Oil Temp for Frying Chicken Tenders
Don’t lie. You’ve done it. You dropped a cold tender into hot oil. The temp tanks instantly.
That’s fine. Seriously. But don’t crowd the pan. Cook in batches. If you add six cold tenders at once, the oil temp drops to 320°F. Now you’re deep-frying in warm bathwater.
Give the oil time to come back up between batches. Patience. Or, you know, eat the first batch while you wait. No judgment.
How to Check Temp Without a Thermometer
You don’t have a deep-fry thermometer? It’s okay. We’ve all eyeballed it. Try the wooden spoon trick.
Dip the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil. If it bubbles steadily and happily around the wood, you’re around 350°F. If it’s screaming bubbles like a teakettle, it’s too hot.
GORDON RAMSAY RECIPES | Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders | 101 Cooking For
Another method: toss in a small piece of bread. If it turns golden brown in about 60 seconds, you’re in the zone. If it burns in 15 seconds, step away from the stove.