# How to pan-fry stuffs that are supposed to be deep-fried? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659 "2012-06-29T03:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![griffon502](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@griffon502](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffon502)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/1 "2012-06-29T03:57:18Z")
I got some raw chicken wings and legs, and I got the coating mix, but the problem is, it is supposed to be deep-fryed, but I don’t want to spend so much oil for just for one meal, so I pan-fry instead. But how do I get the same or similar result as deep-frying via pan-frying? Any techniqus? I suppose it takes longer and you need to turn them over once or twice? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/2 "2012-06-29T03:59:32Z")
you can re-use deep-frying oil so long as you don’t overheat it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/3 "2012-06-29T04:09:55Z")
Try slow frying. Have the fire high long enough to heat the oil initially, add the chicken once the oil is hot, and once the chicken starts to get golden, lower the heat. Cooking it on low heat will let it cook all the way through without burning the outside. Asking for a move to CS since it’s about cooking, btw. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/4 "2012-06-29T04:23:59Z")
All the true foodies hang out in Cafe Society. Moved from General Questions. **samclem** , Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/5 "2012-06-29T04:51:38Z")
Pan fried chicken is not hard. Put about an inch of oil or shortening in a large skillet and heat it to 350. Place the breaded chicken pieces in and allow them to cook for about ten to fifteen minutes until they are brown with a dark brown spot where they contacted the pan. Turn once to and set on a rack to drain. The temperature is important. Use a pan that will retain heat such as a cast iron pan. If you have leg quarters instead of drum sticks they may take a little longer. Once they are done do not leave them in or return them to the oil. They will just absorb oil into the crust. If you don’t get a good crust your oil is not hot enough. Don’t crowd your pan it will make temperature control harder. I am not a foodie but I do like good fried chicken. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/6 "2012-06-29T05:19:18Z")
> [@Dano83860](#): > > Pan fried chicken is not hard. Put about an inch of oil or shortening in a large skillet and heat it to 350. Place the breaded chicken pieces in and allow them to cook for about ten to fifteen minutes until they are brown with a dark brown spot where they contacted the pan. Turn once to and set on a rack to drain. > > The temperature is important. Use a pan that will retain heat such as a cast iron pan. If you have leg quarters instead of drum sticks they may take a little longer. Once they are done do not leave them in or return them to the oil. They will just absorb oil into the crust. If you don’t get a good crust your oil is not hot enough. Don’t crowd your pan it will make temperature control harder. > > I am not a foodie but I do like good fried chicken. 😃 To clarify: When you say to turn once then rack and drain, I’m assuming that you are letting the other side cook as well. How long Di you generally let the second side cook? When I cook pork chops, the flip side can be for a shorter duration than the initial cool meat, and I can’t see only cooking one side of chicken and then serving. Nice write-up though, thanks for the straight forward instructions ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/7 "2012-06-29T15:10:13Z")
Cook the second side for the same ten to fifteen minutes. Check it at say ten minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/8 "2012-06-29T15:49:54Z")
And fill the pan with enough oil to come halfway up the side of whatever you’re cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/9 "2012-06-29T17:16:08Z")
Am I the only one who, whenever I see the term “pan-fried”, thinks of a completely different SDMB thread? ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/10 "2012-06-29T19:42:31Z")
No. No, sir, you are not. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/11 "2012-06-30T00:04:24Z")
Wait, what? Clue me in! ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/12 "2012-06-30T00:20:19Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Wait, what? Clue me in! Trust us, you don’t really want to know. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pan-fry-stuffs-that-are-supposed-to-be-deep-fried/626659/13 "2012-06-30T00:40:23Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Wait, what? Clue me in! You asked for it. [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=198659)