Deep-fried food has tasty, crispy textures that most people crave even if there are concerns about healthiness. You can’t stop to imagine what else to put in a deep fryer hence this question, “What Happens If You Put Ice In A Deep Fryer”?
In this article, I will answer this question and also what can happen if you put frozen foods in a deep fryer.
Here is the quick answer,
Ice in a deep fryer regardless of the type causes a reaction due to the difference in their boiling points. The physics behind the concept is water has a low boiling point of 100 degrees C while oil has a high boiling point of above 200 degrees C. A reaction between the two occurs which results in to change in temperature and pressure releasing high heat. This can even lead to an explosion.
Why Does Ice Explode In Oil?
The high temperature in the deep fryer causes the solid ice to turn into water. The water changes to hot steam resulting in high pressure and also volume. This is what can lead to an explosion when ice is put in a deep fryer.
If you feel you would like to try out the experiment, you should know that there are two types of ice, which are;
- Normal Ice
- Dry Ice
We all know normal ice which most people use at home and it’s made by freezing water at 0 degrees C.
On the other hand, Dry Ice is a solid form of CO2 (carbon dioxide) which is mostly used in manufacturing industries as a cooling agent.
Compared to normal ice, dry ice has a lower temperature which means the reaction with oil in a deep fryer is vigorous and it causes the oil to splash out of the deep fryer.
Can You Deep Fry Frozen Food?
Yes is possible to deep fry frozen foods in a deep fryer but you should consider safety first. Frozen foods contain a small amount of liquid water from the sugars and minerals inside the food.
This water content in frozen foods when put directly into the deep fryer reacts with the hot oil. Water and oil don’t mix up since their boiling points are different.
Once the water comes in contact with hot oil, the high temperatures turn the water into steam and expand causing high pressure.
Also, the hot oil boils over the deep frying unit and splatters all over which is dangerous if you are close to the deep fryer.
It’s possible to get burns from this reaction that’s why proper safety precautions have to be adhered to.
Frozen food can be unevenly cooked if the right procedures are not followed.
Note: Before deep-frying frozen foods, first, ensure the food is thawed, and pat dry before submerging it in the deep fryer.
Can You Put Water In A Deep Fryer?
You can boil water in a deep fryer, and that’s okay but you can’t put water in a deep fryer filled with cooking oil. The reaction causes the oil to splash in frenzy and if you are near the deep fryer it’s possible to get burned.
As I have answered above in regard to ice in a deep fryer, water is dangerous when it mixes with hot oil. Just the way water won’t mix with oil while at normal temperatures, it’s the same case when the oil is hot.
The reaction of water and hot oil causes the release of steam and pressure which can lead to an explosion.
On other levels of professional cooking, water can be deep-fried through a process called spherification.
This process involves substances like Calcium Alginate, Sodium Alginate, and Calcium Chloride which surround the liquid water membrane and boils it as a solid.
Conclusion
Now I hope it’s clear What Happens If You Put Ice In A Deep Fryer? Water in a deep fryer can cause serious reactions depending on the amount of ice submerged in the hot oil.
Deep frying frozen foods like meat can lead to unevenly cooked meat hence food poisoning.
Both normal ice and dry ice react with hot oil in the deep fryer and it’s not advisable to put ice in a deep fryer.
