Crossword Dictionary
FRY
fry, fried, fries, refry, frying, fryable - v
to cook over direct heat in hot fat or oil
Frying is the cooking of food in oil or another fat.[a] Similar to sautéing, pan-fried foods are generally turned over once or twice during cooking, using tongs or a spatula, while sautéed foods are cooked by "tossing in the pan". A large variety of foods may be fried.
Frying is believed to have first appeared in the Ancient Egyptian kitchen, during the Old Kingdom, around 2500 BCE. The first record of frying technique in the western world had been traced from a painting in the 16th century which depicted an old lady frying an egg.
Fats can reach much higher temperatures before boiling compared to water. Through frying, one can sear or even carbonize the surface of foods while caramelizing sugars. The food is cooked much more quickly and has a characteristic crispness and texture. Depending on the food, the fat will penetrate it to varying degrees, contributing richness, lubricity, its own flavor, and calories.