There are many ways to prepare eggs. Whether you prefer them boiled, fried, or poached – it has been done already. But what about deep frying eggs? What would happen if you crack an egg into the deep fryer?

We’re happy that you’ve decided to google the answer instead of simply experimenting on your own because deep fryer accidents are no joke, and hot oil burns are not something you want to risk. That being said, human curiosity has led many people to give this idea a try in an attempt to inspire a new culinary revolution in the way we eat eggs.

So, what were the results?

You can definitely deep fry an egg, and we’ll share some delicious recipes for you to try. However, you can still end up with a huge mess in the kitchen if you’re not careful, so let’s see how to do it the right way.

How to Deep Fry an Egg

The first thing you need to decide is how you want to deep fry your eggs. Do you plan to crack an egg in the deep fryer, or do you want to try to deep-fry an egg with its shell? Are there other ways to deep fry an egg? Let’s find out!

Cracking an Egg in the Deep Fryer

Let’s start from the first scenario – cracking an egg in the deep fryer. You might think that this is a recipe for disaster, as cracking an egg into the hot oil will make it dissolve and fall apart. Counterintuitively, this is not what happens. If you were to crack an egg in the deep fryer, the egg will stay together fairly well.

However, it won’t stay on the surface but actually fall down to the bottom. Because of this, it’s recommended to use a deep frying basket if you’re using an electrical deep fryer or a strainer ladle meant for deep frying if you’re using a deep frying pan.

The result will be something similar to a poached egg with a browned surface and loose center.

Instructions

To deep-fry eggs without their shell, here’s a step-by-step guide.

1. Plug your deep fryer and set it to 375°F. Alternatively, if you’re using a pan for deep frying, use a thermometer to control the heat because the temperature of the oil can exceed even 450°F on the stove – and that’s not good.
2. When the oil reaches the right temperature, crack one egg and let it fry for a few seconds. Then take your ladle and spin the egg to curl up the egg whites around the egg yolk if needed (for better shape). If you’re using a frying basket, you might not need to do this, as the egg will rest on the basket and form an oval-like shape.
3. Let the egg fry for 1-2 minutes until the surface starts to brown.
4. Take it out and let it cool on a paper towel that can absorb the extra oil.
5. Add seasons, serve, and enjoy!

Deep Frying Eggs With Shell

Another idea is to deep fry eggs with the shell. In other words, to place whole eggs inside the deep fryer. Can this be done, and is it actually a good idea?

As we’ve said, human curiosity is a wonderful thing, and many people have tried this as well. However, unlike the success of deep-frying cracked eggs, trying to fry eggs with their shells is a recipe for disaster.

First, you’ll most likely make a mess in your kitchen as the pressure inside the egg builds up, and the shell can actually explode. If you make the mistake of putting more than one whole egg in the deep fryer or a frying pan, the explosion can lead to a fire, severe burns, or material damage to your kitchen.

Second, even if you end up deep frying whole eggs without any accidents, the end result won’t be pleasant nor edible. The egg itself will be squishy and watery – not cooked at all.

Therefore, deep frying whole eggs (with shell) is a big no-no! A possible explanation for why this happens is that the egg white contains carbon dioxide that expands at high temperatures and creates pressure that the eggshell can’t withstand. This results in an explosion in a matter of seconds or minutes.

If you’re wondering why this doesn’t happen when boiling the eggs in hot water, the answer is the differences in temperature. Water boils at 212°F, while oil can reach temperatures up to 450°F.

Deep Frying Boiled or Poached Eggs

What if you could go a step beyond and try to deep fry already boiled or poached eggs for a more elaborate dinner? This is possible and can result in a very delicious treat when done right.

In fact, boiled or poached then fried (deep or shallow) eggs are an incredibly versatile treat that go well with many dishes. Plus, they look and taste amazing all on their own because the fried skin on the egg absorbs flavors like nothing else. Here’s how to make them.

Tiger Skin Eggs: Instructions

Deep-fried eggs that are previously boiled are called tiger skin eggs. To make tiger skin eggs, you need to first boil the eggs and then deep fry them:

1. Take some eggs and boil them like you always would. Typically, you would add a couple of eggs to boiling water and let them cook for several minutes (5-6 minutes). However, you can also use your preferred method or time.
2. The most important thing here is to let the eggs cool and dry. It’s even recommended to use a towel to absorb some extra water from the surface of the egg. Water and oil do not mix well, and dropping a wet egg into oil can cause explosions, so make sure they’re dry.
3. After drying them with a towel, you should also make very shallow cuts on the surface of the eggs. This will allow them to release any gas that’s trapped inside and prevent accidents.
4. With this, the eggs are ready for frying. Plug the deep fryer and wait while it heats up to 375 °F.
5. Then, place the eggs in the frying basket and submerge them into the oil. Let them fry for around 2-4 minutes, and take them out when the surface becomes golden-brownish.
6. Place the fried eggs on a paper towel and let them cool.
7. After this, you can toss them in a dish or eat them as a meal on their own with seasons or dips.

Crispy Deep Fried Poached Eggs

The second alternative is to deep-fry poached eggs. Here, just as with tiger skin eggs, you need to first poach the eggs and then deep fry them. To make them extra crispy, we’ll share a recipe from Chef Jack Ovens, who makes mouth-watering golden eggs with an oozing center.

1. Boil around 2 inches of water in a nonstick skillet.
2. Next, add a little bit of vinegar to the water. This is a little trick that prevents the egg whites from thinning and breaking down.
3. Crack the eggs into separate bowls, then carefully add them into the boiling water – one by one. You can also crack the eggs directly into the water, but if you’re a newbie, it’s easier to prep them in a small bowl.
4. Take a ladle and carefully stir in a clockwise motion. After five to six minutes, your poached eggs will be firm on the outside and soft on the inside, which is just what we want.
5. Take them out and place them on a paper towel. Let them cool and dry completely.
6. In the meantime, take two slices of bread and cut them into small pieces.
7. Take a baking tray and cover it with baking paper. Then, spread the pieces of bread onto the baking tray.
8. Place the baking tray in a preheated oven for around 10-12 minutes until they’re completely dry and crunchy.
9. Once they’re done, add the bread chunks into a blender and process them until you get a fine powder (finely ground).
10. In another bowl, mix one egg yolk and 60 ml of milk. Whisk the mixture until you get an egg wash.
11. In yet another bowl, place 50 grams of flour.
12. Take one poached egg and coat it gently with plain flour. Then, place them in the egg wash and finally coat them with the blended bread powder. Repeat the same procedure with all of the poached eggs. Be careful not to break them as they’re very fragile.
13. Plug the deep fryer in and wait while it heats up to 375 °F.
14. Place the coated eggs into the deep fryer and submerge them into the oil completely.
15. Let them cook for 1-2 minutes, then carefully take them out with a ladle suitable for deep frying and place them on a paper towel.
16. Once the eggs cool, serve them and enjoy.

Pro Tip: You can add seasonings in the bread powder such as garlic powder, pepper, chili, or rosemary to make the fried eggs more to your taste.

Conclusion

Deep-fried eggs are quite the treat and an excellent idea for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. However, frying eggs in a deep fryer can be messy and may cause accidents if you’re not careful.

You need to learn how to properly deep fry eggs to prevent dangerous accidents and a messy kitchen. For instance, you can safely crack fresh eggs into the deep fryer or deep fry previously boiled or poached eggs if they’re fully dried (mixing water and oil can be dangerous).

Trying to deep fry a whole egg with its shell is dangerous and should not be attempted. In fact, the shells of eggs can explode when submerged in hot oil due to the gasses such as CO2 that are naturally contained in the egg.

Finally, if you love eggs and want to explore new ways to prepare them, follow our recipes above. We shared three ways you can prepare deep-fried eggs, but you can always use the eggs as part of a more elaborate dish. Whether you want to further cook them with other vegetables or toss them into a soup, the only limitation is your own creativity.

The pressure cooker is a workhorse in the kitchen. It comes with a long list of functionalities, which means it can make almost anything you would ever want in a matter of minutes. Of course, you can also use it as a slow cooker and leave it unattended for hours. There’s nothing this popular multi-cooker can’t do… or is there? If it’s that mighty, can it also fry?

In a pressure cooker, you can make yogurt and bake a cake, but unfortunately, you can’t fry – in most cases.

Why should things be simple, when they can be complicated, right? If you’re looking for a short answer, then you absolutely can’t and should never fry in a pressure cooker. However, there are different types of frying, so in some exceptional cases, you could use the pressure cooker as a fryer. Keep reading to find out what we’re talking about.

Pressure Cookers and Types of Frying

The idea of frying in your pressure cooker is tempting, especially when you consider the speed at which your crunchy nuggets or french fries can be done. But before you dump oil in your pressure cooker and potentially cause a fire, here’s what you need to know.

Pressure cookers are not designed for frying. And, if you’ve heard the word pressure frying, then that’s because there are specifically designed fryers that fry food under pressure. Nine out of ten times, pressure fryers are used commercially. They’re not and should not be mistaken for home pressure cookers.

Aside from pressure frying, you might also wonder whether you can deep fry with your pressure cooker. This is still not a good idea because some pressure cookers might release toxic fumes into the oil.

Other types of frying include pan-frying and air frying. These two are the only types of frying that can be done with a pressure cooker. In fact, some pressure cookers even have accessories for air frying.

Let’s break down all types of frying and explain the reasons why it’s dangerous to try them in pressure cookers.

Pressure Frying

We’ll start with pressure frying, a method commonly and mistakenly associated with pressure cookers. Yet, the only thing pressure cooking and pressure frying have in common is the use of pressure, hence the shared word.

Pressure cooking is a water-based method. Adding water or another water-based liquid such as broth is essential. The pressure cooker needs enough water (at least one cup) to be able to exert pressure and cook the food properly. The steam from the water reaches temperatures well above the water’s boiling point and transfers that heat to the food, which is how it is cooked so quickly.

On the other hand, pressure frying is a variation of pressure cooking that uses oil and a sealed container to reach high temperatures to cook the food more quickly. The specially designed containers used for pressure frying are called pressure fryers, and they’re mostly used in industrial kitchens.

Aside from the water versus oil distinction, pressure cooking and pressure frying operate at different temperatures. Pressure cooking reaches temperatures of around 121 °C (250 °F), whereas pressure fryers that use oil heat up to around 160 °C (320 °F) and more. Because of this, using pressure cookers to pressure fry can cause the gasket in home cookers to melt, explode, or release toxic substances into the food.

In conclusion, never use your home pressure cooker for pressure frying!

Deep Frying

If pressure frying is not an option, can you improvise and use the pressure cooker to deep fry? This would mean filling the vessel with oil – enough to fully submerge the food in oil and leave the lid open while the food is frying.

Unfortunately, the answer is still no! While it’s technically possible to use it as a deep fryer, you should not use the pressure cooker for deep frying. The reason for this is the same as pressure frying.

The ideal temperature for deep frying is between 350 and 375 °F (176°C to 190°C). This is way too hot for home pressure cookers and the material of the vessel is not suited for such high temperatures. While there might not be an explosion, accidents such as melting, fire, and the release of toxic fumes are all possible outcomes.

Therefore, do not try to deep fry in a pressure cooker. Instead, grab a deep pot or a pan suitable for frying. They’ll get the job done just as fast, make the food crunchy and delicious, and let you cook accident-free.

Pan Frying

Unlike deep frying, pan frying or shallow frying is a popular cooking method that requires a minimal amount of oil or fat to fry the food. The method calls for a skillet or another stove-top pan brushed or filled with oil. So, can you mimic pan-frying in a pressure cooker?

Fortunately, you don’t have to. Pressure cookers, such as the Instant Pot come equipped with a very similar, if not identical, function called sauté.

Sautéing is a cooking technique that derives its meaning from the French word for jumping. And, while it’s meant for the food to be cooked in a very hot pan over a stove-top without oil, some people use oil or fat in very small amounts. Both pan-frying and sauteing brown the food and get it slightly crisp on the outside and moist on the inside.

Therefore, you can use the sauté function of the Instant Pot and/or other pressure cookers and add a little bit of cooking oil to achieve the same results as you would if you pan-fry food. It’s totally okay to do this as most sautéing Instant Pot recipes include cooking oil in the ingredients lists.

Air Frying

Traditionally frying means cooking food at a very high temperature in cooking oil or fat. However, with the rising evidence that fried food is bad for health, people have been looking for ways to make frying healthier. One way to do that is to eliminate oil and fat out of the equation, which is possible thanks to a super popular product – Air Fryer.

Air Fryer was invented about a decade ago, but the words air fryer and air frying are now used generically. Air frying took the world by storm because it offers a very simple cooking solution that fits people’s busy and dynamic lifestyles perfectly. It’s a healthy and quick method that simulates deep frying – but without the added calories and health risks of fried oil.

The manufacturers of pressure cookers have found a way to add this functionality to their products. Most pressure cookers today have an air frying feature or sell special air frying lids that can transform traditional pressure cookers into powerful air fryers.

Depending on the kind of pressure cooker you have, you can easily air fry your food with small adjustments, or buy the necessary accessories to do so.

If you’re thinking of buying a pressure cooker and frying is important to you, then look for one that comes with an air frying functionality or doubles as an air fryer.

Pressure Cookers with Frying Options

How do you choose the best pressure cooker for frying? Well, that depends on your cooking habits.

First, you need to decide what frying method you prefer, or you plan to use frequently. For example, if you’re interested in deep frying, then you might benefit more from buying a deep fryer instead of a pressure cooker. If you regularly pan-fry your food, then you can use a regular pressure cooker to simply saute your food. Finally, if you want to opt for a healthier meal, you might want to invest in an air fryer.

That being said, sometimes you might want a two-in-one solution. What would be your best option then?

This, too, depends on your preferences and habits. Today, there are some incredible pressure cookers that double as air fryers. If you choose one of those,  you’ll get a versatile multi-cooker in which you can pan fry (saute) and air fry.

There are products (multi-cookers) that claim to have a pressure frying function as well, but we do not recommend those, as pressure cooking and pressure frying are quite different.

Conclusion

As you can see, asking whether you can fry in a pressure cooker is not something we can answer in a simple yes or no manner. That’s because when people say frying they mean different things. In other words, frying might refer to several very different cooking methods: pressure frying, deep frying, pan frying (saute), and air frying.

If we’re talking about pressure cooking, which is common in industrial kitchens, then the answer is absolutely not! Pressure frying in home pressure cookers can lead to explosions, melting, fires, and toxic fumes.

The same applies to deep-frying, which is a very similar method except for the lack of pressure – the lid is open. However, this still doesn’t change the fact that deep-frying is done at very high temperatures that exceed the capacity of home pressure cookers. Trying to deep fry in pressure cookers could lead to similar hazardous accidents as pressure frying.

On the other hand, pan-frying (shallow frying/saute) and air frying can be done with a pressure cooker. Pan-frying is similar or almost identical to sauteing, which is a popular function in most pressure cookers, including the Instant Pot. With this function, you can achieve the same results as with pan-frying. Air frying is also doable but usually requires an additional accessory (air frying lid) or a pressure cooker that doubles as an air fryer.

Think about how you prefer to cook and what you’ll like most. Then, look for an appliance that would suit your needs best. A pressure cooker with an air fryer function is the most versatile option and can serve many delicious dishes that are both hearty and healthy.

Deep fryers and ice are a dangerous combination, right? Well, hopefully, you’re not here because you want to fry ice because the truth is you should NEVER put ice in a deep fryer. Don’t even think about it. But, accidents do happen, and you should be prepared to take appropriate action to protect yourself. And, then again, since curiosity already killed the cat, let’s just take the mystery out of the way.

Putting Ice in a Deep Fryer

The short answer to this question is: chaos ensues! There will be a violent reaction that, depending on the oil’s temperature and the amount of ice inserted, can even lead to a fire or an explosion. But, our guess is you want to understand why that happens, which is why we’ll turn to science.

Water and Oil Do Not Mix

Some of the most entertaining science experiments from childhood are the ones demonstrating that water and oil do not mix. By now, we know that that’s because water molecules are polar molecules, while oil molecules are nonpolar molecules. Polar molecules means that one side of the molecule has a positive charge and the other end has a negative charge. This allows them to bond easily with other polar molecules because opposite charges attract.

Nonpolar molecules can only bond with other nonpolar molecules, which is why oil molecules can’t bond with water molecules.

When you put water into oil and shake or stir the mixture, you’re forcing the liquids to mix, but as soon as you stop, they’ll separate again, and you’ll clearly see layers or splotches of water inside the oil. This is why we say that oil is hydrophobic.

It’s important to understand this because ice is just frozen water. Chemically, they’re the same thing. And, when you put ice in a warm or slightly heated oil, it will melt and turn into liquid again. However, due to the extremely high temperature of oil in deep fryers (up to 400 °F), the chemical reaction is a lot more violent than simply melting and repelling water molecules. In a mere second, the ice will change from a solid state to liquid to gas. Here’s exactly what happens.

Putting Ice in Fryer Oil

Ice forms at around 32ºF (0ºC), but it can get even colder than that. On the other hand, the temperature of heated oil in a deep fryer can get up to 400ºF (205ºC). The extreme difference in temperature is responsible for the powerful chemical reaction.

We said that the ice would go from frozen to liquid to gas in a matter of seconds, a process that produces a fierce chemical reaction. Now, if we combine that with the knowledge that water and oil do not mix, the water molecules in the hot oil will be rapidly expelled, which you’ll see as bursting and splashing bubbles of both hot oil and bubbling water.

This will probably be combined with a lot of smoke, and it will look like a small explosion. Depending on the amount of ice you’ve put inside the oil and how hot the oil was, the reaction can be violent enough to start a fire. Mind you, even the splashing bubbles of boiling water and oil can cause severe burns.

What About Dry Ice?

Chemically, dry ice is not the same as regular ice. Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide, and when heated, it goes straight to a gas state. It’s also much, much colder than regular ice and more dangerous because melting dry ice releases carbon dioxide, which is considered a hazard in an unventilated closed space. The temperature of dry ice is usually around -109° F (-78.3°C).

Therefore, when you insert dry ice into a frying oil, the reaction will be different. What do you think will happen?

Because of the temperature, you might assume that the reaction will be more intense, which makes sense, but that’s not the case. This is because dry ice simply evaporates, it doesn’t turn into water when it melts, so there’s no repelling of the molecules. Putting dry ice in a deep fryer is kind of like frying a piece of chicken.

That being said, putting dry ice in the deep fryer is maybe even more hazardous because the danger sneaks up on you without you even being aware. In other words, like we said, dry ice releases carbon dioxide gas. Now, if you’re in a closed room without any open windows or ventilation, this too can be a medical emergency.

Exposure to too much carbon dioxide causes drowsiness, increased heart rate, blood pressure, unconsciousness, and even life-threatening complications.

To conclude, do not attempt to put dry ice or regular ice in the deep fryer! Both situations are dangerous in different ways and can lead to serious accidents.

What to Do in Case of an Accident?

Unfortunately, accidents happen. And, although you need to be responsible and not keep ice or iced drinks near the deep fryer, it’s always a good idea to know what to do in case of an accident. Let’s go over two scenarios: an accident with regular ice and one with dry ice.

Accident With Regular Ice

With good prevention measures, the chances of getting regular ice into the deep fryer are next to nothing. Still, if that happens, let’s say from drinking iced coffee or tea next to the deep fryer, you should keep calm and consider everything that we’ve explained.

Water and regular ice can create a violent chemical reaction where bubbles of boiling water and burning oil might splash around the deep fryer. Because of this, your first instinct should be to move away from the deep fryer. The initial reaction from the moment the ice touches the oil is the most explosive, so make sure you’re as far away as possible.

Locate the fire extinguisher and keep it close, just in case. There’s always a possibility of a fire breaking out. If it’s small and inside the deep fryer, you should try to unplug it, then use the fire extinguisher.

Do not use water to put out a grease fire! This can lead to an even bigger explosion that could spread through the whole kitchen. If you don’t believe us, check out this video of a fireman demonstrating what happens when you add water to a grease fire.

Don’t use water to put out a grease fire! Firefighter shows what happens. Don’t try this at home.

Accident With Dry Ice

Unless we’re talking about a science experiment gone wrong, we really can’t imagine how dry ice might find its way into your deep fryer. Nonetheless, here’s what you need to do.

The only real emergency of putting dry ice into a deep fryer is if you’re standing too close to the fryer or if you’re in a closed area without proper ventilation.

This is why the first rule is to never stand close to or above a deep fryer if you ever put dry ice inside it. The fumes from the dry ice are carbon dioxide that can make you dizzy and faint. This is dangerous as you might fall on your head or toward the deep fryer.

The next step is to immediately open the windows and doors or turn on the ventilation in the room. This will prevent the accumulation of CO2 inside the room.

In conclusion, please be careful and do not try putting ice or dry ice inside a deep fryer. Even a slight reaction can cause unforeseen consequences depending on many factors, such as other kitchen appliances nearby, the number of people in the room, and more.

Does the Same Apply to Frozen Foods?

While we’re on the topic of frozen things, let’s answer the question of whether the arguments above extend to frozen foods. In other words, is it safe to put frozen foods directly into the deep fryer?

The short answer is no, but not for the reasons that we already covered above.

Just as regular ice and dry ice react in a very different way when inserted into a deep fryer, frozen foods too can produce unique reactions.

The first thing to remember is that not all frozen foods are the same. Some are very dry and small, while others retain a lot of water when frozen, making them more dangerous.

Accidents Related to Deep-Frying Turkey

Vegetables and turkey are two examples of foods that could cause an explosion or even lead to a fire if they’re inserted into the deep fryer while frozen. Vegetables – because they contain a lot of water – and turkey – because it also retains water due to its large size.

To prove just how serious deep-frying accidents are, we’ll share these staggering statistics from the National Fire Protection Association. According to them, in the US, “deep fryer fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 60 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage each year.” Most of these accidents happen around Thanksgiving and are due to deep-frying turkeys.

If 5 people die each year just from deep-frying turkey, can you imagine how higher that number would be if people started putting frozen turkeys and frozen meat into deep fryers?

So let’s reiterate: Do not put frozen foods into deep fryers, especially not foods that retain a lot of water and are large in size.

Dangers of Deep Frying Frozen Foods

If you need another reason to not put frozen foods into deep fryers, the danger of food poisoning may be a good one.

Putting frozen foods directly into the deep fryer changes the taste and texture of the food because the food might be cooked unevenly. While some people might not mind, foodies will definitely notice.

Still, a more important consequence of an uneven cook is the fact that meats, especially large cuts, might remain undercooked in the core while being almost burnt on the outside. And, undercooked meat is a health hazard and can cause food poisoning in certain circumstances.

Having said this, there are some types of foods that are generally safe to cook from frozen. We recommend doing your research thoroughly before putting any type of frozen food in the deep fryer, just to be safe.

Conclusion

Putting ice in a deep fryer is extremely dangerous and could lead to a hazard. We hope that we did a good job explaining how this happens and why, satisfying your scientific or cooking curiosity. We also hope we were convincing enough to stop you from ever willingly trying to put ice in a deep fryer and gave you enough reasons to be very careful around the deep fryer.

Even if you accidentally spill your iced drink and just a few ice cubes get inside the deep fryer, this could lead to splashes of boiled water or burning oil if the temperature is high enough. The outcome could be damage in the kitchen or worse – painful burns on your body or face.

Since starting a fire is also a possibility, we strongly advise that, in the case of an accident, to step away from the deep fryer and locate a fire extinguisher.

Similar risks and consequences can come from putting dry ice or frozen foods in the deep fryer, so be careful in these cases as well. Follow our advice on what to do in case of an emergency, and conduct thorough research on how to prepare some types of frozen foods in the deep fryer.

It’s no secret that restaurants reuse the oil when they deep fry the food. And, while there are still downsides to this practice, it’s a lot safer than reusing the oil at home. Why is that? Why should you be careful about keeping the oil inside your deep fryer for a long time?

For many reasons. First, the oil degrades after each use and depending on the deep-frying temperature, this can make the oil residue very harmful and toxic. Second, deep fryers might not have the right conditions for storing oils, which can furthermore degrade and oxidize the oil over time. Finally, restaurants use the deep fryer almost non-stop, which is not the case at home. In most households, deep frying is not an everyday thing, which affects how you should reuse and store the oil.

Long story short, with everything in mind, it seems that the first question we need to answer is: “Is it acceptable to leave oil in a deep fryer?” And, if yes, then how long can you keep oil in the deep fryer before it becomes harmful?

It might seem as an easy answer, but as you’ll see, there are many different factors to consider.

Factors That Affect Oil Reuse Quality

How often you need to change the oil in your deep fryer depends on the deep fryer itself, the food you’re cooking, the oil you’re cooking with, and your own cooking habits. Each aspect can either prolong or shorten the amount of time when the oil is considered usable, and here’s how.

1.   The Food You’re Frying

When people ask how often they should change the oil, they expect a magic number or a short answer that works every time. However, that’s not realistic. Imagine, even the type of food you’ve been frying affects whether the remaining oil can be reused and for how long.

Frying chicken is not the same as frying french fries. In other words, frying meat and vegetables affect the condition of the oil in a different way. If you’re frying meat, you should not reuse the oil or at least not use it as long as you would if you were frying vegetables.

Some foods break down easily and leave a lot of food particles in the oil (think chicken nuggets or onion rings). These are also the types of foods that negatively affect the oil’s reuse life.

2.   The Type of Oil You’re Using

The second factor that affects the oil’s quality after using it is the oil itself. Different oils have different properties, and these properties change when heated. This is why some oils are not suitable for deep frying at all – not even once.

The ideal temperature for deep frying is between 350 and 375 °F. Therefore, you should use oils that have a smoking point above 375 °F – and the higher, the better. Every frying cycle will degrade the oil quality and make it more unstable the next time you’re cooking with it. So, imagine the consequences if you’re deep frying with an oil with a smoking point of 350 °F. This may not be such a big deal if you only use it once to prepare a quick lunch, for example.

However, if you leave it there, just sitting exposed to air will degrade its quality further and make it rancid. Rancidification is a chemical process where the fats of the oil become partially or fully oxidized or hydrolyzed, which results in bad taste and smell.

Then, the next time you cook with it, the oil won’t be as stable as it was in the beginning, which will affect the food you’re cooking and make it much more unhealthy for consumption.

Of course, the fatty acid content also makes some oils more stable or unstable. Oils with a high content of PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) break down easily at high temperatures, which makes them even more dangerous if you reuse them.

This doesn’t mean that choosing a suitable oil for deep frying gives you a pass and makes it okay to reuse the oil for a long period of time. It just means that it will be okay to reuse it at least once or twice under the assumption that you also consider all the other factors that we’ll mention.

3.   The Temperature at Which You’re Frying

In the previous section, we began to discuss the temperature, but since it’s too important to leave it that, let’s discuss it in greater detail.

Deep frying already means that you’ll be heating the oil at a much higher temperature than you would in a regular pan or in the oven. We said that the ideal deep-frying temperature is between 350 and 375 °F, but if you do not have a thermometer, things can get out of hand.

And, despite knowing what happens if you heat the oil past its smoke point, you could easily degrade the oil’s quality and ruin the taste of the food in just one frying cycle just because you didn’t know how high the temperature was. Then, next time, even if the oil was ideal for deep frying, you’ll be cooking with rancid or even toxic oil.

This is a mistake that most newbies make. To prevent this, invest in a good deep-fry or candy thermometer if you’re using a pot, or buy one that has a thermometer included.

4.   The Filters of Deep Fryers

Some deep fryers come with a filtering system that can prolong the life of the oil that you would otherwise have to throw away after only one frying cycle. It achieves this by removing pieces of food that fall off during the frying process. Some pieces are big enough that you can easily notice and remove them manually, but most pieces are so small that we can’t even notice them. Still, they can make the oil thicker, prone to bacterial activity, and oxidize quicker.

When buying a deep fryer, you’ll probably have the option to choose between three types of filters – paper, charcoal, and oil vapor, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Charcoal filters work best on oils that have absorbed aroma from the food or have become too greasy – which can happen if you’re cooking at a lower than usual temperature. Oil vapor filters catch the fumes released from the oils and filter them out, which is great, but it’s not what you need to keep reusing the oil. And finally, paper filters are used to catch leftover food and free it from any type of food debris.

To prolong the life of the oil, you’ll benefit most from using a high-quality paper filter. Usually, once the oil cools down, you need to pour it through a paper filter and into a new container – one that you can seal and keep in a cool and dark place until the next use.

If you’re not filtering the oil, you should not be reusing it, especially if you’re frying meat.

5.   Time Between Each Frying Cycle

There are two elements when it comes to reusing oil. The first is frying cycles, which basically means how many times you’ve cooked food in it. The second is how much time has passed from the first frying cycle.

Giving guidelines for one without the other is misleading. Therefore, some people should change the oil every day or every other day if we assume that they deep fry meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. This means that by the end of the second day, they would have used the oil six times.

On the other hand, if we only give information about the frying cycles and say that people need to change the oil after using it six times, we will mislead those who use it very rarely. For instance, some people might deep fry only a handful of times in one month. Does this mean that they should keep the oil for a whole month or more? No, because being exposed to oxygen will degrade the oil with time regardless of how many times it was used.

So, keep this in mind when you’re looking for information online.

6.   The Storing Conditions

Finally, another important factor is the storage conditions. If you’re using a paper filter, you’ll need to put the filter oil into a new container and store it in a safe place.

The right conditions for storing used oil include three elements: an airtight container, a glass container, and a cool and dark place.

First, air can make the oil rancid through the process of oxidation and hydrolysis. This is why storing it in a carefully sealed container is essential.

Second, the material of the container can degrade the oil’s quality. Because of this, you should avoid plastic containers because they can release toxins in the oil under certain circumstances. A small glass jar is usually a good idea.

And third, the environment where the oil is stored can make all the difference. If you leave the container in a drawer where the temperature varies, such as close to the oven, this can quickly degrade the oil and make it rancid. Direct sunlight can have the same effect.

Should You Leave the Oil Inside the Deep Fryer?

Some people think that leaving the oil inside the deep fryer is safe. Is this true?

In the last section, we explained the ideal conditions for storing used oil, but what does that tell us about leaving the oil inside deep fryers?

If you think about it, there are two very obvious problems with this idea. First, most deep fryers can’t be sealed – meaning, closing the oil completely. Some oxygen will circulate, which will make it unusable a lot quicker. Second, keeping it inside the deep fryer implies that the oil won’t be filtered, which is a major problem because it might promote bacterial activity. After all, the food debris inside the oil will spoil with time.

But, there are other problems as well. Leaving the oil inside the deep fryer prevents you from cleaning the deep fryer. This is not an issue if it’s a short period of time and a few frying cycles, but leaving it there for weeks while you cook over and over with it is a recipe for disaster.

In fact, you’ll find that the oil will start to become greasier and darker with each use. It will also begin to have an unpleasant smell or even give the food a smoky-like taste to whatever you’re frying. If this happens, you’re already too late, which means you’ve been consuming oil that’s bad for your health.

In a nutshell, you can leave the oil inside the deep fryer a few times, but don’t let this become a habit. It’s not hygienic, healthy, or financially wise, as the oil will go bad a lot quicker than when it’s stored properly.

How to Tell if It’s Time to Change the Oil?

Until now, we’ve been very vague about the exact time that you can reuse the oil or keep it in the deep fryer. However, hopefully, we’ve given you a pretty good idea of why such magic numbers do not exist and could only mislead you. How much time you can keep reusing the oil depends on so many personal factors. Sometimes, you might need to throw out the oil immediately after the first frying cycle, while other times, you can afford to keep it up to a week or two (if you filter it and store it properly).

Some sources online might recommend changing the oil every six months or after you’ve used it ten times. This is bad advice! Frying meat, then leaving that oil inside the deep fryer for six months while you fry other foods on occasions could be dangerous for your health and lead to serious consequences, especially if you don’t filter the oil.

To help you avoid a dangerous situation, let’s not rely on time or dates as it’s never a black-and-white situation. Being able to identify changes in the oil quality, you can predict when it’s time to change it, independent of how many times you have cooked with it. ***

You should change the oil if:

• it produces foam on the surface;
• changes its initial color (becomes darker);
• changes its smell;
• starts to burn quicker than usual (releases smoke that smells burnt);
• the smoke is more pronounced or different in color;
• the food has a weird or unusual stale-like flavor.

*** But please, don’t let that be more than 5-7 times or longer than two weeks – unless you’ve cooked meat. In that case, change it sooner.

How to Change the Oil and How Much Oil to Use?

With our tips above, you can easily develop a system that will allow you to prolong the life and quality of the oil. You can even figure out which foods to cook and when to optimize oil reuses.

This also includes how much oil you use. Most deep fryers have a maximum fill line – do not fill above it! And, if there’s no line, the rule of thumb is to fill it 3/4 at most. The same rule applies if you’re deep-frying in a regular pot.

Once it’s time to change the oil, there are a few things to consider. The whole process is relatively easy, but it could compromise the new batch of oil even before you start frying with it if not done properly.

So, the first thing is to keep your deep fryer clean at all times! Once you drain the oil and you filter it, make sure to clean the deep fryer. Leaving oil residue will make the inside very sticky and full of toxins with time. Eventually, even food residue will start to stick to the sides, which will make the cleaning process that much harder.

Once the deep fryer is clean and neat, it’s ready for your next meal. But, before you pour new oil, let’s talk about the old one.

Disposing of Old Oil

Do not chuck it down the kitchen sink! This is dangerous not only because you’re risking burns but also because it can clog and damage the pipes.

Before draining the old oil, let it cool down completely. Do not touch it until it reaches almost room temperature. You can use a thermometer to be sure, or simply leave it for a couple of hours or even overnight.

Then, and only then, remove it to a safe place from the fryer’s valve. Electric deep fryers usually come with a sophisticated disposal system that will allow you to quickly and safely drain the oil. If you plan to use it again, filter it with paper filters and store it in a glass container. If not, then drain it into any container and throw it out.

Close the drain valve and remove any food residue inside the deep fryer. Read the instructions to see how to clean it properly. Typically, you’ll need to fill the deep fryer with water, add a specially designed cleaner, and let the water boil. However, this might not apply to all deep fryers.

Once you drain the boiled water, scrub with soap or a special cleaner and rinse out thoroughly.

From here on, you’re ready to start frying again with a fresh batch of oil.

Conclusion

You might have been looking for a short answer, but deep frying with oil is anything but simple – from choosing the most suitable, finding the right temperature, and nailing that crispy texture to maintaining your deep fryer and changing the oil at the right time.

Today, we tried to explain some of the reasons why changing the oil frequently is very important and why there isn’t a universal time that applies to all in all situations. But, don’t worry. With our advice and a little bit of experience, you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

The most important takeaway is that oil quality depends on the type of food, type of oil, the temperature, the time between frying cycles, and the storing conditions. If you optimize these factors, you can prolong the life of the oil and use it at least four to six times before you need to throw it out.

Frying foods can produce some very crunchy and tasty treats, but also ones that are way too greasy and unhealthy. This is why choosing the right oil to fry with is essential. Some oils are not suitable for frying and can release harmful toxins, and others simply have a flavor that’s too intense and can destroy the taste. So, which oils are suitable for frying, and is canola oil one of them?

It’s not a secret that canola oil is a healthy oil with many cooking benefits. However, we must also look at its nutritional profile and chemical properties to see if those benefits apply to frying as well. For instance, some incredibly nutritious and healthy oils, such as flaxseed, pumpkin seed, and walnut, are awesome in salad dressings and dips but completely unsuitable for frying.

Some oils are versatile enough to be okay for frying as well as salad dressings, while others seem to be made just for frying. Canola oil falls somewhere between these two categories, and here’s why.

What Is Canola Oil?

Canola oil is a vegetable oil derived from a type of rapeseed called canola that’s low in erucic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Because of this, you might be under the impression that canola oil is made from rapeseeds or canola seeds. Both are true, but there’s an important difference to remember.

Canola oil is used in industries beyond the culinary, which is why there are edible and industrial forms produced from different plants within the same family (Brassicaceae) that yield rapeseeds. Be careful not to confuse them with grape seeds, which are seeds extracted from grapes.

And, it may come as a surprise, but according to the United States Department of Agriculture, rapeseed is the second-leading source of vegetable oil in the world in 2021 and also the world’s second-leading source of protein meal. This just means that many forms of canola oil are present in the food we consume.

To make things simpler, the edible forms of rapeseed oil are known as canola oil, coming from canola seeds (modified species through traditional plant breeding methods of rapeseed or brown mustard). They were first produced in Canada in 1974, when the modification of rapeseed oil led to a reduction in the concentration of erucic acid and glucosinolates (natural components found in plants like mustard, turnip, horseradish, and more).

Nutritional and Chemical Properties of Canola Oil

In this article, we’ll be focusing on edible or cooking canola oil, which is developed through traditional plant breeding from types of rapeseeds. Canola oil is typically used for the production of margarine, some spreads, emulsifiers, dairy products, and more.

The distinction not only helps us be more specific but also more precise when talking about the nutritional value and chemical properties of the oil.

Some experts claim that canola oil is one of the healthiest, if not the healthiest, cooking oil, even when compared to extra virgin olive oil. The reason for this is its fatty acid composition and some other nutrients.

Fatty Acids Content

Canola oil is composed of oleic (56.80-64.92%), linoleic (17.11-20.92%), and palmitic (4.18-5.01%) acids. Oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acid, and it’s also found in high concentrations in olive oil. This is important because oleic acid is usually associated with heart disease prevention and cholesterol reduction.

Canola oil contains less than 7% saturated fatty acids, which, compared to other oils, is next to nothing. For context, 80-90% of coconut oil is saturated fat. And, although scientists are still trying to figure out the effects of fats on health, for now, saturated fats, along with trans fats, are considered unhealthy.

In fact, canola oil is considered to have an ideal fatty acid composition because it contains an extremely low amount of saturated fatty acids, and a very high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which are stable at high cooking temperatures, unlike PUFAs (a type of unsaturated fatty acid).

In Canola oil, there are around 32% of PUFAs, which is more than palm oil and olive oil but significantly less than sunflower seed oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil (vegetable oil). We’re mentioning PUFAs because they can be very dangerous if we consume them oxidized – which is something that happens when we heat them at very high temperatures. Still, they’re a safe and healthier option than saturated fatty acids when consumed unheated.

To conclude, the fatty acid content in oils gives their characteristic properties that we can use to determine how healthy and suitable they are for frying. Ideally, you want an oil with moderate to low content of saturated fatty acids but also low content of PUFA.

Smoking Point

Because of the fatty acid composition, canola oil has a smoke point of approximately 204 °C (400 °F), which is more than the ideal temperature for deep frying – between 350-375°F.

Nutrients

Additionally, canola oil contains a few types of tocopherols, which are forms of vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin important for vision, reproduction, skin health, and brain function.

Other nutrients found in canola oil include:

• fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K;
• phytosterols: beta-sitosterol;
• flavonoids: myricetin, quercetin, rutin, and more.

Fun Fact: Canola oil is the only known vegetable oil that has a sulfur atom within its fatty acid structures that give the canola its unique sulfury-like flavor.

Health Benefits of Canola Oil

With everything that we have said so far, it becomes clear that canola oil is really healthy and good for consumption. Some science-backed health benefits associated with canola oil include:

Heart Protection

Since canola oil is very high in omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) and omega-9 (oleic acid, OA) fatty acids, it can protect the heart through its effects on blood pressure. In other words, studies have found that oleic acid found in oils such as olive oil is responsible for reducing blood pressure. Canola oil comes second after olive oil in terms of oleic acid level.

In fact, even the FDA allows canola oil makers to put qualified “limited and not conclusive” health claims on their products related to heart disease.

Bad Cholesterol Reduction

One way to protect the heart is by reducing bad cholesterol in the blood. One study from 2017 published by the Iran University for Medical Sciences showed that the dietary fats in canola oil could significantly lower the serum cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride concentrations.

Lowering bad cholesterol helps the body in more ways than one. Fatty deposits in your blood vessels cause clots that might lead to heart attack, stroke, gallstones, stomach pains, or numbness and coldness in the extremities.

Inflammation Reduction

Canola oil contains antioxidants and vitamins that help the body reduce inflammation. One meta-analysis from 2013, out of the many studies investigating the health benefits of canola oil, concludes that “canola oil may potentially promote immune and cardiovascular health through its antithrombotic and antioxidative effects.”

Nevertheless, keep in mind that all the studies backing up the health claims concerning canola oil are done on raw consumption in moderate amounts. In other words, the oil is consumed unheated, for instance, as a salad dressing, and in relatively low to moderate amounts.

This brings us to an important disclaimer: Do not take the conclusions of these studies as fact out of context. Canola oil can be beneficial, but it can also be harmful. It depends on how we use it and how much we use it. And while using canola oil for frying is perfectly safe, these studies do not claim that these health benefits will come from consuming fried foods with canola oil.

Health Concerns

Of course, alongside the health benefits, one might wonder whether there are any downsides to consuming canola oil.

On the internet, you may even face some misinformation claiming that canola oil contains toxins and is harmful to human health. This is totally unfounded and stems from a lack of information about the production of edible canola oil.

The misinformation is mainly because canola seeds have been produced by crossbreeding with rapeseeds that contain high levels of erucic acid, which, in very large amounts, can be toxic to humans. However, at the beginning of this article, we made it clear that canola oil is not the same as rapeseed oil and explained why.

Plus, the seeds used for producing edible canola oil are very strictly regulated and recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.

On a different note, we have to acknowledge that there are some preliminary and animal studies that warn that canola oil might increase inflammation, negatively impact memory, and dispute its health-protecting benefits. However, these studies focus more on highly refined types of canola oil, as well as frequently consuming deep-fried foods with canola oil, which is a more general health concern regardless of the oil.

What Does Science Say About Frying With Canola Oil?

Concluding that canola oil is indeed a very healthy oil and good for consumption is a good start, but it’s not the same as saying that it’s suitable or good for frying.

Thanks to its nutritional value and chemical composition, we’ve learned that canola oil has a relatively low content of PUFAs and saturated fatty acids and a high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats are stable even at high temperatures, which makes it less likely for the oil to oxidize and degrade during frying.

Another point for canola oil as a frying oil is its high smoking point. Oils that can withstand a temperature of around 375°F are considered suitable or good frying oils.

Science About Health

There’s no doubt that canola oil is healthy, but fried foods are not, unfortunately, even when we use an oil that’s considered healthy.

The University of Massachusetts conducted a study published in the Cancer Prevention Research journal that showed consumption of frying oil worsens colon cancer and colitis in mice. For the study, Ph.D. student Jianan Zhang deep-fried falafel with canola oil. Because of this, the research team recommends that people prone to inflammatory bowel disease avoid eating fried foods, even with healthy oils such as canola.

Other studies have shown that canola oil is good at preserving phenolic compounds present within potatoes during deep frying. Even when compared to olive oil, canola oil proved to be more balanced and remained superior during all frying sessions.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that a study from 2019 published in the journal Foods found that the quality changes in different canola oil types during frying. Some canola oil show superior frying life compared with other brands and production seasons. This indicates that the quality of canola oil can make all the difference, so make sure you buy canola oil from a trusted brand that’s transparent about its production process.

Science About Taste

Still, heath is not the only factor for frying suitability. Taste is important too, and a study from 1993 revealed that some participants find french fries made with canola oil to taste somewhat fishy.

On the other hand, another study from 1999 revealed that different types of canola oil (different fatty acid concentrations) affected the taste. This means that manufacturers can modify the oil to make it more sensory pleasing and more suitable for deep frying.

At the end of the day, taste is subjective, and the only way to know for sure whether canola oil is to your taste or not is to give it a try.

Conclusion

The short answer is: yes, you can fry with canola oil. It’s a healthy oil with a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids that remain stable at high temperatures. This makes the oil suitable for frying, which is backed up by canola’s smoke point of around 204 °C (400 °F) – more than what you need for deep frying.

Not only that, but canola oil is highly nutritious and low on saturated fats, which gives it an almost ideal fatty acid composition when it comes to health and cooking.

The antioxidants and vitamins in the oil have been shown to bring many health benefits, such as protecting against heart disease and lowering bad cholesterol and inflammation. Because of this, the FDA even allowed canola oil makers to put health claim labels on their products.

Having said that, the evidence is still limited and mostly focused on the raw, non-heated consumption of unrefined canola oil. This cannot be generalized to fried foods or frying with canola oil. And, even though canola is safe and suitable for frying, you should still lower your consumption of fried foods as there are health concerns beyond the choice of oil.

We hope that our guide was informative and insightful, so you can make a smarter decision regarding your cooking. We covered the topics of health and taste, but we understand that the price might also be a factor. Because of this, we reviewed other oils as well, so you can compare them and see what works best for you.

Whether it’s thanksgiving time or an everyday craving for turkey meat, what better way to prepare this wonderful bird meat than to deep fry it?

Frying Turkey

If you want to make a turkey with a crispy layer outside, and soft, delicious meat on the inside, then an eclectic indoor fryer is a good option, for sure.

Many people wonder how to set up the timer when they are making the turkey, as the length of the cooking procedure will depend on the weight of the meat.

Usually, it takes between 3 and 4 minutes per pound of turkey to fry it. We can round it to 3.5 minutes on average. This means that if your turkey weighs 15 pounds, you should deep fry for 52 minutes (15 lbs x 3.5 minutes).

So, do you want to properly fry your turkey? Here are some steps and tips:

1. Use a fresh or completely thawed turkey.
2. Ensure there are no wrappings around the meat if you have a store-bought turkey.
3. Remove the neck and the giblets.
4. Put oil into a fryer. Don’t cross the maximum filling line.
5. Heat the oil to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. As the oil is heating up, get your turkey ready for frying by putting seasoning, flavors, or marinades.
7. Tuck the legs inside.
8. When the oil is warm, place the basket in the fryer for half a minute. Take it out and put the turkey inside.
9. Put the basket with the turkey inside the fryer. It might happen that not the entire turkey is covered in oil. The result of that will be that the upper breast part will remain white, although it will still be cooked properly.
10. Set the timer up to somewhere between 3 and 4 minutes per pound (as we said before, 3,5 on average).
11. The dark meat should be cooked to a temperature of approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, while all of the white meat should heat up to some 10 degrees less.
12. Once the turkey is done, remove it from the pot and place it to dry on paper towels. You don’t want to eat all that oil grease.
13. Before removing the turkey from the basket, let it sit for some 20 minutes.

Conclusion

Frying a turkey is not at all difficult if you have a deep fryer. This type of pot does most of the work for you, and it results in a delicious meal.

Remember, how long you should they the turkey frying in the deep fryer depends on its weight. The answer is around 3.5 minutes per pound. With this information, you’ll find it easy to calculate the number of minutes necessary for your particular turkey to be properly fried.

Just follow the recipe given above step-by-step, and we guarantee you’ll end up with a delicious fried turkey!

Trivets are small plates or tripods that absorb heat from hot plates, pans, or pots to safeguard your countertops or tables from heat damage. Over and above their protection, these home essentials serve an aesthetical function — giving a touch of beauty to your table spread. This is mostly because you can find trivets with diverse materials, colors, and sizes to match your own kitchen style.

Why Use a Trivet?

We can easily get distracted and accidentally place a hot plate, pan, or pot on the table or countertop. Even though this might not cause permanent damage when left briefly, letting the hot pot stay on your home surfaces for a longer period of time might cause aesthetic damage such as discoloration. 

This is where trivets step in. With their ability to absorb heat, these kitchen items can prolong the life of your furniture for quite some time, adding a decorative touch to your home at the same time.

What Are Trivets Made Of?

Trivets can be made of diverse materials such as metal, bamboo, felt, ceramic, and silicone — meaning materials that can resist heat without compromising their structure.

Cast Iron Trivet

As their name suggests, cast iron trivets are made from cast iron, which is a quite sturdy material that can resist high heat. As they come in various shapes and forms, we made sure to discover one that boasts an intricate yet functional design worthy of display — whether there is a hot pan or pot on top or not.

Concrete Trivet

Concrete is known for its ability to absorb and store heat, slowly releasing it when there is a colder environment. This is why concrete trivets make great heat safeguards for your home surfaces, adding a decorative touch to either your dining table or countertop.

Silicone Trivet

Silicone has a low thermal conductivity, which means that the rate at which heat passes through it is quite low — automatically leading to excellent heat resistance. Combine this with its low price, and you’ve found yourself an excellent trivet that will protect your surfaces from heat and is durable and decorative.

Do I Really Need a Trivet?

Trivets are quite helpful gadgets to have in your kitchen so yes, they’ve become a necessity rather than a luxury nowadays. Even though concrete, stainless steel, and granite can highly resist heat, there is no countertop or table material that can fight extreme heat over an extended period of time. This means that, although quite strong materials, they can eventually soften, become discolored, or become uneven in extreme cases.

Ways to Use a Trivet

Thanks to their functional and aesthetic purpose, trivets are sought-after kitchen items nowadays. Here are some other ways to use them.

Set Them on Your Dinner Table

Using a trivet on your dinner table as a way to protect it from hot pan damage is also a great way to make your dinner look fancier.

As a Centerpiece

You can use a trivet as a stylish centerpiece under your houseplants or flowers. What makes this item ideal for these purposes is not its decorative function but rather the protection they offer to your furniture from scratches or moisture.

As Big Coasters

Perfect for pinchers of cold water, use a trivet beneath to protect your surface from dripping moisture.

What Is an Instant Pot Trivet?

An Instant Pot trivet is a stainless steel rack that allows you to either pressure steam or pot-in-pot cook food.

Pressure Steaming & Its Benefits

Pressure steaming is the process that allows food to cook under pressure which is built in an enclosed environment where there is a boiling liquid that generates steam.

A significant study elaborating on the effects of different cooking methods on the vitamin C content of selected vegetables reveals that steaming retains as much as 40% more vitamin C than boiling. This speaks volumes about the significance of using an Instant Pot trivet to retain nutrients while cooking your favorite vegetables.

Another study suggests that pressure-cooked food contains more folic acid than boiled food does. 

Tips to Help You Pressure Cook Your Favorite Vegetables

To pressure cook potatoes, asparagus, beets, or squash in your instant pot, follow the tips below:

• Add two cups of water to the inner pot.
• Put the rack in the inner pot and add a steamer basket with the vegetables on top.
• If you don’t want to use a steamer basket, put the vegetables directly on the trivet by cutting them large enough to make sure they don’t fall through.

Tips to Help You Pressure Cook Meat

You can pressure kidney, liver, or even a whole chicken in your Instant Pot by following the steps below:

• Pour one to two cups of water and place the previously marinated meat on the trivet.
• If you want to intensify the flavor of the meat, pour seasoned liquids or broth in the inner pot instead of water.
• An important thing to know is that the time you need to set varies depending on the type of meat. For instance, it’s recommended to pressure cook a pound of roast chicken for eight minutes, while a pound of baby back ribs might require pressure cooking of twenty minutes.
• Make sure to use the quick pressure release method to avoid overcooking.

Pot-In-Pot Cooking

Pot-in-pot cooking is a method that allows you to pressure cook your food in a small bowl or pan on a trivet inside the inner pot. 

If you want to use the trivet for these purposes, follow the steps below.

• Pour one to two cups of water into your inner pot and place the trivet on the bottom.
• Use an oven-safe glass container to place your food directly on the trivet. Do know that there is no need to add water to this container.
• Voila — close the Instant Pot to pressure cook the food, choosing either the Quick Release or Natural Pressure Release options.

Final Thoughts

Purchasing a trivet for your home can make a tremendous difference when it comes to prolonging the lifespan of your surfaces, as it may not only protect them from heat but also moisture. To make them even more desirable, manufacturers create them in different shapes and forms that can add a decorative touch to your home.

Tasty, healthy, and somewhat exotic, sweet potatoes are the new cool, especially if you have an instant pot to prepare them in. 

Some people love them baked, and some prefer crock. However, if you’re in a rush, the best way to make perfectly cooked sweet potatoes with creamy insides is in an instant pot.

But, how long to cook them? There are many recipes applying the cookie-cutter principles when it comes to preparing sweet potatoes, but that simply doesn’t fit the basic logic. As you’ve probably noticed, every sweet potato is different, so it makes no sense to cook them all the same. Due to their different sizes, we need to treat each sweet potato differently and cook them at an appropriate length. 

Small Potatoes (width less than 2”): 15 minutes + 10 minutes pressure release

Mid-sized Potatoes (width 2-3 inches): 30 minutes + 10 minutes pressure release

Large Potatoes (width greater than 3”): 1 hour + 10 minutes pressure release

If you are continuously disappointed with the sweet potato recipes you’ve run into, and if they’re often undercooked or overcooked, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll share our secrets for preparing the best possible sweet potato for each potato’s uniqueness.

How to Prepare the Perfect Sweet Potato for Cooking

Since the cooking time for the sweet potato depends on its size and shape, you need to apply some measurements before you initiate the cooking process.

For this, you’ll need a measuring tape (like the one the sewists use) because you want to know the size of the width of your sweet potato.

Cooking Time Depends on Spud Size

So far, we’ve tested many different ways of preparing sweet potatoes in an instant pot, and the formula we’re about to share has shown the best results.

First, you need to measure the width of your potato(es). If the potato is small, and by that, we mean has two inches in width or less, it will take at least 15 minutes to cook, followed by another 10 minutes of pressure release in an instant pot. 

In the case of a medium-sized sweet potato, whose width equals 2 to 3 inches, you should coke for half an hour, and once again, additional 10 minutes for the natural release of pressure. This means that mid-size sweet potato preparation will last around 40 minutes. 

Finally, for the large sweet potato, whose width is 3 inches or more, the minimum cooking time is one full hour, followed by 10 minutes of pressure release, amounting to 1 hour and 10 minutes of cooking time.

This makes the preparation of sweet potatoes of different sizes a bit complicated to cook at the same time, as each requires a different cooking time. To overcome this problem, you can put the biggest one to cook first, and then add the middle-sized one after 30 minutes, followed by the smallest one after another 15 minutes. After the full hour is over, you can release pressure with all three of them for 10 minutes, and you’re done.

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we’ve discussed the necessary time for cooking sweet potatoes, here is a step-by-step process that will make the journey to preparing the perfect sweet potatoes more understandable and straightforward.

1. Measure the width of your sweet potatoes. If you have a sharp eye, you may also be able to approximate. 
2. Group them in size: large, mid-size, and small ones. This is necessary as you don’t want to put mixed sizes together at the same time in the same pot.
3. Wash them, scrub them, and prick each potato with a fork to make tiny holes visible on the surface.
4. Depending on the size of your instant pot, place 1 – 1.5 cups of water in the insert of your instant pot.
5. Put the trivet on top of the pot.
6. Place the potatoes on the trivet. In the case of potatoes of different sizes, place the larger ones first.
7. Set up a timer to 60, 30, and 15 minutes respectively (in case you have all three size groups).
8. Put the lid on and set up the valve to the ‘sealing’ setting. 
9. Pressure cook the potatoes as long as necessary and according to the instructions given above.
10. Let the pressure out for 10 minutes and slowly release any remaining pressure. 
11. That’s it. Your dream sweet potatoes with soft inner parts are done!

How to Scale and Adjust this Recipe According to Your Needs

How many potatoes can fit in your instant pot usually depends on the size of the potatoes you’re dealing with. In the case of a 3-quart instant pot, you can put approximately 3 sweet potatoes (the exact number may vary depending on the size), while in the 8-quart one you can fit around 8 pieces. The 6-quart potatoes usually fit between 4 and 6 sweet potatoes for cooking at the same time.

If you want to cook potatoes in multiple layers in your instant pot, we recommend you use no more than 2 layers to ensure that all your potatoes cook evenly.

No matter how many potatoes are being cooked at once, the post-cooking pressure time will always remain the same.

Even if you want to cook just a single potato, you can still apply the same procedure.

After cooking sweet potatoes in an instant pot, if you don’t eat them all immediately (which we doubt will happen), you can store them in a container in the fridge for up to 4 days. During those 4 days, you can reheat them in a microwave or in the regular oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, you can also freeze them by packing each potato individually in a wrap and leaving them in the refrigerator for one day or night before moving them to the freeze. They can keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

Over the past several years, sweet potatoes have seriously grown in popularity, but so have instant pots. When you are in a rush and don’t want to waste your time on long, slow-cooking recipes (that certainly taste great otherwise), preparing sweet potatoes in an instant pot is a great idea. Not only will you get a fabulous and tasty result, but you will also save up an immense amount of time.

To achieve the best possible instant pot sweet potatoes, simply follow the instructions we provided above, measure the width size of each potato that you want to cook, and organize the potatoes according to the size of your instant pot. In case of leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge for a couple of days, heat them up in both microwave and oven, and keep them in the fridge.

Bon appetite, the potatoes are ready to serve!

The quick answer to this question is yes; you can fry with vegetable oil. In fact, you should use vegetable oil when you are frying at home. But vegetable oil is a very broad term that includes any kind of plant-based oil. In the most general sense, vegetable oils are derived from plants, whether their seeds, fruits, grains, or nuts. Having said that, when you see a bottle of oil on the store shelf that’s labeled vegetable oil, it is typically soybean oil.

Frying at home is a great cooking technique to prepare delicious meals that no one can overlook. There is something irresistible about golden brown and crispy bites, whether a potato fry or fried chicken. With so many different types of oil available, choosing the best oil to fry can be a bit overwhelming. But no need to despair because we have prepared the ultimate oil frying guide, be it for pan-frying or deep-frying.

Which Cooking Oil Is Best for Frying?

Even though frying is one of the oldest techniques, there are so many different ways you can do it. So what is the difference between pan frying, shallow frying, or deep frying? Naturally, depending on the frying technique you choose, the amount of time your ingredients spend in the pan, the amount of oil you need, and the optimum temperature differ. Hence, the type of oil that’s best for the job also depends on how you want to fry your ingredients.  After reading this guide, you will discover the tricks of these techniques to master your frying game. 

Sautéing

So frying is essentially cooking in hot oil, and yes, sautéing is also frying. It is one of the most basic cooking methods in the book and is used to prepare the main ingredient for many dishes. To make the best out of sautéing and get the brown and savory delicious base, the most important thing you need is a hot pan. The second thing you need to do is only cook for a short time (because of the, well, hot pan) and keep the ingredients moving. You don’t have to throw the ingredients in the air like a crazed pro; a wooden spoon is quite enough to move things around in the pan and get your ingredients browned and packed with savory flavor. Like we just said, sautéing is a great way to prepare a base for meals such as stews or soups, but it’s also a great way to cook your veggies, fish, and meat. 

What Kind of Oil Is Best for Sautéing?

Extra virgin olive oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, canola oil, or sesame oil are all types of oils you can use when sautéing. Because we don’t keep the ingredients in the oil for too long, you can use an oil with a lower smoke point. And because we don’t dip them in the oil like we do when deep-frying, you can choose a more flavorful oil when sautéing.

Shallow Frying

Shallow frying is one of the most common methods to prepare small cuts of veggies, fish, meat, steak, chicken, or burger patties. But even though it is one of the most common methods, it requires some skill to prevent the fried food from going soggy or burning your oil. The trick is to use a little oil on a hot pan and turn your ingredients at the right time. This way, your food will get brown and crispy on the outside while staying juicy on the inside. To make the most out of shallow frying, keep a close eye on the ingredients after tossing them on the hot pan and flip them when you see moisture coming out. When adequately cooked, take the ingredients out, and place them on a paper towel to remove the excess oil.

What Kind of Oil Is Best for Shallow Frying?

Like you do when you sauté your veggies or meat, shallow frying prevents ingredients from absorbing too much oil while still reaching high temperatures. Oils with high smoking points are the best as they don’t burn at the ideal temperatures to shallow fry delicious veggies or meat. The best suitable ones for the job are canola oil, rice bran oil, sunflower oil, or peanut oil.

Deep Frying

Even though deep frying is associated chiefly with large-scale kitchens like restaurants, a large pan filled with oil over the stove can yield similar results at home. By completely submerging the ingredients in the hot oil, you can deep make chips, fried chicken, fried shrimps, samosas, croquettes, and many other delicious meals. You can have evenly cooked outcomes very fast because you don’t even keep the ingredients in the oil for too long when deep-frying! The trick is to throw the ingredients in the hot oil and take them out once they turn golden brown so that the fries get crispy on the outside while keeping their moisture on the inside.

Keeping everything at the optimum temperature affects the results immensely when preparing deep-fried meals. For that reason, if you want to step up your fries game, you might want to invest in a cooking thermometer, but you can also check the heat by dipping a wooden spoon in the hot oil – you should see tiny bubbles and hear drizzling when you do so at around 170 C° degrees. 

What Kind of Oil Is Best for Deep Frying?

If you don’t use the right kind of oil when deep frying, you might burn your ingredients and smoke out your kitchen. The optimum temperature for deep frying is 350 to 375 °F (175 to 190 °C). This is essential for caramelizing carbohydrates such as sugars and starches that produce crispy, golden-brown results. Unlike sautéing or shallow frying, you need an oil with a high smoke point; around 400 F° is the best. Oils that fit into this category are canola oil, refined sunflower oil, safflower oil, and avocado oil, which you can use safely for your deep-fried veggies or meats.

Stir-Frying

Stir-frying is an effortless and fast way to prepare savory and healthy meals. You throw a bunch of chopped ingredients into a hot wok with scalding oil. Using a wok is a great way to stir fry your ingredients and a fun way to do so by continuously stirring or tossing them around in the pan. The difference between stir-frying and sautéing or shallow frying is that you don’t wait to seal the ingredients before starting to stir them, and for that reason, the process requires very little oil. 

What Kind of Oil Is Best for Stir-Frying?

Even though you get the pan very hot when stir-frying, you usually don’t reach to temperatures you cook while deep frying. For that reason, oils with a smoking point around 230 F° are great for this job, such as peanut oil, which adds a pleasant nutty flavor. Alternatively, you can use soybean oil or canola oil.

Triple Frying

If you ever triple cook your french fries, you should know that there is no turning back. It is the best technique to make crispy, golden brown chips. But you should know that triple cooking doesn’t necessarily mean frying your chips three times. You steam the potatoes once for the best results and then fry them twice by refrigerating them in between cooking sessions. Okay, there are still three steps, and it sounds like a time-consuming task, not to mention the clean-up afterward. But trust us, the result is worth the trouble. 

What Kind of Oil Is Best for Triple-Frying?

The technique is made initially famous by Heston Blumenthal, who recommends peanut or grapeseed oil for the best results. However, you can also use the oils you use when deep-frying: canola oil, refined sunflower oil, safflower oil, or even avocado oil, as it’s basically the same process with repeated steps.

Is Vegetable Oil Healthy to Fry With?

Even though frying is not considered among the healthiest ways to prepare your veggies, the real risk factors arise when you heat the oil past its smoking point. In that case, the oil produces free radicals and toxic fumes that are significant risks to your health. When the oil is heated past its smoke point, you will start to see vapors escaping from the pan, which indicates the oil has begun to break down, not to mention the burnt oil smell. To avoid these kinds of health hazards, you need to be mindful of the burning points of the oils you use in your kitchen.

Stay below your smoke point, and Bon Appetit!