Can You Deep Fry in Nonstick Pan?

It is essential that you know what kind of cookware you should use for any dish. A simple mistake can ruin not only the texture but also the taste of the food. After knowing this frightful information, you may have panicked and wondered if you can deep fry in a nonstick pan?

What is deep-frying?

Deep frying is one of many cooking methods you need to learn as you grow older. It is one of many cooking skills that can help you survive, especially when living independently. It is a dry-heat cooking method wherein you fill a deep pot with oil and heat it.

The process of deep-frying is easy to learn as you only need cookware (preferably a pot made out of stainless steel or cast iron), a lot of oil, and the food you intend to fry. Before you immerse the food into the pot, please wait until the oil boils, indicating that the heat is at its peak.

The required temperature varies depending on the food you intend to fry and the type of oil you use. Sometimes, the heat temperature reaches 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius, allowing you to fry the food quickly.

Is it possible to deep fry using a nonstick pan?

We understand the instant panic you get when you go out of town camping, and you forget to bring your pot to use to deep fry your food. Do not worry, though, because you can use some cookware alternatives, such as a nonstick pan.

However, the idea of using a nonstick pan to deep fry your food may be new to you, but yes, definitely, it is possible to deep fry using a nonstick pan as long as you know the precautions to consider.

Taking precautions is very important in all aspects of our life, especially when it comes to cooking as it involves flame, which may cause a fire. You have to ensure that you and the people around you are safe.

As we have mentioned above, you can use a nonstick pan to deep fry some food as long as you do not use it daily. This is simply because nonstick pans are not meant to be used in deep frying and are not intended to cook food that requires it to endure high heat temperatures.

The topmost precaution you should consider is using a nonstick pan to deep fry with a heat temperature that its coating cannot withstand. Always remember that it has a chemical coating that makes it nonstick.

Learn about deep frying techniques by watching the video:

Is it possible to deep fry using a nonstick pan?

We have already established that, yes, it is possible to deep fry using your nonstick pan as long as you take precautions. But, before you do it, do you know how to adequately deep fry using a nonstick pan?

First, make sure not to preheat the pan without cooking oil. It is a major sin in cooking if you allow a nonstick pan to overheat without oil. This mistake can further damage your pan, especially the chemical coating on its surface, giving it the nonstick property. Moreover, this will also result in the release of an unwanted odor.

Follow these easy steps below on how to deep fry using a nonstick pan:

1. Prepare a nonstick pan and the cooking oil of your choice.
2. Prepare the food you are going to deep fry. Make sure that the food is cut into bite sizes to cook it well. Remember that a nonstick pan is shallow compared to any pan intended to deep fry any food.
3. Fill the nonstick pan with the cooking oil of your choice until it is half full.
4. After doing so, turn on the stove and start preheating the oil at moderate heat or at least 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid using the maximum heat temperature to avoid overheating, and damaging your nonstick pan’s surface.
5. Ensure that you use cooking utensils meant for nonstick pans and avoid metal cooking utensils.
6. To check if the oil has reached the perfect temperature, try putting a piece of food, and if you hear a crisp sizzling sound, it indicates that the oil has reached the right temperature for deep frying.
7. Start deep-frying the rest of the food you have prepared. The best indication you have cooked the food well is by checking if it is already golden brown in color.
8. Finish the entire deep-frying process by draining the food and letting the paper towel absorb the excess oil or drip in the filter.

7 Recommended oils to use when you deep fry using a nonstick pan

Reminding you that you should avoid preheating a nonstick pan without any oil as it can cause further damage to the chemically-coated surface. Moreover, there are specific and recommended cooking oils that you should use in your nonstick pan.

One of the many factors why these cooking oils are chosen and highly recommended for your nonstick pan is those with a high smoking point. A high smoking point hinders the oil from a chemical reaction with the Teflon coating.

TManufacturers use two methods when producing oil, resulting in either unrefined or refined oil. The recommended oil in the deep frying method is refined oil making it flavorless.

Refined Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is one among many cooking oils made, extracted from the ripe pulp of avocado. Refined avocado oil has a higher smoke point compared to unrefined ones. Ideally, the smoke point reaches between 500 degrees Fahrenheit to 520 degrees Fahrenheit. The color is transparent yellow as it has undergone the refinement process, making it flavorless.

Refined Canola Oil

Canola Oil, otherwise known as rapeseed oil, is one of many recommended cooking oils used to deep fry using a nonstick pan. It has undergone a refinement process with a smoking point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, making its flavor more subtle.

Refined Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is believed to be neutral as it neither has taste nor aroma. Refined coconut oil has a high smoking point of at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, making it suitable for high heat temperature, especially for a nonstick pan. Like any other refined cooking oil, it is also odorless and has no flavor.

Refined Corn Oil

Refined corn oil has a smoking point of at least 446 degrees Fahrenheit up to 460 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also a cooking oil recommended for a nonstick pan. It is also flavorless and has a lot of health benefits.

Refined Peanut Oil

You can use peanut oil regardless of whether it is boiling or cold, thus, utilizing its use aside from deep frying. It has a high smoking point of at least 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, it has excellent unsaturated fats and makes it odorless. Though you will not use peanut oil daily, it would be best to store it in a fridge to retain its freshness.

Refined Safflower Oil

Refined safflower oil is quite similar to canola oil. However, it has higher monounsaturated fats compared to the latter. It also has a high smoking point of around 510 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, there are a lot of health benefits you can get from this oil as it is also rich in Vitamin E.

Refined Vegetable Oil

If neither canola nor safflower oil is available, you may use vegetable oil. Refined vegetable oil is nearly similar to refined peanut oil, but the only difference is that refined vegetable oil has more polyunsaturates than the latter. It has a high smoking point of about 428 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, it is also odorless and flavorless, making it perfect for deep fry using a nonstick pan.

Things you need to consider when you deep fry using a nonstick pan

Though possible, precautions are essential when deep frying with a nonstick pan since it’s not specifically designed for that purpose.

Below are the things you need to consider when deep frying in a nonstick pan to prevent damage and extend its lifespan.

Make sure to avoid shallow pans

Although nonstick pans are initially shallow, some pans are still possible to deep fry. Ensure that you do not use the shallowest type of nonstick pan that can cause any danger once you unintentionally knock it off, leading the boiling oil splash all over you, which can threaten your life.

Use the right amount of cooking oil

The key is to use the right amount of cooking oil when you deep fry using a nonstick pan. Either you go big or go home when you put on the quantity of the oil. Thus, it should be no more, no less, just the right and an equal amount as it can be both dangerous and may impact the taste and quality of your food.

Avoid heating a nonstick pan without cooking oil

Again, make sure that you do not turn on the stove or the burner if your nonstick pan is still empty. This can damage the coating surface of your nonstick pan, or worse, can cause a fire.

It is not recommended to preheat the empty pan because the high heat temperature and the absence of oil can dehydrate the chemical coating, resulting in the flaking of the chemical coat.

Do not maximize the heat level

Patience is a virtue, and it also applies in cooking. Ensure that the heat temperature should be at medium heat when you turn on the stove. This is to evenly deep fry the food as high heat temperature often leaves the food undercooked yet burned already. The recommended high heat temperature to deep fry is around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Summary

So the answer to your question, “can you deep fry in nonstick pan?” is definitely a yes. However, we are well aware that it has a chemical coating that gives its nonstick properties. Therefore, make sure that you take necessary safety precautions as well as use the recommended oil for it.