I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?
Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

"striped_shirt" > wrote in message
...
>I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
> Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?

Yes, but a deep pan with straight-ish sides, and very carefully, and it
depends on what you're making, and some common sense with regard to
spillage. Of course, you will have a fire extinguisher nearby, although this
comment should not make you think that other people don't use such pans all
the time without problems.

> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

Required, until you have lots of experience.

You should buy a new copy of "Joy of Cooking".

striped_shirt wrote:
> I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
> Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?
> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

Obviously to deep fry you need a very deep pan. A typical saucepan will
probably not be large enough or deep enough to hold whatever it is you wish
to deep fry. And yes, unless you are using a fryer with a built-in
thermostat /temperature, a deep-fry thermometer is necessary. That is,
unless you're experienced enough to tell when the oil is hot enough, not hot
enough, or too hot.

Jill

"striped_shirt" > wrote in message
...
>I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
> Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?
> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

Don't use Olive Oil, it does not work for deep frying because it takes
longer to reach the desired temperature.

Put your pot on a back burner--less likelihood of spilling on you, a child,
or a pet if it spills.

BE CAREFUL.

(Why not just go get a deep fryer?)

On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:13:16 -0500, jmcquown wrote:

> And yes, unless you are using a fryer with a built-in
> thermostat /temperature, a deep-fry thermometer is necessary. That is,
> unless you're experienced enough to tell when the oil is hot enough,

Hot Enough - Your mouth waters and your arteries harden just looking at
the food.

> not hot enough,

Not Hot Enough - You've boiled your food in oil.

> or too hot.

Too Hot - Your place is insured, right?

--

-Jeff B.
zoomie at fastmail fm

cybercat wrote:


> Put your pot on a back burner--less likelihood of spilling on you, a
> child, or a pet if it spills.

I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
the kitchen while doing it.



Brian
--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

"Default User" > wrote in message
...
> cybercat wrote:
>
>
>> Put your pot on a back burner--less likelihood of spilling on you, a
>> child, or a pet if it spills.
>
> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> the kitchen while doing it.
> Brian

If she actually said "kooks and weirdos", I really need to get that DVD! Has
it got a specific title?

"Default User" > wrote in message
...
> cybercat wrote:
>
>
>> Put your pot on a back burner--less likelihood of spilling on you, a
>> child, or a pet if it spills.
>
> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> the kitchen while doing it.

hahaha! That leaves out my whole family!



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:
> Default User wrote:

> > I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> > the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> > not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> > the kitchen while doing it.

> I would think that should be a good rule to follow when doing most
> cooking. I don't like people around when I am working with hot things. I
> hat it when I take a pot off the stove to pour off the water in the sink
> and someone is suddenly right behind me.
>
> I recall many years ago watching an episode of Celebrity Cooks when
> Margaret Trudeau was the guest. She was never very popular with the general
> public, but I thought I would watch the show and see what she was like.
> She did a dish that she said she liked to do when Pierre was away because
> the boys, ages3-8 <?> at the time, could be very much involved in the
> process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys together
> with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame ....................... she
> convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.

What does "culls" mean, Dave? In any case, I agree with you. A
few of my friends want to do a "fondue night" thing, but we've
been putting it off until the kids get older, 'cuz none of us
want them sticking bits of food into hot sauces or cooking oil
and getting burned. For that matter, I don't know if I want Miguel
(DH) doing it... ;->

--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

Default User wrote:

> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> the kitchen while doing it.

I expect that Julia Childs was referring to anybody who might walk past
the stove and start lecturing about the health dangers of deep-fried foods.

"Matt" > wrote in message
...
> Default User wrote:
>
>> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
>> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
>> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
>> the kitchen while doing it.
>
> I expect that Julia Childs was referring to anybody who might walk past
> the stove and start lecturing about the health dangers of deep-fried
> foods.

Or, people who have ZERO awareness of the traffic pattern in a busy kitchen,
and are constantly between you and the two work places you've moved between
300 times while they completely failed to notice.

In article >,
says...
> "Matt" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Default User wrote:
> >
> >> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> >> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> >> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> >> the kitchen while doing it.
> >
> > I expect that Julia Childs was referring to anybody who might walk past
> > the stove and start lecturing about the health dangers of deep-fried
> > foods.
>
> Or, people who have ZERO awareness of the traffic pattern in a busy kitchen,
> and are constantly between you and the two work places you've moved between
> 300 times while they completely failed to notice.
>
>
>

If you always move between the 2 work places with your 10" chef's knife
in front of you, they'll notice!

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

"Little Malice" > wrote

> One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:

>> process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys together
>> with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame .......................
>> she
>> convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.
>
> What does "culls" mean, Dave?

Clueless?

nancy

One time on Usenet, "Nancy Young" > said:
>
> "Little Malice" > wrote
>
> > One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:
>
> >> process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys together
> >> with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame .......................
> >> she
> >> convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.
> >
> > What does "culls" mean, Dave?
>
> Clueless?

Yes, I am, thank you... ;->

--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

"Peter A" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> "Matt" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Default User wrote:
>> >
>> >> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries".
>> >> In
>> >> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
>> >> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
>> >> the kitchen while doing it.
>> >
>> > I expect that Julia Childs was referring to anybody who might walk past
>> > the stove and start lecturing about the health dangers of deep-fried
>> > foods.
>>
>> Or, people who have ZERO awareness of the traffic pattern in a busy
>> kitchen,
>> and are constantly between you and the two work places you've moved
>> between
>> 300 times while they completely failed to notice.
>
> If you always move between the 2 work places with your 10" chef's knife
> in front of you, they'll notice!
> Peter Aitken

Yeah...I'm finding that works nicely. They think it's entertaining until I
give them The Look, with knife in hand. One person in particular has
banished herself from the kitchen completely when I'm in what's known as
"locomotive mode".

Dave Smith wrote:

> Default User wrote:
>
> >
> > I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french
> > fries". In the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when
> > deep frying not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos"
> > running around the kitchen while doing it.
> >
>
> I would think that should be a good rule to follow when doing most
> cooking. I don't like people around when I am working with hot
> things. I hat it when I take a pot off the stove to pour off the
> water in the sink and someone is suddenly right behind me.

You just really have to hear it in that Julia Child voice.

BTW, for people in St. Louis County, MO, you can check out the first
set of DVDs from the library.


> I recall many years ago watching an episode of Celebrity Cooks when
> Margaret Trudeau was the guest. She was never very popular with the
> general public, but I thought I would watch the show and see what she
> was like. She did a dish that she said she liked to do when Pierre
> was away because the boys, ages3-8 <?> at the time, could be very
> much involved in the process. She did tempura. The idea of having
> three young boys together with a pan full of hot oil over an open
> flame ....................... she convinced me that she really is as
> culls as people claimed.

Well, my Mom used to deep-fry when I was a kid, and there were eight of
us who were born in the span of 11 years.



Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

"Little Malice" > wrote

> One time on Usenet, "Nancy Young" > said:

>> > What does "culls" mean, Dave?
>>
>> Clueless?
>
> Yes, I am, thank you... ;->

(laugh!!!!)

nancy

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> striped_shirt wrote:
> > I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
> > Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?
> > Is the use of a thermometer recommended?
>
> Obviously to deep fry you need a very deep pan.


Also obviously if you want to make french fries you will either have to
move to France or at least buy potatoes from France. Never mind that
they don't make french fries in France.


> A typical saucepan will
> probably not be large enough or deep enough to hold whatever it is you wish
> to deep fry.

Depending on what you want to deep fry. I don't recommend a 9 inch
skillet for deep frying a whole turkey. It ain't a gonna fit!


> And yes, unless you are using a fryer with a built-in
> thermostat /temperature, a deep-fry thermometer is necessary. That is,
> unless you're experienced enough to tell when the oil is hot enough, not hot
> enough, or too hot.


A thermometer might be nice, but I've never used one.

A deep container is necessary if you have something deep to fry. Also,
a deeper container will hold more hot oil. A smaller pan will cool down
too much if you add more than a little food. If you are using your
stove, a small pan won't fit on your large, hot burner, if you have one.

I would strongly recommend reading some detailed instructions about deep
frying at home, because I haven't covered even the basics.

--
Dan Abel

Petaluma, California, USA

Default User wrote:

>
> I was watching the Julia Child DVDs, one show was on "french fries". In
> the requisite lecture on safety, Julia told us that when deep frying
> not to have children or "a bunch of kooks and weirdos" running around
> the kitchen while doing it.
>

I would think that should be a good rule to follow when doing most
cooking. I don't like people around when I am working with hot things. I
hat it when I take a pot off the stove to pour off the water in the sink
and someone is suddenly right behind me.

I recall many years ago watching an episode of Celebrity Cooks when
Margaret Trudeau was the guest. She was never very popular with the general
public, but I thought I would watch the show and see what she was like.
She did a dish that she said she liked to do when Pierre was away because
the boys, ages3-8 <?> at the time, could be very much involved in the
process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys together
with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame ....................... she
convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.

striped_shirt wrote:
> I don't have one of those specialized deep fryers.
> Is it ok to use an ordinary sauce pan, say?
> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?


A plain old cast-iron pot and deep frying thermometer works well.
Don't overcrowd the pot. You should probably use medium-high or medium
heat throughout the process unless the temperature fluctuates wildly,
(more than 10-15 degrees F for more than a few minutes at a time).
Avoid making adjustments every few minutes, as the temperature will
rise or fall periodically.

Nancy Young wrote on 27 Sep 2006 in rec.food.cooking

>
> "Little Malice" > wrote
>
> > One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:
>
> >> process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys
> >> together with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame
> >> ....................... she
> >> convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.
> >
> > What does "culls" mean, Dave?
>
> Clueless?
>
> nancy
>
>

I'm leaning more for Callus than clueless.

Nancy Young wrote:

> "Little Malice" > wrote
>
> > One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:
>
> >> process. She did tempura. The idea of having three young boys together
> >> with a pan full of hot oil over an open flame .......................
> >> she
> >> convinced me that she really is as culls as people claimed.
> >
> > What does "culls" mean, Dave?
>
> Clueless?
>

Damn that spell checker.

Sorry, but I just got a new computer and I am trying to get my software set
up.Everything looks so different that I am having a worse time than I normally
do trying to edit .

Default User wrote:

>
> >> I recall many years ago watching an episode of Celebrity Cooks when
> > Margaret Trudeau was the guest. She was never very popular with the
> > general public, but I thought I would watch the show and see what she
> > was like. She did a dish that she said she liked to do when Pierre
> > was away because the boys, ages3-8 <?> at the time, could be very
> > much involved in the process. She did tempura. The idea of having
> > three young boys together with a pan full of hot oil over an open
> > flame ....................... she convinced me that she really is as
> > culls as people claimed.

NB.. should have read "clueless".


>
> Well, my Mom used to deep-fry when I was a kid, and there were eight of
> us who were born in the span of 11 years.

I had three brothers. My mother used to deep fry too, but she kept us away
while she was doing it, and she sure as hell would not ever bring a pot
full of hot oil out to the table and set it over an open flame while the
four of us climbed over the table to deep fry our dinner.

striped_shirt wrote:

> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

Use a wooden toothpick: when the oil is at the right temperature the
toothpick will start to fry. As it does, remove it and start with the food.
--
Vilco
Think pink, drink rose'

"Vilco" > wrote in message
.. .
> striped_shirt wrote:
>
>> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?
>
> Use a wooden toothpick: when the oil is at the right temperature the
> toothpick will start to fry. As it does, remove it and start with the
> food.
> --
> Vilco

The OP's a beginner. How will the toothpick indicate that the oil's too hot?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

>>> Is the use of a thermometer recommended?

>> Use a wooden toothpick: when the oil is at the right temperature the
>> toothpick will start to fry. As it does, remove it and start with the
>> food.

> The OP's a beginner. How will the toothpick indicate that the oil's
> too hot?

The toothpick tecnique is useful to know when the oil reaches the right temp
to fry, nothing more, as stated.
--
Vilco
Think pink, drink rose'