How do you figure out how much oil to use for pan frying?

How do you go about figuring how much oil to use for frying? Off the top of my head, I can think of a number of factors such as the type of food, how well you want to cook it, the type of oil, the size of the pan and how much food you are trying to cook. Which of these factors should I worry about the most and does anyone have any general rules for figuring out how much oil to use?

frying oil

Best Answer

As you suggest, there are a number of factors, but the best rule of thumb I've found for pan-frying is to use just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan by swirling it around. In general, you don't want puddles (you'll get splashed with hot oil), but if the pan isn't covered then your food might not get cooked evenly.

These days I mostly just eyeball it, and err on the generous side. Using slightly too much isn't likely to hurt your dish - unused oil just won't get absorbed - but using too little will result in under-cooked or inconsistently-cooked food and probably a lot of gunk stuck to the bottom of your pan. So if you're not sure, just add a little more than you think you absolutely need.

Pictures about "How do you figure out how much oil to use for pan frying?"

How do you figure out how much oil to use for pan frying? - Back view crop unrecognizable person pouring olive or sunflower oil into frying pan placed on stove in domestic kitchen

How do you figure out how much oil to use for pan frying? - Cook Frying Slice of Red Tuna Fish Meat on Gas Cooker

How do you figure out how much oil to use for pan frying? - Ethnic woman demonstrating bottle of olive oil while cooking

How much oil do you use when pan-frying?

An adequate amount of oil or melted shortening for frying most foods is 1-1/2 to 2 inches (about 4 cups). This amount allows enough room to add the food. 2.

How do I know how much oil to use when cooking?

Therefore, if you're cooking in a skillet, you need to use just enough oil to fully coat the entire bottom (unless you're pan frying). That's typically 1 to 2 tablespoons, depending on the size of your skillet. When you're roasting, use enough to just fully coat the food you're making.

How much oil or fat do you use when pan-frying?

To pan-fry: Use about 1/4 inch of fat or oil. Use medium to medium-high heat. Leave the food relatively undisturbed\u2014except for an occasional flip or turn with a spatula, a fork, or tongs.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: RODNAE Productions, RODNAE Productions, RODNAE Productions, RODNAE Productions