The Temperature

The perfect temperature for optimum frying is 365° to 375°F. Fried foods will absorb too much oil if they are cooked in oil heated below 340°F. If the temperature rises above 375°F they will brown too quickly before the interiors are cooked through. The easiest way to monitor your temperature is with a deep-frying thermometer. If you don’t have one, try the bread cube test: Cut a small cube of white bread and drop it in the hot oil. The bread will fry up golden brown in 1 minute at 350°F; at 375° it will take 40 seconds.