Why can't I deep fry a small whole chicken indoors?!


Question: Why can't I deep fry a small whole chicken indoors!?
I've read that this is a bad idea, so I'm not going to do it, but I'm wondering why not!. I wanted to deep fry a whole chicken (SMALL- 3 lbs) in my large deep fryer!. I would finish it off in the oven, I just wanted a crispy coating!. There would be lots of room for the chicken to fry, completely immersed, in the fryer!.

PIC:

http://sc7img!.dillards!.com/is/image/Dill!.!.!.

Just curious!. Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
For starters, it’s a significant fire hazard to deep fry large things inside unless you have the institutional (restaurant) equipment as well as the kitchen arrangement that you need to safely do deep frying inside!. And this fryer in the provided photograph is very small compared to some of the fryers that I have seen, commercial or otherwise!.

It’s also impractical, as the deep fryer that you show is much too small to accommodate an entire chicken, especially one that hasn’t been cut up!. Even if you can fit the chicken into the deep fryer safely (this would be virtually impossible) there wouldn’t be enough room left over for enough oil to cook the bird thoroughly or quickly!. Deep frying small batches does require a substantial amount of oil to cook food quickly and prevent greasiness!. In short, a home kitchen-based deep fryer just doesn’t have the room for both the whole chicken and enough oil to cook!. If you could somehow get to the cooking stage, the chicken would likely be touching the side of the fryer inside, which would pose a fire hazard on its own!. The chicken would also be extremely greasy, as the oil temperature would drop substantially in the amount of oil used in a fryer of this size!.


Don’t even attempt this; it’s very dangerous and getting the results you want is virtually impossible!.

P!.S!. Since you were planning to use your oven, just roast the chicken!. A properly roasted chicken should have a crispy outside crust, although it won’t be breaded!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com

The only reason why someone would tell you not to do it, because apparently many accidents in a home have happened while attempting to fry a chicken!.
You can of course, fry your chicken and finish it up in the oven!. People suggest not to do it, because it is "hazardous" especially, if kids are in a kitchen (where they don't belong anyway unless they are 14 years of age)!. I personally, have a "fryer" smaller than yours, and have made my kitchen in there !Www@FoodAQ@Com

If you want a crispy coating cut your chicken in half and fry it in a cast iron pan with a little oil!. Start skin side down and when it's brown (and crispy) turn it over and put it in the oven!. Completely submerging a chicken indoors is not a good idea!. When the chicken cooks it gives off moisture, which cause the oil to pop, which (if in large enough doses) could get to the fire and cause problems!. You do this outdoors so the only damage is to your porch or lawn!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It's not that a whole bird will make the oil ignite, it's just that so many people don't take into account how much oil a whole bird will displace!. Sounds like your aware of that though!.
This may sound funny but just for safety sake, can you run a big extension cord outside for your deep fryer!? Www@FoodAQ@Com

my history with frying chicken!.

the blow up alot(the hot oil and water thing)!. unless you coat them with flour!. then they start to foam a lot!.

though i have seen some people deep fry a whole chicken before!.
but that was with a big cooking pot!. half filled with oil but enough to deep fry a whole chicken!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

On all deep fryers, if you look on the interior side, you'll see a maximum fill line!. I don't think it's possible to fully immerse your chicken without passing that fill line (which is there as a safety precaution)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

While the chicken will fit, the oil will increasing fill the fryer and overflow!. It's to do with the liquid released by the chicken, and etc!.
It will overflow!.!.!.you wouldn't believe how much room is actually in a turkey fryer!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It's an extreme fire hazard!. Can't you move your fryer out onto the porch or lawn, then fry your chicken out there!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

It's just simply a fire hazard!. Thats allWww@FoodAQ@Com





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