When making tempura batter does there have to actually be ice in the water?!


Question: When making tempura batter does there have to actually be ice in the water!?
Or just really really cold water!? I mean water from the tap isn't that cold but exactly how cold must the water be!?Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Actually the colder the water the crisper and lighter the batter will be!. What I have done in the past in the restaurant is I take ice and tap water and let it set before you put it together!. Then strain the ice out and mix my batter up!. After I make my batter I get another bowl and put ice and water into it and set the bowl with my batter in to the top of the other bowl so it sets on top of the ice and water to keep the batter good and cold!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You want it to be really cold, but you don't want ice in it!. I fill a cup with ice, add tap water, let it set for a minute and then pour the water into a measuring cup!.

The Culinary Institute of America has in interesting article about tempura, including why you need to use icy cold water:

http://www!.ciachef!.edu/admissions/news/n!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I personally have always used ice, but I've seen it done several different ways also, so I guess it just depends on how you like your batter!. The slowly melting ice makes the batter lighter and crisper, in my opinion, but I'm sure there are many different cooks and Chef's who do it their own way!. Hope this help you today!Www@FoodAQ@Com

it really does need to be "ice" cold so yes you pretty much have to have ice in the water (but not the batter if that wasn't obvious)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Whoever said that you need really cold water in your tempura batter!? It is not necessary!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources