You Can Deep-Fry on the Grill
I will not say that deep-frying at home is “not worth it,” but I will say that it is completely unpleasant. It stinks. It’s messy. Sticky, evaporated cooking oil covers everything, including me, and it takes ages to air out the kitchen and return it to its pre-frying state. Specialized deep fat fryers solve this problem by moving cooking from home to backyard, but you don’t really need it – you just need a grill.
According to Meathead Goldwyn of AmazingRibs.com , the “average garden gazer ” is ideal for deep (or shallow) roasting:
Here’s a breakthrough that doesn’t require the purchase of a bulky freestanding deep fryer, a monotonous task that wastes a lot of oil and wasted space: your gas grill is perfect for frying. Feel free to slap yourself on the forehead. That’s right: The average backyard gardener does a great job at his job. You don’t need a side burner because you can directly on the grill grate. Solves all frying problems. What difference does it make if it smells or splashes? You are outside. And if you use the 2-zone setting, you can fry on the hot side of the grill, then drain and dry the cooked food on the indirect side, and keep it warm there too! And, if the breading is perfectly browned and crispy, but the chicken is still slightly undercooked on the inside, leaving it on the indirect side will finish cooking without setting fire to the breading. This method is even better than frying inside.
It’s genius and elegant at the same time, which is what I expect from Meathead. (I just got my first charcoal grill and read its website with great enthusiasm; it’s full of tricks.) The dual-zone grill functions like a hot burner and oven, allowing you to finish food on the indirect side for hot , crispy fried delicacies without heating (or greasing) your beloved home.
Can you use a charcoal grill? Yes, but you’re losing a bit of the temperature control you get with a gas grill, so there’s a slight learning curve here. Regardless of what type of grill (or fire) you use, make sure you use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of the oil, and be sure to read Meathead ‘s outdoor cooking guide . As I said, it is full of hacks.
How to fry | AmazingRibs.com