Deep Fat Fryer Guide - 5 Tips For Healthier Fried Meals

By Harry Anderson

Over the years deep fat frying has become synonymous with obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. Its bad reputation has made it one of the most forbidden foods for any family concerned about their health and watching their weight.

For many, the obvious solution was to just forgo deep fried foods completely. This, of course, is easier said than done. The craving for things like deep fried fish and chips is very hard to resist, both for children and adults alike. But there are things you can do to reduce the most negative health aspects of deep fat frying. It is all a matter of the right tools and a little know how.

The reason most foods that are deep fried contain unhealthy levels of fats and cholesterol is because of a combination of low quality cooking agents, poor temperature control and inaccurate cooking times. If you want to produce the healthiest deep fried dishes possible you need to tightly control all three of these factors.

Here are 5 practical tips to help you accomplish that goal:

1. Buy A Good Deep Fat Fryer

Safety is of the utmost importance in deep fat frying. Modern deep fat fryers that have been designed for home use have undergone strict safety testing and come with many safety features built in. If you plan on doing any deep fat frying at home this is the best option to maintain an adequate safety margin. The other main advantage is their ease of use. You can come close to the results of a professional chef without having to attend culinary school or spend hours cleaning up when you're done.

There are many different models available including the new mini deep fat fryers that are well suited for single servings. (You can find more details and helpful buying tips at the end of this article).

Under no circumstances should you attempt to use a saucepan filled with oil over a hob. It is inherently dangerous and unless you are a skilled chef it will not produce the desired results.

2. Use An Oil With A High Smoke Point

Since food is cooked by immersing it in hot oil, the oil used is going to have a big impact on how healthy the end result is. One important characteristic of all cooking oils is that they break down when heated above a certain temperature. This is known as the smoke point.

Since most deep fat frying occurs at temperatures between 175C and 190C we want an oil that has a smoke point over 200°C. Some good choices are corn (232°C), sunflower (232°C), safflower (266°C) and rapeseed (240°C).

3. Use Oils That Are High In Poly Or Mono Unsaturated Fats

Unsaturated fats have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels (the 'bad' cholesterol) and at the same time raise HDL cholesterol levels (the 'good' cholesterol). Corn, sunflower and safflower oil are all high in poly-unsaturated Rapeseed is high in mono-unsaturated fats.

4. Maintain A Consistent Cooking Temperature

Maintaining a consistent oil temperature throughout the deep frying process is probably the single most important factor in producing the healthiest result possible. Setting and maintaining the oil at the correct temperature allows a crust to form which prevents too much oil from being absorbed into the food. The end result is crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.

Unfortunately many consumer deep fat fryers come with inaccurate thermostats. If calibrated too low, the oil fails to reach the specified temperature and you end up with greasy, soggy chips. A simple solution is to use an inexpensive deep fry thermometer that attaches to the side of your fryer. Consistent oil temperature throughout will keep oil absorption levels to a minimum and produce healthier results.

5. Timing - Don't Overcook or Under cook

Cooking times are best mastered with a little practice. Use the times listed in recipe guide as a starting point but remember that they could vary considerably depending on the fryer, the oil temperature and the food being cooked. Food at room temperature is going to cook faster then a similar item that is frozen.

As a general rule you want an even golden brown colour. As soon as this appears remove the food from the fryer and drain on paper towels. If you need to cook several batches keep the finished items warm in a 95$deg;C oven.

Fried fish and chips will never be as healthy as a salad or piece of fruit, but there are things you can do to reduce the negative health aspects of deep fat frying. As with many other things in life, moderation is the key. Maintain a varied diet with plenty of exercise and you can still enjoy that occasional deep fried treat..

Harry Anderson is your guide to all things deep fried. Discover how you can master this popular cooking technique and continue to enjoy it safely and responsibly. Get tips on deep fat fryer equipment, cooking oils, frying technique and much more at http://www.deepfatfryerguide.co.uk.

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Taking Care of Your Microwave Oven

By Jenny G Khoo

Depending on the model and the brand that you buy, microwave ovens can cost you a lot of money. Like any other kinds of appliances, they run the risk of breaking down prematurely. So, the best thing you can do for your microwave oven is to take care of it and make sure that you get what you paid for. Also, taking proper care of your oven will also lessen the risk of fires and other disasters.

The first thing that you can do to care for your microwave oven is making sure to place a cover on top of the food container when you are heating something up. This will help lessen the food splatters inside the oven. But be sure not to completely seal it. If your food container doesn't have a cover, just use a piece of wax paper.

But if food splatters still happen, then be sure to clean it up at once. Use a damp dish rag to get rid of the food particles and use a dry dish rag to dry everything up. Also, another area that you should never forget to clean is the area around the door. If you neglect to clean this up, dirt can build up there which will prevent the proper closing of the microwave oven.

However, if you did not get to the food splatters on time and some of them have dried up, then boil some water in the microwave. The steam from the water will loosen up the dried splatters. Leave it in the microwave for five minutes then, simply wipe everything dry.

Another thing is if you are having some odor problems with your microwave oven, then, get a bowl and mix in one part lemon juice and three parts water. Let for three to five minutes in the microwave and let it cool after that. Afterward, just remove and wipe everything dry.

A couple of things that you have to remember though are to never use abrasive pads or powders on your microwave oven. Also, do not use the oven for canning, deep-frying or heating baby bottles. You always have to make sure that all the utensils and containers that you are placing into your oven is microwave safe. Some melting may occur if you place containers that aren't safe for use within a microwave.

Another thing that you should never do is to dry clothing items in the microwave oven. I know it sounds silly but if you do this, you will run the risk of starting a fire. On that note, refrain from putting any flammable objects in your microwave.

The microwave could be one of the greatest conveniences that you have in your kitchen. It is easy and, most important of all, it is quick. This is why you should take all these extra measures to take care of your microwave otherwise, it might end up costing you more to pay for repairs or to buy a new microwave oven.

For more information about Microwave Ovens and Parts, please visit: best microwave oven and Black & Decker toaster oven.

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10 Benefits of Electric Ovens

By J Schweppe

Gas ovens have always been the first choice for most restaurants and other commercial food service establishments. In fact, if you were to poll consumers, you'd find that most would prefer a gas oven as well. While electric ovens are undoubtedly inferior to gas ovens in many regards, they do have a following among consumers for a number of reasons, here are 10:

1. Compared to a gas-powered oven, an electric oven provides a more even temperature. Although it seems trivial, the level temperature is especially important for baking cakes and pastries.

2. Electric ovens are energy-efficient. Gas is less environmentally friendly.

3. Most electric ovens come with a self-cleaning feature. When cooking, spills and such are obviously inevitable. Because ovens are hard to clean, having a self-cleaning option can save time.

4. The electric version has less moisture. Although for some crusts and other baked goods having a moist oven is a benefit, most foods cook better with drier heat. Plus, moisture can be added to an oven, but not taken out.

5. Because the heat is more even and comes from the top of the oven, broiling in an electric oven works better than a gas oven. Before important holiday meals or dinner parties, broiling quickly and evenly keeps you from having to waste time by constantly re-checking progress.

6. Electric ovens lose less heat. Because the heat is more controlled, it is less likely to leave the oven. The loss of heat not only costs money; the extra heat in the kitchen has to be compensated for by equally expensive air conditioning costs. Therefore, you not only lose the money from the unit, but you spend even more in A/C bills later.

7. Electric ovens require less maintenance. Gas ovens are more prone to breakage. The electric oven runs longer with fewer problems saving money on repairs.

8. Electric versions require less ventilation than gas ovens. Ventilation can not only be expensive, but the ventilation occupies a lot of room, taking up space where cabinets or other appliances could be. This is especially important in smaller kitchens.

9. For less experienced cooks, electric is much easier to use and manipulate when just starting out. The temperature is not only more precise, but the electronic scales and numbers are easier to read than the classic knobs on most gas ovens.

10. The electric oven is one of the only oven models that allow a good roast. Because of combustion, gas burns off moisture which makes even roasting virtually impossible. This is an especially important consideration for roasting meat. Because of the water, the meat loses a lot of the classic roast taste and even more of the appealing look. With chicken, the crunchy skin is also lost because of the moisture in the cooking air.

For at-home cooks, choosing an oven is a personal process that depends on preferences and cooking styles. Electric ovens do have some advantages over gas. The energy is more efficient and less heat is lost, therefore saving money. Plus, the electric oven in the end saves time and effort, two commodities that are in short supply in most households.

Jeff Schweppe is president of Schweppe, Inc. a walk-in, online, and phone order food service and restaurant supply business, with the best selection of professional-grade kitchen supplies and commercial equipment in the Chicago area. Schweppe's store, located at 376 W. North Ave. 1/2 mile east of I-355, in Lombard, Illinois, is always open to the public. Website: http://www.SchweppeInc.com.

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The Most Important Factors In Kitchen Design

By Chris Vasey

There is nothing in life quite as thrilling as declaring a budget and giving yourself the license to create yourself a brand new kitchen design, so that your house will possess the perfect kitchen that you've been dreaming of for years. Well, we're very happy for you! However, there are a lot of things that you need to consider whilst planning this new perfect room. That's why we're here to help you with our tips on essential aspects of the perfect kitchen design which will answer any questions that you may have:

Price: It's that dreaded word that no-one involved in interior design really wants to hear, but it's hard to get around the importance of working out your budget. Needless to say, sticking to the said budget is just as important! Failing to do so could lead to a variety of consequences, such as debt, repossessed children or even more importantly - that kitchen never getting finished! Always be brutally honest with yourself over exactly how much you can afford, otherwise you'll inevitably end up costing yourself more money in the long run: plus you'll likely end up with a half finished kitchen that looks worse than the one you started with!

Size: Once again, it is incredibly important that you seriously consider the dimensions of the space that you have to work with to ensure that you don't end up with a variety of unpleasant things such as uneven layouts, appliances that don't fit, not to mention a lack of anywhere to put a bin (you would be amazed how many people make the mistake of the latter!). Take the time to measure everything that you might need to: the dimensions of the appliances you're looking to fit, the actual space that you have to fit everything into, the exact size of any worktops you might want installed as well as room for tables and chairs.

Colours: You can spend all the money in the world on the very finest equipment, raw materials and decorating things, but make no mistake: if you don't take the time to make sure that all of these things match perfectly in terms of colour, you will hate your kitchen every time that you go in there! Obviously, this isn't what you want, especially if you have a few friends who are more on the critical side! If you're uncertain about integrating different colours (and many of us are), then get some expert opinions from either your friends or from a specialist who has experience in kitchen design. This is one thing you don't want a mistake in!

Themes: This is a big choice, and should probably be one of the earlier ones you make: exactly which style of kitchen you're going to go for. This will obviously impact the types of materials that you use, as well as the appliances that you install. Whether you want a classic kitchen impacted by the styles of ancient Greece or a kitchen that would fit in perfectly in the rolling hills of Spain, ensure that you make the choice early so that you can go ahead with the rest of your design!

When you've got a big budget and you're only restricted to your imagination, then there's nothing quite as exciting as planning a whole new kitchen design from scratch. It's worth considering, though, that there are a few important aspects of good planning, and that's why we here at My Next Kitchen are here to help you with our tips on the most important factors in Kitchen Design.

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