Everything You Need To Know About Pan Frying

There are many essential life skills that people should learn. One of them is cooking. And speaking of cooking, you can always start with the basics, including pan-frying. If you want to know more about pan-frying, then keep your eyes peeled.

What Is Pan-Frying?

Pan-frying is a cooking technique or method that uses either oil or fat. It is considered a moist heat cooking method.

When pan-frying, the flame is usually set to medium-high. The oil you use acts as a medium to transfer heat, which is essential in the cooking process of the food.

Why Pan-frying?

We all know there are other cooking methods out there. However, some dishes work best with pan-frying.

It’s also a quick and easy way to cook.  Compared to other forms of frying, It doesn’t take a chunk of time. As long as the food you are cooking is fit for this kind of method, then you are good to go.

There’s also something about pan-frying that enhances the flavor and texture of the food. Perhaps it’s due to the trapping of the moisture during the frying process. Whatever it is, pan-fried food has that special something that leaves us wanting more!

What’s The Best Pan For Frying?

If you want to perfect your pan-frying skills, then you need the right tools. There are many cooking equipments to choose from. However, some pans work best with pan-frying. You don’t have to own professional-grade pans. But having the right ones would change and improve your cooking game! You can always look into other types of frying pans as well. The more you know, the better cook you will be!

Stainless Steel Pans

You have probably seen a lot of stainless steel pans in restaurant kitchens. That just proves how essential it is in cooking. With that said, you need one or more in your kitchen for your pan-frying needs.

Stainless Steel Pans are pretty versatile. It’s also very durable. You don’t have to worry about wear and tear. These stainless steel pans are generally rust-free, so you can use them for a long time.

When pan-frying, you might have to use oil to grease the surface of the pan. It’s to avoid food from sticking to it.

Cast-Iron Pans

Cast-iron pans are also must-haves in the kitchen. While they might look heavy, they can do so much for your cooking!

This type of pan can hold and distribute heat evenly. Even when the temperature is a bit high, it won’t be a problem. It’s something that you can use when pan-frying at medium-high temperature with no issues whatsoever.

Due to its material, you don’t have to worry about its durability and versatility. While it might come off a little pricey, there are a lot of benefits to using cast-iron pans,  especially if you are always pan-frying something.

Non-stick Pans

Over the years, there have been controversies surrounding non-stick pans. It’s primarily due to some toxic chemicals used in its non-stick surface. However, there has been a ban on the use of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).

If you want to be on the safe side, you might want to skip using any old non-stick frying pans you have at home. If your budget permits, you can always get a new set of non-stick frying pans. Due to its non-stick surface, you don’t have to use a lot of oil at all. You don’t have to worry about food sticking to the surface. And even if it did, you can easily wash it off!

If you are on a budget and in need of something for your pan-frying needs, then non-stick pans are an affordable yet long-lasting cooking equipment that you can get.

What Are The Oils To Use?

Oil plays an important part in the whole pan-frying process. However, you might have to look into oils whose characteristics would go well with whatever you are pan-frying.

There’s one golden rule you should live by in choosing which oil to use. Make sure that its flavors do not interfere with the actual flavors of the food. If you use something that has a strong or overwhelming flavor, it can overpower your dish, leaving you with nothing but the taste of oil permeating through your food.

Olive Oil

A kitchen should never be without olive oil. It’s one of the most versatile oils out there. You can pretty much use it for any type of cooking. And it’s safe to use even when pan-frying. It doesn’t have an intense flavor that would compromise the food you are cooking.

Vegetable Oil

If there’s one basic cooking oil that you could find in almost all kitchens, it would be Vegetable Oil. It’s usually from plants, vegetables, fruits, and many others.

Vegetable oils tend to have neutral flavors, so it works for different types of cooking. When you use vegetable oil to pan-fry something, it doesn’t tamper with the taste of the food. It works pretty much for whatever food you are planning to pan-fry.

Canola Oil

This type of oil is also recommended for pan-frying. Just like vegetable oils, it also has a neutral flavor. You can use it even with different heating temperatures.  It’s also a healthy alternative, with low levels of saturated fat.

Avocado Oil

Among the list of oils suitable for pan-frying, this might be a little less popular than others. However, it’s another option that you should consider. It’s also very versatile. It can also resist high heat.

It’s also known to be a healthy alternative. It contains Omega-9. This type of fatty acid is also present in olive oil.

Compared to other oils, Avocado Oil might be a little pricier. If budget is not an issue for you, then you should try using this when you pan-fry.

What Are Some Pan-Frying Tips We Should Know?

Pan-frying can be terrifying to anyone who might not be used to the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. However, if you want to master the pan-frying method, then there are a couple of things you should remember.

Heat The Pan

Just like with any cooking method, you need to warm the pan before you can do anything. For pan-frying, you might want to set the heat to the right temperature level. Once the pan heats up, that’s the time you can add your cooking oil of choice. It doesn’t take a pan a long time to heat up. Give it about two to three minutes and you are good to go!

Just The Right Amount of Oil

We all know that pan-frying involves oil. Given that, you should only use the right amount of oil. If you use too much, then that would not be good at all. You just need the right amount to cover the pan’s surface.

Distribute The Oil Evenly

Patience is important when it comes to oil heating up. It only takes about 60 seconds for oil to heat up. It also depends on the type of oil you use. Given how fast oil heats up, you shouldn’t leave the pan unattended. If it gets too hot, it might release some aroma or flavor that could affect the food’s taste.

Wait For The Oil To Heat Up

When it comes to oil heating up, patience is important. It only takes about 60 seconds for oil to heat up. It also depends on the type of oil you use. Given how fast oil heats up, you shouldn’t leave the pan unattended. If it gets too hot, it might release some aroma or flavor that could affect the food’s taste.

Practice Distancing

When pan-frying, make sure you do not overcrowd the pan. There should be a space between the pieces of meat you are cooking. If the pan is overcrowded, they might stick together and they might not cook well at all. The same thing applies when pan-frying vegetables. They shouldn’t be so close to each other as well.

Best Served Hot

Once the food you are pan-frying is done, you can remove the excess oil by using a paper towel or napkin to absorb it.

It’s time to serve your creation once you have removed the excess oil. If you don’t want to eat soggy pan-fried food, serve it while it’s hot and crunchy! But be careful! Make sure the food has cooled down a bit before putting it into your mouth. You don’t want to risk burning your mouth at all!

Be A Pan-frying Expert ASAP!

Learning how to pan-fry is not as hard as you think it is. As long as you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty in the kitchen, you’ll be whipping delectable pan-fried dishes in no time! And the more you spend time in the kitchen, the better cook you will be!