Weird Things That Work
You can deep fry anything from ice cream to milk these days. But the question remains if you should. Does deep frying make these meals tastier, or is it just an unhealthy indulgence you’re curious to try? Well, to save you the unnecessary frying, here are 20 weird things you can technically fry up, and what you should expect in return.
1. Battered Bacon
Battered bacon is a well-guarded home-cook secret, or perhaps most people are just ashamed to admit it. All you’ll want to do is partly cook the bacon, then cover it in a batter of sorts. You could even use pancake batter for a breakfast-centric treat.
Wright Brand Bacon on Unsplash
2. Oatmeal Bars
You’ve probably thought about turning your oatmeal into bars! This usually requires freezing them or even baking them. But if you do decide to fry them instead, you’re in for a surprise. Just be sure to lightly batter them before enjoying.
3. Nuts
Nuts are already pretty crispy as it is, but perhaps you want them even crispier. Some people say that nuts take on a glassy texture and sheen when deep-fried, making them even more snack-worthy. However, a lot of people report that deep frying just makes the nuts oilier.
4. Scones
If you’re not satisfied with the amount of carbs, fats, and sugar in a scone, then deep frying them might be just the nudge you need. It’s recommended to halve your scones and then let them sit in the oil until they’re super crispy. This is quite the indulgent treat, so be sure to pace yourself.
5. Vegetables
If you’ve ever thought vegetables were boring or were determined to make them as unhealthy as possible, then deep frying is the way to go. But before you throw your carrots and onions into the oil, be sure to batter them first. It’s actually quite popular to use tempura batter to coat these veggies.
6. Pizza
You can technically deep fry pizza, but the question remains whether you should. Well, it turns out pizza fritta is pretty common in Italy and consists of first baking a pizza in an oven, then deep frying it with a crust. There’s a similar Scottish pizza that’s also deep-fried.
7. Sausage Rolls
Whether you make them yourself or use a frozen variant, most sausage rolls require baking. However, what happens if you deep fry them instead? Well, it suffers a similar fate to Oreos, just getting more oils without any texture improvements.
8. Snickers
You’ve probably heard of deep-fried Snickers, as some chain restaurants offer them as a dessert. The key to correctly frying this bar is in the batter. You can use pancake batter and coat the Snickers completely before letting it turn golden brown.
9. Milk
Before you scroll away in disbelief, it’s worth noting that fried milk is a popular treat in Taiwan already. You might even be able to find this at some sushi restaurants. What you’ll want to do is stir the milk with cornstarch and sugar while simmering to make it thick. Then it’s a matter of coating the pudding before frying.
Mary Skrynnikova 💛💙 on Unsplash
10. Sage Leaves
It’s pretty common to dress up dishes with a sprinkling of herbs. But certain herbs, especially sage leaves and basil, taste even better when fried first. So just toss them into the oil until they’re crispy, then use them in everything from your stir-fries to sandwiches.
11. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a great substitute for making wings, but what if you deep-fried those wings? All you’ll want to do is coat the cauliflower pieces in panko crumbs after an egg wash. Then once they’re fried up, toss them in some buffalo sauce for that familiar flavor profile.
12. Cheesecake
Deep-fried cheesecake bites may sound heavenly, and that’s probably because they are. You’ll want to slice up your cheesecake into manageable cubes first, then it’s just a matter of freezing them to ensure they settle. Once they’re nice and firm, just fry them up in batter.
13. Hot Pocket
Hot Pockets are already chewy, warm, and cozy. But what if you fried them instead? Well, they stay relatively the same, except that the shell becomes very crisp! Just let them rest before eating, because that center will be like lava.
Lenin and McCarthy on Wikimedia
14. Pickles
This is a typical and worthwhile item to fry! If you haven’t had deep-fried pickles, then do yourself a favor and start. You’ll want to coat them in a savory batter after slicing. Then, after frying, you can pair them with a tangy sauce like honey mustard.
15. Oreos
Taking a page from the Snickers playbook, there are other commercial sweets you can also try deep frying. For instance, consider the humble Oreo. You’ll want to dip it in pancake batter all the same, then let it achieve that crisp golden exterior before biting in. Maybe make a chocolate pancake batter for extra flair.
Ilham Dwi Syahputra on Unsplash
16. Cheese Curds
By now, you’ve noticed that you can fry almost anything as long as you coat and batter it. Well, cheese curds and a fryer are a match made in heaven. You’ll want to batter them up just the same, then after they’ve had a moment to rest, consider dusting them with some spicy seasonings.
17. Gnocchi
Pasta is already pretty indulgent and carb-heavy, but you can make it even unhealthier with some deep frying. Follow the typical coating instructions to start. Then it’s a matter of if you’re snacking on them like nuts or are planning on stirring them into a pasta of sorts.
18. Ice Cream
You might be thinking this is impossible, but you can achieve deep-fried ice cream. You’ll want to first deep freeze them, so they get as solid as possible, preferably in a ball shape. Then you have to coat them very thick to create an insulator. You’ll want to use a crunchy and textured coating instead of a liquid one, so think cornflakes or other cereals. Refreeze them for 20 minutes after coating, then deep fry quickly, within a few seconds.
19. Eggs
You can, in fact, deep fry an egg, but it might be an acquired taste. If you pour a raw egg into the oil, it’ll start to puff up into a ball of sorts. Then, you can enjoy it with your usual toast but be ready for that heavy and oily feel.
20. Twinkies
Twinkies are pretty well-known for being unhealthy, but you can make them worse (and delicious) through deep frying. You’ll want to use the same pancake batter techniques, but prepare yourself, as the inner cream will become lava hot. It might just be worth it, though.
Christian Cable from Canterbury, United Kingdom on Wikimedia
