What is the effect of squeezing lemon juice into the frying oil before frying?

Fried foods are loved by many people. They have a golden, crispy outer layer while keeping the inside soft and moist. Fried foods are often served with various sauces, which makes them even more delicious.

Normally, when frying at home, people would add the food directly into the hot oil. However, according to experienced cooks, it's recommended to squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into the frying oil before adding the food. You can also add a pinch of salt.

Lemon juice and salt help make the fried food extra crispy and improve its flavor. Additionally, this method prevents food from sticking to the bottom of the pan and reduces the splattering of oil while frying.

Squeezing lemon juice into the oil also helps eliminate the fishy smell when frying foods like fish.

After adding the lemon juice and salt, wait until the oil gets hot and no longer makes the popping sound before adding the food to fry until golden.

When frying, you need to wait for the oil to heat up before putting food in the pan. In addition, you should use a deep pan to limit oil splashing while cooking.

Some frying tips for food:

Clean the pan before use
One of the most important things to prevent food from sticking to the pan is to make sure the pan is clean.

Dry the food
Water on the surface of the food is the main cause of oil splattering when it hits the hot oil. Additionally, water makes it harder for the food to achieve a crispy golden crust.

So, before frying, let the food dry or use a clean towel to pat the food dry. You can also coat the food with a thin layer of flour, cornstarch, or batter. This helps absorb moisture and prevents oil splattering, while also giving the food a crispy coating and preventing it from sticking to the pan.

Heat the pan
Before adding food, heat the pan and oil. You can check if the oil is hot enough by dipping the tip of a chopstick into the oil. If small bubbles form, the oil is hot enough.

Use a deep pan
When frying, it's advisable to choose a deep pan. This is an effective way to prevent oil from splattering.

Add flour to the pan
Before frying, you can add a little flour to the oil and stir. The flour helps prevent oil splattering during frying and also reduces the chances of food sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you don't have flour, you can use cornstarch or other types of flour as alternatives.