Let’s Talk Fried

tyler bluvol
Nov 5 · 5 min read

So… Deep frying?

If you go to any county fair in America, you’re not only in it for the rides, but for all the food you get to try as well. Fairs have anything from pizza or french fries to chocolate covered bacon on a stick or any other type of candy. When you go to fairs like this you get to do some indulging you wouldn’t normally get to do. You get to eat new foods, and spend way too much money. But, the biggest novelty of it all, is the deep fried foods. Everywhere you turn you see jumbo signs saying fried oreos, reese’s cups, elephant ears, funnel cakes… etc. Almost every station sells something fried. The novelty of the fair is the fried food; and all of its unhealthy goodness.

Not only is fried food a huge part of fairs, but it is also a big part of American culture. American’s take pride in their food, and their food combinations. So, deep frying any and every type of food is a huge step in that direction. Deep frying food has become a big thing in American culture, and it has increasingly become more and more big as fair life has blown up. It’s a novelty of America. Almost nothing is safe from an American deep fryer.

But, along with all of this frying and flavoring, there comes side effects. The biggest issue with frying foods is the risk of heart disease. Fried food is typically coated in batter and or flour before frying, and then dunked in oil. This means that they lose water and absorb fat, which increases the calorie content. Generally, fried foods are much higher in fat and calorie intake. Now, it’s not as bad as eating a stick of butter or sipping on olive oil, but it contains those exact same fatty lipids. The scrumptious fats and chewy goodness make deep fried food irresistible to the palate of Americans. Unhealthy or not, Americans crave that “bad” treat.

Where did the idea of deep frying even come from?

The concept of frying foods started in the early Roman era, in the first century. It was founded by a man named Marcus Gavius Apicius. He created a few different recipes that included early techniques of frying foods. He explored different ways of cooking and he exposed the Roman people to frying food. The people of Rome would fry their meats in oil to help cook them more efficiently and safer. The idea of frying food for flavor started to take off around the year 1660 when the Japanese decided to baste chicken in oil and then pan fry it. They were the first to innovate this idea and create what we now know as Tempura. Tempura was the first big advancement in frying foods. It took something simple and light and make it a nice treat. It is said that the most crucial turn of events for deep frying was the invention of the cast iron cookware. Cast iron is extremely durable and it has heat retaining material. It allowed the pans to get incredibly hot but also contain the fire. Cast iron keeps the heat contained so that the foods can ultimately be fried in the oil. It became the mini dutch oven; frying foods was easier than ever. Even though all this fried food has a global history, it found its way to American Cuisine and integrated itself. Most countries use frying as a fun mix up for their meals from time to time or even as a treat, but Americans took it to a whole new level. Americans deep fry everything!

The process of frying foods is very simple. It also cooks foods very fast, which adds a certain appeal. Deep frying food has the ability to give some substance and flavor to lower quality foods. Some foods need an added appeal of a little crunch or just in general, a little flavor. Deep frying certain foods traps in the natural moisture and it caramelizes the sugars inside. Placing food in the hot oil has an immediate reaction, and leaves no time for the moisture to escape; this is what leaves you with a crunchy outside but a soft, moist inside. It leaves an irresistible taste for our palates. A different experience of everyday foods.

Why is this a novelty?

In the past few years, our nation’s love for things dunked in flour and fried has exploded. It used to be the simple french fries, onions, and maybe some pickles too. But, that was just the beginning steps to all things fried. Soon the novelty of frying everything took over. There was fried cake, bacon, jelly beans, ice cream, kool aid, and even candy bars! When I say fried everything, I mean pretty much any food was attempted to be fried. Fried in different oils, batters, and even different flavored crispy coverings. But, why?

Humans are notorious for their love of fatty, greasy foods. Humans eat these foods because they know they are unhealthy, but they’re just so good. In general, while this food is unhealthy, it is incredibly flexible. It is super easy to change how you fry and what you fry. There are many different options of oils you can fry your foods in, specifically healthier options, such as: using coconut oil, grilling and baking, adding a crumb coating, and even air frying.

Conclusion

Fried foods are a big part of American foods now and days. From the simple appetizer at the local restaurant around the corner, or the decedent dessert from the local fair. The unhealthy aspect of deep fried foods only add to the craving of it. Fried foods have a world of possibility and openness for exploration. We’ve ventured and explored the possibility of different fried foods fully; such as, oreos, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, candy bars, cheesecake, ice cream, beer, and even bacon. We have even taken things as healthy as broccoli and cauliflower and dowced them in sugar and flour. In America, nothing is safe from a deep fryer.