Stop oil splatter: Simple kitchen hacks for a cleaner fry
"Popping" oil during frying can ruin the mood and require a lot of cleaning up. Many people don't realize it's easy to avoid, and there are a few simple ways to do it. Just remember one thing.
7:11 PM EDT, October 19, 2024
Frying meat, fish, or vegetables in a pan is hard to avoid in the kitchen, and it almost always comes with oil splattering. Why does this happen?
Why does oil in the pan splatter?
The reason for oil splattering is the evaporation of water contained in the fried products. Water turns into steam under the influence of high temperature, which increases its volume. This vapor can break through the layer of oil in the pan, causing it to splatter. Oil also splatters when water is left in the pan from previous frying. So, the cause of oil splattering from the pan is water. Strong splatters occur when water gets trapped under a layer of oil. Therefore, everything should be done to eliminate it.
How to prevent oil splattering?
The first step is to thoroughly dry the pan after washing it. It's best to use a paper towel, which absorbs moisture well, and wipe the pan's surface. However, this alone does not entirely prevent oil splattering.
Salt can help remove moisture from the pan. Simply sprinkle a small amount on the bottom (about a teaspoon), then pour in the oil and heat everything. Salt is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water and prevents oil splattering. Another tried-and-true home method is vinegar. Before frying, just dampen a paper towel with vinegar and wipe the pan. Like salt, vinegar effectively absorbs water, reducing the risk of oil splattering.
Preparing the meat, vegetables, or fish for frying is equally crucial as drying the pan. They should be thoroughly dried beforehand. Paper towels, which effectively absorb excess moisture, work well for this. It's a simple yet highly effective method that significantly reduces the amount of oil splatter in the kitchen.
Another idea to prevent splattering is to use a mesh guard on the pan. It resembles a lid but has a dense mesh instead of a full surface. This allows moisture to evaporate while preventing oil from splattering. As a result, fried dishes don't lose their crispiness. Traditional lids don't work; they trap steam, which collects under the lid and can even enhance oil splattering.
