How to Boil Water Using a Deep Fryer (Why It Works!)

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Exploring the concept of boiling water in a deep fryer opens up a spectrum of culinary possibilities and also poses some intriguing cleaning solutions, alongside a few significant safety concerns. Whether it’s for cooking various foods or undertaking an unconventional yet effective cleaning method, this idea challenges traditional kitchen practices.

In this article, we will guide you through the necessary materials, preparation steps, suitable food types for this method, and important safety considerations to ensure a safe and innovative cooking experience.

Can You Boil Water in a Deep Fryer?

Yes, you can. Deep fryers can heat up oil up to 190°C (375°F), and it only takes 100°C (212°F) to boil water. However, there are many precautions you should take before trying to boil water with your deep fryer. This process involves extensive cleaning and knowing how to safely use and operate the deep fryer for something it’s not traditionally meant for.

However, it’s essential to note that deep fryers are primarily designed for high-temperature cooking, primarily focused on handling the high heat of evaporation from oil.

Boiling water in a deep fryer requires careful attention and thorough cleaning beforehand to remove any oil residue that could affect taste or safety. Nevertheless, once prepared, boiling water in a deep fryer expands its culinary versatility, allowing for the preparation of soups and other watery dishes alongside traditional frying.

What Materials You’ll Need?

To effectively clean a deep fryer, ensure you have the following materials ready:

Dry Cloth: Used for wiping and drying the fryer post-cleaning.
Bucket with Water: Needed for rinsing parts of the fryer during the cleaning process.
Dishwashing Sponge: Essential for scrubbing off stubborn food residues and grease.
Dishwashing Soap: Choose a soap designed for tough grease to ensure a thorough clean.
Empty Bottle Carton: Handy for responsibly disposing of the used oil.
Funnel: Aids in transferring the used oil into the carton without spills.

With these items, you are well-equipped to undertake a comprehensive cleaning of your deep fryer, ensuring it remains in optimal condition for future use.

How to Get Your Fryer Ready to Boil Water for Cooking

One of the first most important steps of preparing to use an air fryer, especially if you’re going to put something new like water into it, is to make sure it’s clean. Here are the best steps you should take to clean and otherwise maintain your deep fryer.

Unplug the electrical cord from the outlet.
Remove the top lid.
Take out the wire basket.
Lift up and remove the heating element which is often attached to the control panel.
Take out the deep frying pan.
If there’s any oil in the pan, use a funnel and pour it into the empty bottle carton
Using the sponge, give the pan a pre-scrubbing to get rid of any large chunks of food left inside.
Reassemble the deep fryer.
Pour water into the fryer by filling up the frying pan.
Add several generous squirts of dishwasher soup.
Turn the fryer on and set it to 100°C, but don’t let the water over-boil.
Leave it for about 20 minutes.
When done disassemble all the pieces again and scrub everything down with a sponge, water, and dishwashing soap.
Let it dry and then reassemble all the parts.

Your fryer should now be spotless and clean. Notice that during the cleaning process, you already used water to simmer and clean the deep fryer.

Types of Food Can You Make by Boiling Water in a Deep Fryer

One of the best reasons to boil water in a deep fryer is if you’re wanting to cook something. In fact, you can certainly use the wire basket included as a stainer.

Boiling vegetables: Using the wire basket, you can easily place any type of vegetable inside the basket and let it boil. You can fill up the deep fryer with the same amount as you would if it were cooking oil. Turn the control to 100°C and let it cook until it’s ready.
Cook your pasta and noodles: This is where the wire basket shines. You can try cooking pasta and noodles by heating up the water to 100°C. The basket will work like a perfectly shaped strainer, allowing you to remove the pasta cleanly from the boiling water when it’s done. It makes cooking pasta really easy.
Make hard-boiled eggs: The same thing goes for boiling eggs. Simply turn up the temperature to 100°C. Place the uncooked eggs into the basket and dip them underwater for roughly 7 minutes. Pull the basket out along with the egg and now you have a perfectly boiled egg.
Soupy foods: You can even make soup in your deep-fryer. Simply put meat and bones into the basket and dip them into the simmering water. To make foods like chicken broth, you’ll need to cut the chicken up into small pieces for it to cook faster. Generally speaking, cook the meat, bones, and all in simmering water for about 4-6 hours.
Hard-Boiled Eggs: Boiling eggs in a deep fryer is a great way to yield perfect hard-boiled eggs. The consistent high heat can help get the perfect firmness for your egg yolk. For instance, if you are having a party and you need dozens of hard-boiled eggs for making deviled eggs, your deep fryer can come in handy.
Seafood Boil: If you’re a fan of seafood and you have a large deep fryer, you can easily have a seafood boil at home. You can combine spices, water, and your favorite seafood items such as shrimp, crab, or mussels. This is a similar process to a traditional seafood boil, and it could be a creative alternative for using your deep fryer to feed a larger group.
Pasta: While pasta is traditionally made in a pot, a deep fryer can be an alternative means to apply heat to water for boiling pasta. For example, you could make a small batch of spaghetti by simply putting it in a deep fryer, provided that you monitor the cooking process closely to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
Dumplings: Dumplings can be cooked in a deep fryer by boiling. Ensure you cover them in enough water to achieve the desired texture. For example, you could prepare a batch of dumplings for your next Asian-inspired dinner without needing to use a separate steamer.

Boiling Water in a Deep Fryer Can Clean It

Utilizing boiling soapy water in a deep fryer for cleaning purposes capitalizes on the fryer’s heating capabilities, offering an efficient and thorough cleaning method. This approach is fundamentally akin to how dishwashers operate, which elevate water temperatures to between 65°C and 70°C, using the heat along with detergent to dissolve and remove food residues effectively.

However, a deep fryer, lacking the built-in pressurized spray systems of a dishwasher, compensates by heating water to the boiling point of 100°C. This elevated temperature, in conjunction with soap, works effectively to loosen and eliminate the accumulated oils and food particles.

This method does not only illustrate a clever use of the deep fryer’s basic functionality but also demonstrates an eco-friendly and simple approach to achieving a high level of cleanliness without specialized cleaning equipment, ensuring the deep fryer is ready for its next use with minimal hassle and maximum efficiency.

The Dangers of Boiling Water in a Deep Fryer

Limited Temperature Regulation Below Boiling Point: Some deep fryers are not designed to accurately measure temperatures below 100°C. When boiling water, if the fryer doesn’t register the lower temperature, it might not shut off or reduce heat as expected, potentially leading to all the water boiling off. For example, you set the deep fryer to what you think is 100°C to boil water, but the actual temperature is higher because the fryer can’t accurately regulate at that range, causing rapid evaporation.
Risk of Overheating and Fire Hazard After Evaporation: Leaving a deep fryer to boil water without supervision is risky. If the water completely evaporates, there’s a danger that the heating element would overheat. Typically, the oil used in deep fryers has a higher specific heat capacity, allowing it to absorb more energy without overheating. In contrast, once water evaporates, the heating element can become too hot, damaging the fryer and at worst, starting a fire.
Potential for Scalding and Burns from Boil-Over: If a deep fryer boiling water is left unattended, the hot steam generated can cause the boiling water to overflow, creating a hazardous situation. A real-life scenario might involve someone forgetting the fryer with boiling water, leading to a spill that could scald anyone nearby.
Importance of Monitoring to Prevent Dry Running: Consistent monitoring is essential when using a deep fryer for any purpose, including boiling water. Ignoring the fryer could result in the water boiling away, leaving the heating element uncooled, which could cause it to burn out. Envision you’re deep cleaning using boiling water and get distracted, causing you to overlook the dry running fryer—this mishap could irreversibly damage the appliance or pose a safety risk.
Emphasizing Proper Use Within Optimal Temperature Ranges: Deep fryers are designed to reach and sustain high temperatures needed for cooking in oil, not necessarily for boiling water. By understanding and respecting the fryer’s intended use and optimal temperature ranges, users can maintain the fryer’s condition and safety. For instance, consistently using the deep fryer at temperatures it’s not designed to measure or control can provoke wear and tear or dangerous malfunctions.
The Dangers of Mixing Water With Hot Oil: Introducing water into a hot deep fryer filled with oil can be catastrophic, leading to explosive reactions that can result in severe burns or even more dire consequences. The specific example underscores the stark reality of someone inadvertently adding water to a deep fryer full of hot oil, causing the violent and rapid expansion of water into steam, which propels the oil out in a scalding spray, a dangerous scenario that’s well-documented in kitchen accident reports online.

My Final Thoughts

It’s uncommon but completely doable to boil water using a deep fryer. In fact, if you ever need, I suggest this be a great way to create a great meal for you or the family.

Make sure you properly clean out the remnants of oil leftover from the previous cooks. Remember cold water and hot oil does not mix well so be very careful and never add water into a deep fryer filled with hot oil.

Other than that, enjoy your new way of boiling veggies, eggs and making broth.

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