Can you deep fry in an instant pot?
In this brief guide we will address the question, “Can you deep fry in an instant pot?” We will also discuss other methods that we can do using an instant pot, and other techniques of deep frying.
Can you deep fry in an instant pot?
No, you cannot deep fry in an instant pot. An instant pot will not maintain the heat required for deep frying the foods. An instant pot is not meant to be used as a fryer because it won’t attain the temperature required to deep fry.
Instant pots can, however, be used for shallow pan frying. Choosing the right utensil for deep frying is imperative. That is why you should always go with a dutch oven or a deep fryer.
For cooking on a tight schedule, people put chicken coated with batter in an instant pot, thinking that an instant pot can work as a fryer. But that’s not right. An instant pot does not have safeguards that a pressure fryer has in it.
Instant pot cannot reach high temperatures enough to deep fry foods. When frying, you need boiling hot oil before you add the food product ready to be cooked. Keeping this in mind, pouring hot oil in an instant pot will result in overheating of the pot and starting a fire.
Instant pots can be used as steamers that will turn your veggies soggy but cannot give them a firm crispy look. You can, however, add a small amount of oil and lightly fry the vegetables or meat products. Hence, an instant pot can do anything except fry, grill and crispy stir fry.
We will discuss methods of frying and also see the methods that can be applied using an instant pot.
Methods of frying
There are 3 methods of frying
Deep frying
Deep frying is usually done in a deep fryer. Food is cooked with boiling hot oil in which it should be completely submerged.
Cooking the food at high temperature sears the outside and makes it crispy. Using low or moderate heat will not get the job done. So you have a food that is crispy outside and tender inside.
Pressure frying
Pressure frying has both pressure cooking and deep frying. Because of this internal pressure, they trap the heat within and heat up to higher temperatures capable of boiling oil. This combination cooks food faster.
Pan frying
In this method you can add small oil and cook your food in this small amount of oil. This can be done in an instant pot.
Which method to use with instant pot
Out of the following mentioned, there is only one that we can use with instant pot. Let’s take a look at all of these scenarios separately with an instant pot.
Deep frying
No, we cannot deep fry in an instant pot .Although it seems possible to add a high amount of oil in an instant pot but heating a high amount of oil in an instant pot will result in fires due to high temperature. All of the safety measures inside an instant pot work with steam and water.
Pressure frying
An instant pot cannot be used as a pressure fryer because it does not have safety measures for high temperature and you will end up with fires, fumes, explosions etc if you try pressure frying in an instant pot. Pressure fryers have more built in safeguards to deal with high temperature under high pressure.
Pan frying
You can add a small amount of oil in an instant pot and sear and brown foods in it. So, an instant pot can be used for pan frying.
Other FAQs about Instant Pots which you may be interested in.
How long does it take an instant pot to pressurize?
5 things you should not do using an instant pot
Instant pot is used to make many recipes but that doesn’t mean you can cook anything in an instant pot. We can make soups, sandwiches and savoury chicken recipes by using an instant pot. There are things you should not do with your instant pot:
Deep frying
An instant pot cannot be used for deep frying as it is not hot enough to get to the temperature needed for frying. However, it can be used for shallow pan frying. For deep frying you should use a pressure fryer or dutch oven.
Stir frying
If you need super crisp, stir fried dishes, then don’t use an instant pot. All you need is a wide shallow pan with thin sides placed over a high heat to get a fine firm crisp, stir fry dish. An instant pot can simply steam your stir fry foods and turn them into soggy veggies.
Grilling
If you need a signature charred grill mark on your food, you cannot get them by using an instant pot. Instead you need a cast-iron grill pan for grilling your foods.
Baking cookies
Cookies need to be baked on a flat cookie sheet that can be spread on space while baking. Instant pots cannot make anything that needs a baking sheet.
Canning
Instant pot is not hot enough to can foods and it does not provide enough intense pressure to can your foods.
Conclusion
In this brief guide we have addressed the question, “Can you deep fry in an instant pot?” We have also discussed other methods that we can do using an instant pot, and other techniques of deep frying.
References
https://whttps://www.corriecooks.com/can-fry-foods-instant-pot/
