Frying up some crispy bacon for breakfast? Or maybe you’re in the mood for fried chicken? Or the Belgian way for the Sunday lunch: steak with French Fries... Whatever’s sizzling in your kitchen, let’s keep the flames where they belong—under the pan, not all over your kitchen.
Here’s how to prevent a frying pot disaster, with some real-life scenarios.
1. Distractions Happen
Picture this: You're frying up some chicken wings, and your friend texts about tonight’s plans. You step away for just a minute to reply, but suddenly, you smell smoke. Uh-oh. Hot oil waits for no one! Stick close to the stove when frying—texting, TikTok, and phone calls can wait.
2. Pick the Right Oil for the Job
You’ve decided to fry some donuts (yum!) but grabbed olive oil for salads because it's “healthy,” right? Wrong. Some olive oil hates high heat. Instead, use oils like sunflower, coconut, canola or peanut—they can handle the heat without throwing a tantrum. And if your oil starts smoking, it's begging you to turn off the heat before it gets dramatic.
3. Keep a Lid Handy
Say you’re frying some fries, and things get a little too hot and black. Suddenly, the oil flares up! Don’t panic. If you've got a lid nearby (which you should), just slide it over the pot. Boom—fire smothered, and your fries might even survive the ordeal. Remember, no water on grease fires unless you want to see flames dance.
4. Don’t Get Greedy with the Oil
We’ve all been there: trying to fry a ton of chicken wings in one go because, hey, you’re starving. But overfilling the pot means the oil can spill over when you add food—and that’s when fires start. Keep it to two-thirds full, and if you need a second batch, your wings will forgive you.
5. Use a Thermometer
You’re frying onion rings, and without a thermometer, you think, "Eh, this seems hot enough." Next thing you know, your rings are more charred than crispy. Keep your oil at 175-190°C to stay in the safe zone and keep your food from turning into charcoal. Most frying pots have the indication, but better looking at it – no guesswork here.
6. If Fire Does Happen, Don’t Panic
So, despite your best efforts, flames have decided to join your dinner party. First, turn off the heat or try to unplug the device from electricity. Next, try to cover the pan with a lid or baking tray to cut off the oxygen. And if it’s getting out of hand or the lid is not sufficient or you couldn’t find it, this is when your trusty Control Fire spray comes to the rescue—spray it, and the flames are gone faster than you can say, "Whoops!". Most important thing to remember: don’t stop spraying. Keep it up. And empty the can on the flames.
