Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 19/05/2008 17:13:45

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: neilep on 19/05/2008 17:13:45

Dear Oilogists,

" Oil for heat and Butter for flavour "..that's what I was taught !

See these lovely oils here ?


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Nice eh ?


Olive Oil I know  (Well, I'm pretty sure) is an oil that has quite a low boiling temperature in the pan...so...can you give me some indications of how hot oils get in the frying pan ?


Sunflower ?
Olive ?
Lard ?
palm oil ?
soybean oil ?
rapeseed Oil ?
Sesame seed Oil ?

Do they all vary by a large degree if kept at the same heat setting on the stove ?


Thank Ewe

Noil
Oil Temperature Enquirer

xxx

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: chris on 22/05/2008 22:16:29

They get pretty hot. The Maillard reaction, discovered by French chemist Louis Camille Maillard about 100 years ago, kicks in at more than 148 degrees C. This is the reaction between sugars and proteins, the result of which is the lovely brown colour of cooked food. This reaction is responsible for a good proportion of the tasty flavours and smells we associate with cooked food. Since frying produces a lot of these flavours, the temperature must exceed 150 C, and probably exceeds 200C at times.

Chris

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: turnipsock on 22/05/2008 22:34:48

Olive doesn't go very hot.

(edit: oh, you already said that)

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 23/05/2008 08:30:05

Doesn't it depend how high you turn the gas up?  [:P]

Incidentally, the settings on our fryer start at 150C

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: blakestyger on 25/05/2008 20:06:57

I give our chips their second frying 2 mins at 190C - in either light olive or sunflower oil; can get a bit of smoke sometimes though.

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: turnipsock on 25/05/2008 23:53:38

Quote from: blakestyger on 25/05/2008 20:06:57

I give our chips their second frying 2 mins at 190C - in either light olive or sunflower oil; can get a bit of smoke sometimes though.

You're not saying you have put Olive Oil in your deep fat frier? Next, you'll be putting super unleaded in your car.

The smoke point for olive oil is 190C.

Title: What temperatures do cooking oils reach in a frying pan?
Post by: Bored chemist on 26/05/2008 00:55:20

How hot they will get essentially depends on how far you turn the gas or electrtic heating up.
OTOH how hot you want them to get is another matter.
Butter contributes to the taste, but it scorches if overheated.
Some fats like lard will put up with higher temperatures. That means faster cooking which is good for some things.