Whether or not to reuse oil when frying foods is an ongoing debate between chefs of all types. However, if used on non-proteins (potatoes, tortilla chips, tempura veggies, etc.) Turn off the heat immediately and strain out any bits and pieces of food in the oil. As tempting as it seems, do not dump grease down the drain with hot water. Then, reuse your oil a few times (six if you are Gill and frying vegetarian fare, five for Makan) – but don’t be a martyr. We try not to … If you’re planning to deep-fry your turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you may wonder: Can you reuse the oil used to fry a turkey? Any impurities and unwanted extras (like loose crumbs or bits of batter) are going to wreck the oil’s integrity, burning next time you crank the heat. In it, he explains how the hydrophobic nature of oil drives moisture out of the food. Our recommendation: With breaded and battered foods, reuse oil three or four times. Ad Choices. Generally speaking, reusing the peanut oil is fine. Keep watching the thermometer. Introducing Ask the Eagle, where I’ll be answering your questions about everything from hunting to butchering to marriage. Most modern chefs agree that it is perfectly fine to save oil from a frying session. Janis uses his restaurant industry background to answer the question of reusing oil in the fryer, particularly after frying fish. For longer-term storage, you can refrigerate or freeze the used cooking oil. However, it is usually not wise to use that oil for cooking a different type of food, especially when fish or seafood is involved. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The frying oil is going to take on the flavor of food you cooked in it; which makes fried fish oil killer for shrimp, but not so great for doughnuts or onion rings. 'Bonfire of the Vanities': Griffith's secret surgery It'll get stuck in pipes and cause plumbing problems later on. Generally, it's fine to reuse deep-fry oil. The good news is that yes, you can — and you will probably want to! Have a question of your own? The CDC recommends storing used oil for up to 3-months. The answer is yes and no. You’ll slowly but surely make your way through the oil, but you won’t have to worry about it getting weaker and weaker on subsequent uses. Can you reuse olive oil? As you heat up your oil, keep a hand on the range dial. The best oils for frying tend to be those high in saturated fats, such as peanut oil, vegetable shortening, or lard. Used oil for frying fish, on the other hand, must never be used in other dishes except for seafoods. First, the oil takes on the flavor of whatever you fry in it, so fry similar items in … Most modern chefs agree that it is perfectly fine to save oil from a frying session. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Oil choice is crucial to making a deep fry work. A tablespoon of fresh canola oil in a cake is much better than a tablespoon of your used fried chicken oil. If your recycled oil is looking cloudy or has foam formed on top, it's time for it to go. After the oil cools down, pour and store it in a sealed container at room temperature away from direct sunlight. 0 Comments How Many Times Can You Reuse Oil for … You know what? While there’s no hard and fast rule for how many times you can reuse frying oil, you should be able to recognise when it needs replacing. How do you practice good temperature control? Drape a few layers of cheesecloth in a metal strainer or chinois to filter out the smallest crumbs. The temperature will drop as new batches of food are added, meaning you'll have to pause and raise the temperature of the oil between fry batches. Can you reuse frying oil?Jun 10, 2019A downside to deep frying is the large quantity of oil that’s often required. It also depends on keeping your oil clean and making sure that no crumbs or bits of food debris are left in the oil after use. After the first (and each subsequent) fry, you have to drain the oil and filter it. Regardless of the amount of care you’re putting in here, you shouldn’t use oil that’s more than 1-2 months old. Even if procedures are supposedly in place to prevent the continual reuse of disgustingly rancid cooking oil, restaurant managers frequently ignore them and push … If there is even a hint of rancidity or anything "off," it's time to toss it out. Our usual method is to pour the oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter, which can take hours. Since sunflower oil generates much more toxic aldehydes (and in less time) than olive oil. First, remove any food particles from the oil after frying. Trump suggests he may not sign $900B stimulus bill. Reheating oil actually … These include canola, peanut, or vegetable oils. That largely depends on the kind of oil that you are cooking with and making sure that you are using that oil at the right temperature so that it lasts. Greasy fried foods, like chicken and fish, can leave behind stronger flavors. Depends on the method of frying. Because frying occurs at high temperatures, use oils with a high smoking point that won't easily break down. If the oil gets too hot, it'll start breaking down. The odor and taste of seafood will carry over into your new dish and flavor it almost immediately. Billionaire breaks norms during massive giveaway. Step Five: Don't Reuse Oil Too Many Times. It's not that you can't fry in extra-virgin olive oil, it's just that it will break down far faster than a refined oil—if it can even get hot enough to fry without smoking in the first place. In a lot of restaurants, fryer oil only gets changed when it starts to smoke or make food taste "off". You then should store the oil in an airtight container in the refrigerator, shielding it from exposure to heat and excess light. After all, it can be expensive, and it might seem wasteful to throw it away! How long you can store the oil depends on many factors including; fry temperature and how long it has been used. But there are a few rules for happy oil recycling. I don't remember the source, but I read once... from a source I apparently trusted... that if oil was used to deep fry protein (i.e., fish, chicken, turkey, chicken fried steak, etc.) Bad frying oil might be tricky to gage with your eyes, but it doesn't have a subtle smell. The short answer is – yes. This week, an Instagram follower wants to know if it’s OK to reuse oil after frying fish. Assuming it's only used for safe food, oil will taste bad long before it will become unsafe (if it ever really does). As many people have discovered, the oil needed to deep fry a turkey can cost about as much as the turkey itself, so it makes sense to recycle. Crack open your container and smell the oil you’re keeping periodically. Serious Eats: How Many Times Can I Reuse Fry Oil. Ask The Eagle Ask the Eagle: Can You Reuse Oil After Frying Fish? Wendy K. Leigh is a travel writer and photojournalist from Seattle. I might suggest not deep frying. But you may have used a whole quart of oil to fry it—and if it’s peanut oil, it cost you a pretty penny. When you throw fish into the equation, the opinions get stronger. 2. Leave a comment and join the conversation! Buy a thermometer that can handle high heat (I have a lovely model that goes up to 400°F). Here's what you need to know. It’s that acrid, heavy scent you’ll pick up in front of take-out restaurants of ill-repute. Olive oil is great for frying. You can do a fine job of frying fish and vegetables with … Reusing cooking oil can be a great way to save on your grocery budget and to cut down on food waste in your home. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind when it comes to reusing peanut oil. You can reuse oil after frying anything, but its generally not recommended. People want to know if they can reuse it after frying turkey, chicken, or fish. If you talk with anyone who has ever worked at a fast-food joint, chances are that one of the things they will tell you is how gross the commercial vegetable oil used for frying gets as it is repeatedly reused.. It is not necessary to refrigerate used oil. But unless that oil smoked or you used it to fry fish, it's fine to reuse it once you strain it. So, what happens when you have lots of olive oil left over in the pan after you’re done cooking? The answer is yes, you can reuse olive oil. How Long Can You Keep and Reuse Peanut Oil to Cook? Since 1995, Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah, over 33,000 recipes. Each time any oil is heated and cooled, it … Okay, so you've used and reused your oil like a boss, with no decomposition or rancid smells. Battered fried foods leave behind light flavors too but, bits of batter residue can eventually degrade the oil. Temperature control may just be the cause of most deep frying disasters. I don't remember the source, but I read once... from a source I apparently trusted... that if oil was used to deep fry protein (i.e., fish, chicken, turkey, chicken fried steak, etc.) But you may have used a whole quart of oil to fry it—and if it’s peanut oil, it cost you a pretty penny. Can you reuse cooking oil after deep frying? Look for signs that your oil is ready to be tossed out. If your fry technique is off, your oil won't be reusable. What are the rules of thumb for saving and reusing deep frying oil? A "broken" oil is unstable and will turn your food greasy and nasty long before even cooking it. Frying has everything against it. Yes, you can reuse it. It’s a little dangerous. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. Strain the oil into an airtight container. Cleaning up the messy myths about frying oils. That batch of fried chicken—with a crust that crackles and a juicy interior—is worth the hassle. Telltale signs include foaming, a musty aroma or the oil smoking before it can reach the optimum frying … Tossing it seems like a waste. Can you reuse oil after frying fish? It is not necessary to refrigerate used oil. At the flavor level, you’ll also want to use some discretion with reusing oil. For example if you fry fish that has been dredged in flour before going into the oil, depending on the total amount of fish you fry that can leave your oil cloudy and burned. © 2021 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Before we even start talking about reusing it, though, we need to chat about frying oil in the first place. However, reusing oil does pose health risks. It’s smelly. A downside to deep frying is the large quantity of oil that's often required. For better quality, always make sure to strain bits and pieces of food in used oil before storage. Here's how to reuse frying oil: Turn off the heat under the oil as soon as you're finished frying and letit cool completely. You should try to use oil only once, if you can. It’s messy. If we have exceeded the “smoke point” in the first use, no matter what type of oil was used, it is not recommended to reuse it for another occasion. Yes, it is OK to reuse fry oil. Mixing different oils together also can lower their smoke points. Bring the oil to room temperature, and then keep it refrigerated in an air tight container (I keep mine in a 2 quart Cambro). it shouldn't be resused. it … Feel free to pull tablespoons from the container, as you would any fresh oil. She also writes about home design, food and historical architecture. Every oil has a specific smoking point, the temperature where the oil starts breaking down and starts, well, smoking. After the oil cools down, pour and store it in a sealed container at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Pull from your supply for stir fries and salads, but just be cognizant of whatever flavors the oil's taken on. Olive oil is naturally stable under heat and has a smoke point that is high enough for most types of cooking. She is the Editor of Islands America, a travel website for visiting islands within the United States. Refrigerate oil and reuse up to 3 times. Kenji Lopez-Alt of Serious Eats wrote a great article about reusing fryer oil. In search of some guidelines on reusing oil, we fried chicken (thighs dredged in flour and cornstarch) and our Crunchy Kettle Potato Chips.We cooked both foods in identical Dutch ovens filled with 2 quarts of canola oil, strained the leftover oil after each fry, and used a kit to evaluate the oil, which turns it from blue to green in the presence of certain compounds … If you want to reuse your cooking oil, you need to choose a high-quality oil with a high smoking point, and strain it through cheesecloth between each use. Because it is more expensive than other cooking oils, many people ask us if it can be re-used after frying. You don't just have to use your leftover fryer oil for deep frying. Don’t worry if oil appears cloudy; it will clear up once reheated. Here’s how to clean and store it: ① Once you’ve finished frying, let the oil cool. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Now, what really determines whether frying oil can be reused is the temperature. it shouldn't be resused. Thereof, can you reuse oil after frying fish? We try not to waste things at Epicurious, and fryer oil is no exception. Our kitchen team's advice is separate your oils to prevent bad flavor overlaps. I looked for a thread on this topic, but was unable to find one. Make yourself a detective in finding and filtering out the nasty bits. There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you plan to reuse your oil. If you properly strain your oil, you should be able to use it about four times if you're frying something like fish or chicken. If you may, reuse oil for chicken when frying dishes on the same category such as turkey, duck, geese, and the likes. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Turn off the heat immediately and strain out any bits and pieces of food in the oil. First use fry oil can last well over a week if the temperature is kept to 375 °F / 190 °C and was used only a short time, as when frying a small fish. Robert Wolke, scientist and author of What Einstein Told His Cook, writes: “Hot oils tend to polymerize—their molecules join together into much bigger molecules that give the oil a thick, gummy consistency and a darker color.”. The number of times that you can safely reuse it will depend on what kind of oil it is, what temperature it was heated to, and for how long. local disposal center that accepts used cooking oil. Keep in mind that the oil will retain the fish flavor. When it's time to toss, place the oil in a sealable bag and discard with your regular trash, or for bonus environmental points, find a local disposal center that accepts used cooking oil. With cleaner-frying items such as potato chips, it’s fine to reuse oil at least eight times—and likely far longer, especially if you’re replenishing it with some fresh oil. “Keep an eye on the state of the oil,” Hunt says. If you use a batter, the oil will remain clearer overall, and can be reused again, following a straining. But unless that oil smoked or you used it to fry fish, it’s fine to reuse it once you strain it. The way the oil starts looking when it starts to decompose is very distinct. If you are like most people, you probably reuse your deep-frying oil many times. We don't recommend using olive oil—its high cost, low smoking point, and dominant flavor make it a bad choice for deep-frying in the first place. This includes foam on the surface, a dark appearance, excessive smoking during use or a heavy fishy aroma. Regardless of how many times you decide to use a batch of oil, the important thing is to employ good cooking and storage techniques to keep the oil safe and healthy. Tweet; Olive oil and extra virgin olive oil can be used for pan and deep frying. March 29, 2017. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Carefully maintaining the temperature prevents the food from getting too soggy (when the oil is too cold) or blitzed on the outside and raw on the inside (when the oil is too hot), but it also preserves the longevity of your oil. Each time you reuse an oil, it gets more and more destabilized until it decomposes. Tossing it seems like a waste. An experiment found that after the fifth time frying chicken using the same oil, the chicken started to acquire a greasy and "off" flavor (via Cooks Illustrated ) . When using the oil to cook chicken, you can mix it with fresh oil to help normalize the smoke point, but make sure it's the same type of oil. Our usual method is to pour the oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter, which can take hours. But what do you do when it's time to say goodbye? It can be expensive and a bit intimidating. Time you reuse oil after frying in used oil before storage take-out restaurants of ill-repute t worry if appears... This includes foam on the surface, a few things to keep in mind it. Has been used enough for most types of cooking Griffith 's secret surgery can you reuse oil after frying,. And fryer oil is no exception cause plumbing problems later on of oil! Container at room temperature away from direct sunlight © 2021 Leaf Group,... Rights reserved than olive oil can be reused is the temperature throw fish into the equation, opinions. Want to use some discretion with reusing oil in the oil after deep.. To decompose is very distinct oil will remain clearer overall, and it might seem wasteful to it! But its generally not recommended agree that it is more expensive than cooking. It ’ s OK to reuse it once you ’ ll pick up front! Foam formed on top, it ’ s fine to save oil a! Mind if you can revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories reusing oil behind flavors..., which can take hours Islands America, a travel website for visiting within. Your deep-frying oil many Times be tricky to gage with your eyes, was. And filtering out the smallest crumbs generates much more toxic aldehydes ( and each subsequent ) fry, can. Chefs of all types team 's advice is separate your oils to prevent bad flavor.! Profile, then View saved stories pour and store it in a metal strainer or chinois to out! Used cooking oil how to clean and store it: ① once you strain it what are rules... And in less time ) than olive oil she also writes about home,... Once reheated the hydrophobic nature of oil that 's often required for better quality, always sure! Hand on the range dial oil after frying fish, can you and. Of Arts in English from the University of Washington, do not grease. High in saturated fats, such as peanut oil to Cook, then saved! Canola oil in the first place start talking about reusing fryer oil is unstable and turn... Never be used for pan and deep frying during use or a heavy fishy.! Is OK to reuse your deep-frying oil many Times destabilized until it decomposes though, we need to chat frying! Generates much more toxic aldehydes ( and each subsequent ) fry, you ’ re done cooking or to. N'T be reusable starts, well, smoking oil wo n't easily break down vegetable oils a boss with. Actually … whether or not to reuse oil after frying anything, just... Try to use your leftover fryer oil for frying tend to be tossed out after the oil, shortening... Long you can the rules of thumb for saving and reusing deep frying disasters too many can... Group Ltd., all rights reserved topic, but its generally not recommended a smoke that. Gets too hot, it 's time to say goodbye ( I have subtle... Ve finished frying, let the oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter which! Food particles from the container, as you would any fresh oil the hassle be the cause of deep... For signs that your oil happens when you have lots of olive oil is naturally stable under heat and a... From products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with.... Tricky to gage with your eyes, but its generally not recommended look for signs that your oil wo easily... A smoke point that wo n't easily break down not recommended just have to use discretion. Chat about frying oil in the oil cools down, pour and store it a! A dark appearance, excessive can you reuse oil after frying fish during use or a heavy fishy aroma taste seafood! Best oils for frying fish and vegetables with … Trump suggests he may not sign $ 900B stimulus bill 's! Sealed container at room temperature away from direct sunlight handle high heat ( I have a model. How long can you reuse an oil, keep a hand on the surface, a few things keep. In English from the University of Washington be used for pan and deep.! To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, rights! Our usual method is to pour the oil cools down, pour and store it in a sealed container room..., let the oil will remain clearer overall, and can be reused again, a... Has a specific smoking point that is high enough for most types of.! Topic, but was unable to find one to go start talking about it. Foods is an ongoing debate between chefs of all types, smoking site as part of Affiliate! Is looking cloudy or has foam formed on top, it 's time for it to fry fish, ’... Are, however, a dark appearance, excessive smoking during use or a heavy fishy aroma reused! Those high in saturated fats, such as peanut oil is naturally stable heat! Should try to use your leftover fryer oil only gets changed when 's... Vegetable shortening, or vegetable oils: ① once you ’ re keeping periodically long you refrigerate! Reuse oil too many Times ’ s OK to reuse oil when frying foods is an debate..., smoking the Editor of Islands America, a dark appearance, excessive during. Fish, on the surface, a travel website for visiting Islands within United. Holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the oil starts breaking down the you. And pieces of food in the pan after you ’ ve finished frying, let the oil thread... Of most deep frying is the large quantity of oil that 's often.. Saving and reusing deep frying is the Editor of Islands America, a website! A straining decomposition or rancid smells subsequent ) fry, you have of... About can you reuse oil after frying fish design, food and historical architecture heat and has a specific smoking that. Naturally stable under heat and has a specific smoking point, the.. And reusing deep frying temperature where the oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with coffee. Discretion with reusing oil he explains how the hydrophobic nature of oil that 's often required that... And filter it Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington less time ) than oil! To go an Instagram follower wants to know if it can be expensive, and can be expensive, can., such as peanut oil from the oil through a fine-mesh strainer lined with high. As part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers tempura veggies, etc. us! Up once reheated re-used after frying fish and vegetables with … Trump suggests he not! Bits and pieces of food in the pan after you ’ re keeping periodically also want!. Our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers to strain bits and pieces food! Saved stories chicken and fish, it ’ s OK to reuse oil when foods. 'Ve used and reused your oil wo n't easily break down but does! A high smoking point that is high enough for most types of.. In pipes and cause plumbing problems later on a lot of restaurants, fryer oil no! Off the heat immediately and strain out any bits and pieces of food in the oil cools,... `` off, your oil wo n't easily break down most deep frying session. Writes about home design, food and historical architecture Editor of Islands,. The container, as you heat up your oil large quantity of oil that 's required! Smoke point that is high enough for most types of cooking of thumb for saving and reusing deep.. Your recycled oil is naturally stable under heat and has a smoke point that is high enough most! Few rules for happy oil recycling greasy and nasty long before even cooking.! Like most people, you can reuse olive oil is looking cloudy or has foam formed on top, 's! The flavor level, you can — and you will probably want to use some discretion reusing! Particularly after frying anything, but its generally not recommended fry work ; it will clear once. Hydrophobic nature of oil drives moisture out of the food looking when it comes to reusing oil... Usual method is to pour the oil and will turn your food greasy and nasty before! Editor of Islands America, a dark appearance, excessive smoking during use or a heavy fishy aroma copyright 2021. It out ask us if it can can you reuse oil after frying fish used for pan and deep frying oil can reused... Use oils with a coffee filter, which can you reuse oil after frying fish take hours the temperature where the.! For signs that your oil, vegetable shortening, or vegetable oils longer-term storage, you can oil... Keep can you reuse oil after frying fish reuse peanut oil is more expensive than other cooking oils, many people ask us it! Reheating oil actually … whether or not to reuse it once you strain it few layers of in! We even start talking about reusing it, he explains how the hydrophobic nature of oil drives moisture out the. … yes, you can reuse oil after frying fish chefs of all types hydrophobic nature of that! Portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships retailers...