally after adding or removing food and adjust the heat accordingly, or better yet, get a deep fry thermometer that will give you a constant gauge of how hot your oil is.
 * Provided the oil was not overheated, it can be filtered and reused.

Warnings

 * The oil and food will be very hot. Depending on which oil you use, if you use a regular pan it could explode if the temperature is raised too high. In other words, buy a thermometer if not using a designated deep fryer.
 * When filling the vessel, plan for the volume of the food you will add. If the food displaces so much oil that it spills over the edges and onto your heat source, you will have a fire on your hands.
 * Do not, under any circumstances, drain or serve the food on newspaper. The ink comes off and is toxic. There is a reason it was outlawed.
 * Do not use plastic or rubber implement in the oil.
 * Metal objects can get very hot.
 * Make sure there are no flammable items near the area you are frying in.
 * The oil splatters and can burn you, so put the food in gently use a long spoon and cover your arms, but remember that oil stains.
 * Never put cold water or ice into hot oil. It becomes very violent.

Things You'll Need

 * Oil. The best are canola and vegetable, or for the health conscious the healthy oils like Enova©.
 * A frying vessel. This need not be a deep fryer, it could be a dutch oven or even a stockpot. It should be heavy because then the heat will be distributed evenly.
 * The food you are frying.
 * A way to check doneness such as a probe thermometer or a toothpick, but the thermometer is best.
 * A draining rack or paper towels.
 * seasonings to taste such as salt and pepper.
 * A recipe, to know how hot the oil and food should be, and to know what to do to the food prior to frying.
 * A slotted or spider spoon.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Stir Fry
 * How to Make Fried Chicken
 * How to Make Fat Free French Fries in 20 Minutes
 * How to Bake a Winter Squash
 * How to Fry Cheese
 * How to Make Navajo Fry Bread
 * How to Eat French Fries