The deep fryer is a staple appliance in most modern homes. It helps prepare an array of delicious dishes. From quick and simple meals like French fries to delicate bites like tempura. While a fryer can make life in the kitchen easier, frying in itself is not an easy task. It is an art that needs to be well mastered. Not only is hot, bubbling oil risky. You need to find the right balance when cooking to ensure that you get perfectly crunchy and tender foods. Otherwise, it can turn to total disaster and the foods turn out soaked with oil, undercooked or blackened. To successfully prepare tasty food with a fryer, you need to pick the right fryer oil. The type of oil used influences the taste and flavor of the food being fried.

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4 Factors to Consider When Choosing Fryer Oil

But with so many different types of cooking oils available, how do you pick the right one? In essence, there is no perfect fryer oil, you just have to make a choice based on your needs. To arrive at a suitable choice, you need to take into account some key factors. Things like the type of fryer you have and the kind of food to be cooked can help you arrive at a decision. Here are more things to keep in mind when choosing fryer oil;

Smoke Point

Smoke point is the temperature at which oil begins to burn. If you continue to heat the oil at this temperature, it begins to smoke and will eventually catch fire. Besides the risk this puts you at, cooking at the smoke point of any oil will affect the taste and quality of the food you are making. Basically, the smoke point determines the temperature at which you can cook with. A higher smoke point gives you more flexibility, allowing you to cook a variety of foods. It also makes it safe to re-use the oil as it is yet to reach the point where it breaks down to release harmful chemicals. If you continue heating any oil at its smoke point you distort its chemical nature, making it potentially harmful.

It is also important to note that the smoke point of oils is not definite as the temperature can be affected by the refinement process, origin, sediments and acidity. For instance, you can find two different brands of olive oil with one having a smoke point of 320 degrees Fahrenheit and the other 468 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flavor

Some oils have a lot of body and this ends up interfering with the flavor of the food being prepared. So, it is actually the lack of flavor that you should be looking at. The idea behind frying is not to give the food a particular flavor, but to instead give it texture.

Therefore, a neutral oil works best. It can be used with variety of foods and does not interfere with taste and flavor. should you use an oil with flavor, make sure that it balances out right with the food being prepared.

Cost

This may not be a big deal until you realize how widely oil prices can vary. Deep fryers require a considerable amount of oil, and a costly oil means you have to go deeper into your pocket for you to enjoy your favorite fried foods. Oils like canola, sunflower and rice barn are great for frying. However, if you are on a budget, you can consider generic vegetable oil. You may also want to consider if the oil can be re-used or not. Depending on what you are frying, vegetable oil can be re-used a couple of times. Simply cool the oil after use then strain it and store in air-tight container until the next use.

Versatility

When buying oil, do you intend to only use it for frying or for other purposes too? The same way that not oils can be used for frying, some types of oils may not work for other cooking methods such as roasting, searing or making salad dressings. If you don’t make fried foods regularly, then it is best to go with a versatile oil than can still be used for other purposes.

11 Types of Fryer Oils You Can Use

Oils used in cooking can either be refined or unrefined. When it comes to frying, refined oils are preferred since they tend to have a higher smoke point. Pressed or unrefined oils can also be used depending on what is being cooked. However, they tend to be costly and have a low smoke point that might not work for the fryer. The extraction process of pressed oils also ensures the oil retains most of its flavor and taste which limits the dishes you can use it on. Common types of oils used for the deep fryer from both categories include:

Top 5 Fryer Oils Review

Now that you have an idea of some of the best oils you can use in your fryer, we help you narrow down your choices by looking at some brands you can go with.

1. Happy Belly Peanut Oil

The Happy Belly Peanut Oil comes packed with a good amount of Vitamin E which is good for improving your immune system and increasing the count or red blood cells. According to the manufacturer, this product contains zero trans-fat, 3 grams of polyunsaturated fats and 8 grams of monosaturated fats. It comes in a gallon container which is sufficient for most deep-frying recipes. Since it is refined, the smoke point is high, ranging between 400˚F – 420˚F. you can comfortably deep fry your favorite foods at high temperature without worrying about the oil smoking.

Good thing about this product is that you can use it for other cooking methods too. You also do not have to worry about nut allergies since the refining process gets rid of the trigger. The oil has a neutral taste and a strong resistance to flavor, which is a great thing if you like to re-use your frying oil. It is also worth noting that Amazon offers a satisfaction guarantee policy where you can return the product for a refund, in case you are not happy with it. The policy is effective within a year of purchasing the product.

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2. Happy Belly Vegetable Oil

This oil is made from soybeans and comes in a 128-ounce bottle that measures about 12 inches. This size is a great value for money as you get more than enough to fit into most household fryers and even some extra that you can use for other uses. It is a very versatile oil that can be used to sauté, bake, make stir fry’s and works just as great for deep frying. The oil has a neutral flavor and taste and therefore does not interfere with foods you are deep frying in any way. According to the nutritional information on the bottle, it does not contain any cholesterol and the only ingredient indicated is soybean.

While most customers are happy with the oil, a slight drawback is that the packaging is very thin and flimsy. It is also too big for everyday handling. To avoid spillage and make work easier, consider transferring the oil to another container.

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3. Happy Belly Canola Oil

This product constitutes of 100% canola oil which has a light and neutral taste suitable for any type of cooking or frying. No preservatives or additives are used in the oil. The brand offers customers a satisfaction guarantee where they can forward complaints and request a refund within a year of purchase. According to customers, the oil holds up pretty well at high temperatures ensuring you get great-tasting crispy foods. It can also be re-used a couple of times before the need to discard it.

This canola oil comes a large one-gallon light plastic container with a carry handle. In case you find it awkward to handle the bottle, transfer it to a container of your choice. Otherwise, everything else about the Happy Belly Canola Oil is to love. It is well-priced and can last for several uses and works for a variety of cooking methods.

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4. Crisco Frying Oil Blend

Crisco is a well-known brand and it is for a good reason. It has been around for a while building a good reputation for itself. This specific product is a blend of two oils, soybean oil and peanut oil, for the purpose of frying. If you are looking for something different from the standard oils for frying, the Crisco Oil Blend is worth a try. It can be used to deep a whole variety of foods, from fish, to chicken to French fries. It is also very economical considering the price point and the fact that it can be re-used. This is a good choice if you make fried foods regularly as it does not work very well with other cooking methods.

In addition to peanut and soybean oils, the blend contains, TBHQ, Citric Acid for antioxidants and Dimethyl Silicone for anti-foaming. The oil can last up to 12 months once opened, provided it is stored correctly.

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5. BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil

This is naturally refined avocado oil that adds the benefits of the avocado into your meals. It can be used for types of cooking and for cosmetic purposes too. The oil has a high smoke point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit so you can safely sear, bake, sauté, stir-fry and deep fry. And even better, the oil has a subtle and smooth flavor, that packs up on the flavor of the food you are cooking, for even tastier meals. The extraction process is also all-natural so you are guaranteed that the oil does not contain any additives or GMO products.

If you are conscience of what you are eating or you are on the keto or paleo diets, this oil promises clean flavor just as the ingredients it is made from. The only downside to using this particular oil for deep frying is that it comes in a 500ml and you may need a couple of them to meet the capacity of your fryer. This in the long run ay cost you more, but for the benefits of avocado, it could be worth a try.

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Some Common Questions about Fryer Oil

Q: How much oil does a fryer need?
A: Most fryers have an indicator showing where the oil level should reach. In case your fryer does not have a mark, eyeball the measurement considering the fact that the oil will expand when heated. So put enough oil to cover the food, but also leave enough room for the oil to expand and the food to float free.

Q: How to tell that the deep-frying oil is ready?
A: The easiest method is to use a thermometer or get a fryer with an inbuilt thermometer. Alternatively, try inserting a wooden spoon or a grain of rice to see if bubbles form around it.

Q: Can fryer oil be re-used?
A: Yes, you can, but with a few rules. There is a limit to how many times you can re-use oil. Make sure the oil is yet to reach its smoke point. And finally, clean, filter and store correctly.

Q: How do you clean and filter deep fryer oil?
A: Make sure that the oil has cooled down and then use a skimmer to remove any food debris. Next use a cheesecloth over a chinois to strain out any fine particles the skimmer missed. Store the oil in airtight container and put it in a cool dry place.

Anyway, have a best fryer oil filter not only can extend the life of your fryer oil but also can save you money in the long run.

Q: Can you mix different types of frying oil?
A: It is not advisable to mix frying oil since different brands even if it is the same type of oil may have different smoke points.

Q: How do you dispose deep fryer oil?
A: You can dispose it off with your trash by putting it in a sealable bag or take it to a disposal center that recycles cooking oil.

My Top Pick

Based on the four key factors to take into account when choosing cooking oil, the Happy Blend Canola Oil by Amazon is our top pick. It is affordable, versatile, has a neutral flavor and most importantly a high smoke point. It can be your to-go oil for all cooking needs.

Deep frying presents its own unique challenges. However, once you pick the right oil, that is one less problem to worry about and a step closer towards making finger-licking crispy foods. And if you are using a deep fryer with a thermostat, the task is further simplified as you do not have to second guess if the oil is ready or not.