Cooking with olive oil is a great way to add flavor and nutrition to your dishes. It’s also one of the healthiest cooking oils, as it contains monounsaturated fats that are beneficial for heart health. But can you fry chicken with olive oil? The answer is yes – although there are some important considerations to keep in mind when frying with this type of oil. In this article, we’ll explore the best ways to use olive oil when frying food, so you can enjoy delicious fried dishes without worrying about damaging your health or ruining your meal!
If you love fried chicken where you have juicy, tender chicken breaded in your favorite breading, using olive oil is the way to go. When frying chicken pieces, it is important to pick an oil that can withstand high temperatures before smoking. You need to pick the best oil for flavor, saving calories and it’s great if you already have it on hand.
The oil we use to cook is an important component of each and every recipe we make. If you are a food allergy family, this becomes an even more important component of every dish you cook. For me, olive oil is my go to oil in cooking, for many things I do. If you are wondering can you use olive oil to fry your favorite foods – the answer is a resounding yes! Read on to learn more about some of the classics.
Today I want to take a look at a question that people often ask me, which is “can you fry with olive oil?”.
Can You Fry with Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a great choice for frying, and is healthier than many other choices out there when it comes to frying food.
Olive oil is a great choice for many people with food allergies, as long as they are not allergic to olives, of course. Olive oil is not considered a common allergen, and is not derived from any sort of nuts or seeds.
The thing that people most often talk about is the smoke point of an oil.
The smoke point of an oil is simply how hot you can heat an oil before it starts smoking. Pretty straight forward.
For some reason, olive oil gets a bad name when it comes to this area.
The fact of the matter is that the smoke point of the olive oil we use every day which is called refined olive oil is from approximately 390 – 470 F which is actually quite high.
This means you will be able to fry whatever you want with olive oil without issues of smoking.
The confusion comes from the smoke points of other types of olive oil, like extra virgin olive oil, which can be as low as 320 F.
Can you deep fry chicken with extra virgin olive oil?
Extra virgin olive oil is OK for deep frying, as long as you stay below its smoke point of approximately 320F.
If your extra virgin olive oil starts smoking, the temperature is too high, and your food will have an acrid burnt taste. To fry with extra virgin olive oil, be sure to heat the oil gradually, and be sure to use a deep frying thermometer to make sure you don’t reach the lower smoke point.
If you are going to fry at higher temperatures, you are better off with regular olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil since the smoke point is higher.
Can you fry fries with olive oil?
Yes, you can fry fries with olive oil, as long as you are mindful of the smoke point. Olive oil fries taste great, and are very healthy.
Consider seasoning your olive oil for French fries with things like garlic, fresh herbs, or crushed red pepper for a really delicious twist on classic French fries,
You should also think about an air fryer for French fries. With an air fryer you will just need only a tablespoon or two of olive oil for your French fries and you won’t be able to tell they aren’t deep fried!
Can you fry chicken with olive oil?
Yes, you can fry chicken in olive oil. Breaded chicken cutlets (that you use for things like Chicken Parmigiana) are an Italian staple food, and most often fried in olive oil.
Chicken cutlets dredged with flour are often also fried in olive oil in Italian cooking.
You just need about 1/4 of an inch of oil in the pan to fry chicken cutlets. They will be nice and golden brown, and won’t stick to your pan.
Thin chicken cutlets used in most Italian recipes cook fast! Be sure to pay attention to how brown your chicken cutlets are getting, and always make sure that they are cooked using a thermometer (the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165F).
Can you deep fry chicken in olive oil?
Beyond pan frying chicken, yes you can also deep fry chicken in olive oil. The only draw back to this is the price of olive oil. In most cases, olive oil is not traditionally used for deep frying because it is so expensive compared to other options like vegetable oil or canola oil..
One way to deep fry in olive oil is to be sure to strain the oil after use so you can use it multiple times. You can reuse oil if you take care to cook similar foods in it, because the oil will start to taste like the food. Chicken is a great food that everyone loves, so its a good choice for reusing oil.
Why Choose Olive Oil for Frying?
Next the question is why would you choose olive oil for frying?
Besides its high smoke point, and the fact that it is not a common allergen, olive oil is good for you.
When we talk about oils and fats, we talk about different types of fats.
Olive Oil is a monounsaturated fat, which is the type of fat that is good for you.
Saturated fats aren’t as bad as trans fats, but they aren’t great either. Trans fats are the worst types of fats. You can read more about these types of fats here.
Besides what goes into the oil or fat, the processing of the oil is also important. That is what makes trans fats so bad for you, when they are over processed.
Olive Oil is relatively unprocessed, and the good type of fat.
Since when we fry things the oil or fat we fry in is absorbed into our food, it is important to pick a good oil to fry in.
Olive oil is generally a good oil, with several health benefits such as reducing inflammation, and in includes a ton of antioxidants.
How to Fry With Olive Oil
I generally pan fry with olive oil versus deep fry.
This means that I need to flip the food while cooking it.
I start with a frying pan, and add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
Depending on how thick the food I am frying is, I may add a little bit more, since I want the food to be half way submerged.
I heat the oil on medium heat (this is what works on my stove, yours may behave differently), until I can flick a drop of water into the oil and it hisses.
Then I add my food, and flip it once the first side is golden brown.
This amount of time varies based on the food you are cooking.
Then, I always use an instant read thermometer once both sides are browned to ensure my food is cooked thoroughly.
I choose this method since olive oil is more expensive than different types of oils.
With a thin layer of oil in a larger pan, I can cook more food with less amount of olive oil, than if I was attempting to deep fry it in a pot.
So the answer to can you fry chicken with olive oil is absolutely yes!
Olive oil is also a great substitute of oils like sesame oil and peanut oil.
How long does it take to fry chicken in olive oil?
The time it takes for your chicken to properly cook will vary depending on if you are using white or dark meat, the size of the cut of your meat and if you’re using bone in or boneless cuts of chicken.
How much time does it take to fry boneless skinless chicken breasts?
The time it takes to fry boneless skinless chicken breasts is usually between 10-15 minutes.
You will know that the chicken is done once it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How much time does it take to fry bone in chicken legs and thighs?
Frying bone-in chicken legs and thighs takes about 10 minutes total. The chicken should be cooked for about 6 minutes per side, or until it is golden brown and the juices run clear. Be sure to keep an eye on the chicken while it’s cooking so that it doesn’t burn or overcook!
How much time does it take to fry chicken wings?
Frying chicken wings in olive oil usually takes around 8-10 minutes. To make sure the wings are cooked through, you should cook them for 3-4 minutes per side or until they reach a golden brown color.
How much time does it take to fry boneless chicken wings in olive oil?
Frying boneless chicken wings in olive oil usually takes around 5-7 minutes. To make sure the wings are cooked through, you should cook them for 2-3 minutes per side or until they reach a golden brown color.
How much time does it take to fry chicken legs in olive oil?
Frying chicken legs in olive oil usually takes around 10-15 minutes. To make sure the legs are cooked through, you should cook them for 4-5 minutes per side or until they reach a golden brown color. Be sure to pay close attention to the cooking time because you don’t want them to get too dry or burn!
Can you fry chicken without flour?
Yes, when you prep your chicken for frying in olive oil, you can just season it if you don’t want to bread it. It’s up to whatever your personal preference is, you’ll still have a nice crispy skin on the outside of your chicken.
Does olive oil have a taste?
Yes, olive oil does have a taste. It has a slightly grassy and nutty flavor with a slightly peppery finish. This is why its often used in Mediterranean dishes to enhance the flavors of ingredients. The taste will also vary depending on the type of olives that were used to produce the oil.
If you’re looking for a neutral flavor oil for frying you may want to choose a more neutral oil other than olive oil as your cooking oil. Remember there are different types of oil to choose from and some are better for things than others depending on what you want from your frying oil.
General Tips for Frying Chicken with Olive Oil
- When frying with olive oil, remember to keep the oil at a medium heat and flip your chicken while cooking so that it cooks evenly on both sides.
- It is important to check the internal temperature of your chicken with an instant read thermometer to ensure that it has reached 165 °F (74 °C) before serving your chicken.
- Always use a thermometer to check that your olive oil is the right temperature for frying and that you are not close to reaching the smoke point of the oil.
- Be very careful when flipping your food in the hot oil, the oil temperature can be very hot and the oil can easily sputter out and burn you.
- Additionally, it is important to avoid overcrowding the pan and make sure that you use enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan evenly.
- Finally, ensure to keep a close eye on the chicken while cooking and don’t hesitate to check regularly if your chicken is fully cooked. This will help prevent your chicken from overcooking your chicken.