How do i make the best homemade onion rings, i just can't seem to get a nice crispy coat on them?!

OK this is important: do you have a candy/oil thermometer? They’re not very expensive and can be quite indispensable when it comes to measuring the temperature of oil. And when it comes to frying, the temperature can be very important. After a lot of practice, you’ll get a feel for the look and behavior of the hot oil, and can probably guess when the time’s right. But it never hurts to measure, just to be sure.

I just hook the thermometer to the side of my pan and make sure the tip is totally submerged. (Most candy thermometers come with a clip.)

Turn the stove to medium high, and just watch the mercury climb. It’ll take several minutes to get to 375...
I just slice onions and separate the onion slices into rings and place them into a shallow dish...

Measure 2 cups of buttermilk and pour it over the onions. You can use milk, too, if you don’t have buttermilk handy. OR, you can make your own buttermilk by adding a couple tablespoons of white vinegar to just under 2 cups of milk....
Now press the onions down so that they’re as submerged as possible. (Don’t worry: they don’t need to be swimming in the stuff. Just make sure they’re all at least touching the buttermilk.)

Next, add 2 cups flour to a bowl. Add a scant (a little less than) 1 tablespoons of salt.and then add some pepper..and grab that Cayenne Pepper... And listen, it’ll take a good dose before it starts to hurt. I’d say I used 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon. The spice makes it nice! Stir the flour mixture together with a fork, and set aside.

Next, pour 1 to 2 quarts of canola oil into a pot. I use a stainless dutch oven. But you don’t have to...
When the oil is ready..grab some tongs and dump some of the onions in the flour mixture...then plunge them into the oil.. the onions cook in no time flat just break them up a little with a spoon...when they are nice and golden ..remove and lay on a plate covered with a few paper towels...Now, just keep repeating, coating small batches of onions in the flour mixture…

That is it...

Hope this helps.......

This may sound crazy, but it's simple and it really, really works. It makes light, fluffy, crispy, huge onion rings. Make a batch of pancake mix. Heat up your deep frying oil, or heat enough oil in a frying pan to NOT sautee your onion rings. Cut thick-ringed onions for onion rings, swish them well in the pancake batter, and then quickly flip them into the hot oil. They will puff up and fry golden brown.

This is so simple and it really is both beautiful and delicious.

All the above answers are good ones
One secret I have learned from years on the road working at State fairs and made them along with French Fries and fried dough...
Put the rings in ice water after cutting and then make the batter you like to cook with and very hot Peanut oil...Great Rings every time
The Ice water keep the rings crisp!!!

make sure that you have brand new cooking oil and that it is hot just right above smoking and that fter you coat your onion rings you put them in the fridge for about 20 minutes to set the breading that should do it!

ive been making onion rings for five years now and everybody loves them!

I suggest peanut oil...very hot.regular flour breading with your own added spices will do fine.Dip the onions well in an egg mixture than in the flour,then in the very hot oil.
May just be me,but when I used the panako bread crumbs in very hot oil,it burned...and just didn't taste all that great as original ol flouring.

the really long answer above me is spot on. I tried to give the answer a thumbs up but it saved as thumbs down and I can't fix it! anyways, I have used thesame method for years and it makes perfect onion rings every time.

I like Califgirl's answer also but I add some hot sauce to the buttermilk and let them soak in it for a couple of hours then I toss them in seasoned flour. The best seasoned flour I have found is Kentucky Kernel. Fry in hot oil and salt with kosher salt.

really really really hot oil, you'd be safer in your kitchen with a deep fryer like a fry daddy for something like that

As for the topping, first dip the rings in beer batter and then cover them in panko bread crumbs

The best crispy onion ring recipe that I have found online is: http://fastrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/03/… Still they don't compare to the Alexia brand onion rings sold frozen at Walmart.

tempura batter, made with fizzy springwater
makes it crispy & light


nice hot oil

works everytime!

I use panko crumbs for the breading, guaranteed crisp!

I don't make onion rings cause of this problem :/