This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
New developments in kitchenware unravel different cooking techniques, and one of them is frying. In saying that, we tried to go deeper into understanding this popular method of preparing food together with its varied ways and the types of cookware appropriate to use for each variation.
Frying is one type of cooking technique, which involved the use of oil, which eventually became well-received for its delicious-looking crisp texture and finger-licking good taste and eventually branched out to other processes, such as deep and pan-frying.
Also Read : Top 10 Best Electric Skillet Reviews and Buyer’s Guide 2023
Today, we will share with you further the difference between the two, deep fryer vs. pan-frying techniques, including frying pan and best deep fryer.
Deep Fryer
Deep frying is a sought-after, crowd-pleasing variation of cooking food by soaking or drenching into a fixed high heat temperature range. This type of frying is a staple in fast food chains and other commercial kitchens that uses certain kind of cookware referred to as a deep fryer.
In the long run, deep fryer became immensely accepted and practiced in households. On that account, we looked into over a hundred of the best deep fryer kitchen appliances and tested a few of them, and so, we came out with our relevant deep fryer review points.
So, if you want to prepare deep-friend food recipes, such as fish and chips or your favorite fried chicken for you and your family, here is a list of the deep fryer technique types and the benefits and the downside of each type.
Types of Deep Fryer
Electric-Generated Deep Fryer
The most prevalent best deep fryer today is the electric-generated type because it is arguably safer and healthier to use. There are three notable electric deep fryers, which come with each distinct procedure in deep frying.
1. The Typical Electric Deep Fryer
First is the typical electric deep fryer that may produce uneven results with its off-kilter tendencies of heat temperature applied.
2. Air Deep Fryer
Air deep fryer works by blowing super-hot air around the interior of the compact cylindrical countertop convection oven to create a brown and crispy deep-frying effect. The drawback is that it is small in size.
3. Induction Deep Fryer
Induction deep fryer is the latest trending in kitchen appliances. The most significant disadvantage would be the sound it creates when used with incorrect cookware.
Propane-Generated Deep Fryer
This deep fryer depends on the use of propane gas like stovetops. It’s also a favorable choice by professional chefs to use, but the downside is it imposes higher risks if not used properly.
Frying Pan
Pan-frying is another type of cooking technique by semi-soaking your food into a small amount of oil, enough to grease the pan, and requires flipping to create that brown and crispy texture, unlike deep frying. It is perfect for oily food like bacon and other fatty ingredients.
Pan This cooking method uses the dry heat technique, which results in delectable brown and crispy exteriors and tender-juicy interiors. It requires a shallow sprout pan and no lid in cooking while keeping a fixed, medium-high heat to achieve that mouthwatering fried recipe.
Pan There are ample of frying pan cookware available in the market today, but one best choice would be the non-stick ones. Like deep-frying, pan-frying has its types of approaches.
Types of Pan Fryer
Electric-Generated Pan Fryer
Generally, pan-frying generated by electricity comes in two kinds of cooking techniques, and they are the typical electric and induction pan fryer cooktops. Induction cooking is the most preferable of the majority of households these days due to its safer and healthier approach.
Propane-Generated Pan Fryer
It’s pan-frying on a stovetop generated by propane gas and still widely used in different homes and restaurants as it provides their required texture like the charring-effect, which can’t be produced by electric or induction cooktops.
One relevant downside of pan fryer is that it can be messy as it may splatter with hot oil residues while frying aside from the risks of improper use of propane stovetops.
Deep Fryer vs Pan-Frying
After trying and testing these two frying techniques, we brought out the difference between deep fryer and pan-frying. We list them down through its advantages and disadvantages.
Deep Fryer vs Pan Frying – Comparison
Faster
Due to the submersion of food in the oil coupled with the correct temperature setting and top-grade kitchen appliance, deep fryer fries food faster than the pan-frying.
Practical and Easy to Use
With its wide range of types of techniques that you can use in deep frying, it’s more functional and easy to use, and thus, food preparation in deep fryer makes it more convenient and viable. It is also ideal if you need to fry a huge amount of food servings as you can opt for the state-of-the-art automated kitchen appliance.
Pan-frying is perfect for small food preparation and recipes that do not require the deep-fry effect. You cannot crowd the frying pan with food as it may spill and splatter hot oil on you. Though you can use an induction stovetop and skillet, you can’t leave it as you need to flip it to get the desired result.
Wider Safety Technique Options
You have an array of options to choose from deep frying. So, you have extensive safer choices to select, which makes deep-frying more favorable than pan-frying.
Great Savings
You can reuse the oil that you use in deep frying because of the even-manner of cooking the food into the oil makes it more cost-effective. You can’t use the oil again in pan-frying as it usually turns darker and bitter.
Scrumptiously Crispy, Juicy, and Delicious Food
Soaking the food into the oil creates that brown, crispy, and flavorful result that is perfect for your dinner parties. Deep frying creates a more tender-juicy, finger-licking good fried food recipe compared to pan-frying.
Deep Fryer vs Pan Frying – Which one is better
After our thorough testing, we’ve discovered that the deep-frying technique is much better than the pan-frying method when you want to achieve that perfect brown, crispy, and juicy effect as well as if you are trying to prepare large numbers of food servings.
With the deep-frying technique, you have a wider, easier, and more automated kitchen appliance options to choose from, making your food preparation faster, smoother, crispier, and juicier while being able to save up on oil as you can use it again next time.
Pan-frying suits for less number of servings and doesn’t require the rich brown and crispy effect. You can’t leave when you do the pan-frying because the food may get burn and you also need to flip the other side to cook it thoroughly, unlike the deep-frying technique.
How to shallow fry fish like a boss
Final Thoughts
Our greatest aim is to provide a first-hand pan and deep fryer review of which frying technique works best, according to what we tried and tested. We only desire to help you by offering you crucial points and substantial tips between two of the most popular ways of frying food.
Ultimately, whatever suits you best is the most important aspect of preparing food for your loved ones because it always winds up to giving them the best through the food we serve.
FAQ – Deep Fryer vs Pan Frying
What is Deep Frying?
The term “deep frying” refers to a method of preparing food by immersing it in hot fat or oil at high temperatures until cooked through. The process can be used with any kind of edible product, including vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, breads, pastries, desserts, etc., but most commonly involves using vegetable oils like peanut, corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean, grapeseed, olive, coconut, palm kernel, sesame seed, etc.
How does it work?
When you heat up your oil over medium heat, the temperature will rise quickly from around 100°C. to about 180°C. This causes water molecules inside foods to start evaporating into steam, causing them to shrink and become more dense. As they get denser, their center becomes less liquid than the outside, so that when you put them back into the heated oil, they sink down towards the bottom of the pot. If there’s enough time between putting the food in and taking it out, this creates an even layer of solidified oil on top of the food.
What is Pan Frying?
Pan-frying uses a small amount of oil compared to deep fryers, usually just 1/4 cup per pound of food. It works best for smaller items like chicken breasts, shrimp, eggs, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, green beans, tofu, tempeh, etc. You’ll need to watch closely because if the food starts browning too much before being fully cooked, then you’ve gone beyond what’s called ‘pan frying’ and are now deep frying.
What are the Differences between Deep Frying and Pan Frying
There are some key differences between these two methods:
1) Food cooks faster in deep frying due to higher surface area exposed to heat.
2) Foods tend to cook evenly throughout since there isn’t much space between pieces.
3) There is no risk of burning food during deep frying since the oil heats slowly and doesn’t reach very high temperatures.
4) Oil stays hotter longer in deep frying.
5) Because of all those reasons above, deep-fried foods have better flavor retention.
6) Since the oil has lower viscosity, it tends to coat the food evenly without dripping off onto the stovetop.
7) When done correctly, deep frying produces crispy results while retaining moisture.
The advantages of Deep Frying
It takes only minutes to prepare a batch of fries, making it ideal for busy people who want something fast yet still tasty. And unlike shallow frying where the food sits directly in the hot oil, deep frying allows air circulation underneath the food, keeping it moist and tender.
The advantages of Pan Frying
Because pan frying requires less oil, it’s healthier than deep frying. Plus, it gives you control over how long each piece gets cooked, which means you don’t end up with overcooked food. Also, since the oil never reaches as high of a temperature as deep frying, it won’t cause harmful chemical reactions such as oxidation. Finally, pan frying also helps retain nutrients in food, especially vitamins A & C.
Deep Frying vs Pan Frying : Debunking urban legends
• That deep-fried foods are greasy or unhealthy.
In fact, studies show that deep-frying actually reduces fat content by 20-30%.
• That deep frying can damage delicate ingredients like fish, vegetables, fruit, meat, poultry (fried chicken), cheese, pieces of bread, pastries, desserts, etc.
The truth is that most of these types of foods contain little to no fats at all. Even though they may be coated in batter or dough, they’re not really made of any kind of grease. They simply absorb the oil used to make them.
• That deep-frying destroys enzymes and other important compounds found in many fruits and veggies. Again, this couldn’t be further from the truth because when properly prepared, deep frying does nothing more than seal in flavors and textures.
Which Method to Choose?
If you love french fries but hate the mess involved when cooking them on your stovetop, then I recommend using a deep fryer instead of pans. If you prefer more healthful options, however, then go ahead and use a skillet. Just remember that both methods will give you great-tasting food!
