Fried food is the ultimate comfort food for many people. Whether it’s fried chicken, fried cheese sticks, or French fries, everyone has at least one fried food that’s on their guilty pleasures list.
The fact is that frying food makes it taste delicious, but it has great potential to diminish the nutritional value of food if not cooked properly.
If you are looking to eat in a healthier way, without giving up fried food, then be sure to follow these tips.
make use of olive oil
The best type of oil that you can use to make fried food is olive oil. There are many health benefits of olive oil, making it a good option compared to its other competitors. Olive oil is more stable at high temperatures compared to sunflower oil, soybean oil, and corn oil, which means it can be used longer than other oils for frying because it maintains its nutrition and quality. The best olive oils that you should use are virgin or extra virgin olive oil.
Remember to keep your oil clean
It is essential that you keep your frying oil clean and in good condition. If you let the oil age and collect scraps, the oil will start to burn and your food will taste burnt as well.
Making use of the old oil means there is no food left in it, so don’t be stingy and change the oil as soon as you start to see traces of other cooked food in it. If you want to keep the old oil and get more out of it, it’s best to scrape the oil and reuse it, but it’s a good idea to change the oil every three or four days.
make your dough better
Having a perfect batter for your meal is very important for better tasting food, but the question is how will the batter determine whether your fried food will be a greasy mess or a healthy treat?
Many people use all-purpose flour for their dough. All-purpose flour is a good choice as it contains gluten which helps it stick very well to food, however it can absorb a lot of oil.
So instead of using all-purpose flour, try using gluten-free ingredients, like rice flour or cornmeal in your dough.
Make use of baking soda or carbonated liquid
Another famous way to improve the quality of fried battered foods is to use baking soda or carbonated liquid in the batter. The way it helps your food cook is that it releases bubbles of gas as it cooks so the food doesn’t absorb a lot of oil.
Maintain oil temperature
One thing many people get wrong when preparing a healthy fried dish is that they don’t really hold the temperature of the oil. The perfect temperature for frying food oil is between 350°F and 400°F.
If the frying oil is not hot enough, the food will not cook as fast as it should, it will take longer, and therefore it will absorb more oil. If you continue to cook too hot, it will cause the oil to burn and smoke, which will make your food taste horrible and is also a huge safety risk.
Some other basic tips to keep in mind are to use the best air fryer instead of using a wok or skillet. This will reduce safety risks, plus it will be easier for you to maintain the temperature and condition of the oil. Remember that you don’t have to forget about eating chips to eat healthy, all you need to know is how to do it right!
