If you’re trying to make a big batch of fried chicken or shrimp tempura, you know the process takes ages. Frying requires time and patience, and you need to do it in batches.
If you’ve been looking for a shortcut, you may have asked: can you fry in a pressure cooker?
The idea is super tempting, especially when considering the speed at which you could fry things. But before you dump in 3 cups of oil into your pressure cooker, give this article a read first.
Using a Pressure Cooker
Pressure cookers are a little intimidating, but are easy to use once you get used to it. They cook things at high temperatures under high pressure.
This combination speeds up the cooking process which makes it a great choice when cooking things that take a long time to boil or steam.
As a result, they are perfect for making beef stock, rich and heavy broths, as well as cooking dried beans, lentils, and chickpeas. Because you can broil, steam, and boil things, this leads to the question: can you deep fry in a pressure cooker?
The short answer is no. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t fry things in a pressure cooker at all. So, frying chicken in a pressure cooker is a bad idea if you want to recreate a KFC bucket.
However, you can absolutely shallow fry or sauté things in a pressure cooker using a small amount of oil. So, can you fry in an instant pot? Yes, as long as you don’t deep fry things in lots of oil or clarified butter.
Using an instant pot as a deep fryer simply wouldn’t work because an instant pot can’t reach the high temperature (350F-375F) needed for deep frying.
Deep Frying in a Pressure Cooker
As we mentioned, pressure cookers cook things under high pressure. If we combine the 375F temperature needed to deep fry things with the 30-psi pressure, it becomes clear why it is so dangerous.
Deep frying in a regular pot at such a high temperature is scary enough ─ imagine boiling oil under high pressure! The cooker becomes a disaster just waiting to explode.
As a result, you should never deep-fry things in a pressure cooker. So, can you put oil in a pressure cooker at all? Sauteing and shallow frying is alright, and you can add up to a quarter cup of oil in your cooker without any danger.
What is Pressure Frying?
Pressure frying is a cooking method that creates delicious food by using high-pressure cookers to fry meat and vegetables.
It’s most known for its use in making fried chicken, but other dishes such as french fries or tempura batter can also be made with this technique!
Deep Frying Under Pressure
As it turns out, you can deep fry things in pressurized conditions. In fact, KFC pressure cooker fried chicken is made this way. To do so, one will need a pressure fryer that can deep fry things under pressure more safely.
This kind of cooking has certain benefits. It saves on both cooking time and oil. At the same time, it leaves the chicken crispy without drying it out, so the interior is soft and juicy.
Frying chicken in a pressure fryer is known as broasting and, and these cookers are known as broasters in many places. Broasted chicken is very popular in parts of the Middle East and South Asia, due to the crisp exterior and melt-in-your-mouth meat.
But how to make broasted chicken in a pressure cooker? Just invest in a pressure fryer. It is safer and will make your favorite fried chicken a tad bit healthier.
Instant Pot Frying chicken Recipe
If you’re running short on time and still want to enjoy fried chicken, this recipe can serve you well.
Recipe Nutritional Facts
| Total chicken weight | 500 grams |
| Protein | 55 grams |
| Fat | 8 grams |
| Vitamins | A, B, D |
| Calories | 850 Kcal |
Ingredient:
- 600 g chicken (drumstick form)
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- ½ cup of corn flour
- ½ tablespoon turmeric powder
- 1.5 tablespoons mixed herbs (powdered)
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- 1/8 tablespoon food color
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon ginger (powdered)
- 1 tablespoon pepper powder
- Salt as per taste
- 3 tablespoons yogurt
- 8 tablespoons cooking oil
Procedure:
Step 1- wash the chicken
Wash the entire 600 g of chicken and drain off the water. If you’re not a fan of chicken drumsticks, you can also go with chicken thighs.
Step 2- coat the chicken on all sides
Place the chicken in a mixing bowl. Add herb powders, red chili powder, turmeric, paprika, ginger powder, and yogurt to the chicken and mix it well. Marinate the mixture in the refrigerator for four hours.
Step 3- get the eggs ready
In a pot, add two eggs and beat them well.
Step 4- mix corn flour and all-purpose flour
Mix corn flour, all-purpose flour, pepper, food color, and paprika in a separate bowl.
Step 5- coat the chicken:
Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and dip it in the bowl of beaten eggs. Then, coat it with the flour mixture from the other bowl. Ensure an even but thick on all sides.
Repeat the coating process if desired.
Step 6- prepare the pressure cooker
Add 8 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pressure cooker and heat it. Check the temperature of oil using a food thermometer. Once it reachesIf it is 375°F, move to the next step.
Step 7- dip the chicken pieces
Once the temperature is perfect, place the chicken pieces in oil and close the pressure cooker lid.
Step 8- leave it for eight minutes
After eight minutes, remove a chicken piece and create an incision in the thickest part to check the color of the meat. If it is white, it is well cooked. If you notice any pink tinge, cook the chicken longer.
Another way is to insert the food thermometer in the deepest part of the chicken piece. If the temperature is upwards of 165°F (73°C), it is well cooked. Repeat this process at 2 to 3 spots in the piece; if the temperature is higher than the threshold in all areas, the chicken is well cooked.
Step 9- extract the chicken and garnish it:
Once the pieces are well cooked, remove them from the pressure cooker and garnish with green chili, spring onion, and thyme.
Why is this recipe such a good choice?
This recipe is such a good choice because it requires just 8 minutes of cooking time, and the probability of the chicken pieces getting cooked evenly is pretty high.
In Short
To make a long story short, the answer to ‘Can you fry in a pressure cooker?’ is no. Deep frying in a pressure cooker is a bad idea because it is dangerous and prone to causing explosions. Instead, it is better to stick to traditional methods like deep frying in a Dutch oven or wok.
But if you want to deep fry large amounts of food quickly in a restaurant, it is best to use a pressure fryer. Whichever method you choose, you will end up with a crisp, delicate piece of fried chicken that you won’t be able to get away from!
FAQs
Here you will find answers to questions people have about deep frying and pressure cookers.
How Does a Pressure Fryer Cook Things?
The pressure fryer is an enclosed pot where pressure builds up as the food deep-fries. The increase in the boiling point of the water in the chicken leads to moisture retention, resulting in a juicier end product.
What Happens if I Deep Fry in a Regular Pressure Cooker?
Adding lots of oil to a pressure cooker increases the chances of it exploding during the cooking process. Even if the cooker doesn’t burst, there is a good chance that you injure yourself when you try to relieve the pressure of the unit.
What is the Best Pressure Fryer?
For the best results, using a professional pressure fryer from the Broaster Company is recommended. But if you don’t want commercial equipment, the Prestige Induction Base Pressure Pan is a reliable and affordable option for deep frying small amounts of food.
Can I Deep Fry in My Instant Pot?
Deep frying in an instant pot can be difficult, as it won’t reach the required temperature while uncovered. Instead, it is best to use a Dutch oven or deep fryer when frying things like chicken or fritters.
For a healthier option, you can bake chicken in a rotisserie oven until crisp, as this requires a very small amount of oil. An air fryer is also a good option for a lighter fried chicken.
How Long Does It Take to Pressure Fry Chicken?
Because of the high temperature and pressure, it takes just 10 minutes to deep fry a batch of chicken in one of these fryers.
