Food Preparations - Frying

It's believed by experts that the technique of frying foods originated in the Middle East. The date is uncertain, but it's generally thought to be around two millennia before the birth of Jesus Christ. Frying is therefore age old, and involves the process of bringing oil or fat to a melting point. The reason fat or oils is used, is because they can reach such a high heat. Unlike with boiling water, fat or oil becomes so hot that they can sear the outside of foods. This keeps the moisture and flavor in the food, but also leaves the outside crisp. A criticism of frying food is from the health lobby, which maintain that frying lowers the nutrient value of food, and covers it in unhealthy fats, which can clog the arteries of the heart.
Types Of Frying

There are numerous frying techniques, which vary country to country. The most popular in the west are as follows,

    * Saute  
          o A cook will place a small amount of fat to layer the surface of a frying pan. With a high heat, usually with flipping the food, to quickly brown the food, but keeps the moisture and avoids absorbing the fat.

    * Stir frying
          o Just like with sautéing, only a small amount of oil is used. A technique which is used with woks, the food is stirred continually, so that it does not brown or burn. But, will make sure all the food is covered in any sauce added. In Chinese cooking there are numerous techniques with varying speeds of execution, heat used, and tossing done.

    * Shallow frying
          o Another style of pan frying, this time using more oil or fat. Whatever food is placed in the pan should be covered half way up with oil. A quick and less fussy way of achieving a similar result to deep frying.

    * Deep frying
          o This takes shallow frying to the extreme. The food is completely immersed in the oil. Either a deep pan can be placed over a cooking hob, or a stand alone deep fat fryer can be used. The heat should be around 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The pan or deep fat fryer should not be more than half way filled with oil.

There we have it, four of the most popular way to fry food. You may have noticed that as the list progresses the less healthy it becomes. Sautéing and stir frying can involve food like noodles, vegetables, alongside meats like steak and pork chops. Whereas deep frying involves all the heart cloggers, such as chips, doughnuts, fish and chicken in batter.