Can You Fry Chicken in Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

Extra virgin olive oil is best for snacks or things that will cook quickly. For example, thin chicken tenders or small chicken breasts are ideal rather than whole bone-in chicken breasts.

Extra virgin olive oil is a great choice for cooking, but can you fry chicken in it? Chicken is a good source of protein, and frying it in olive oil instead of other types of oils will help keep the fat content down. The oil will add flavor and juiciness to the chicken and be cooked evenly.

In this blog post, we will discuss how to fry chicken in extra virgin olive oil so that it comes out crispy and delicious every time!

Benefits of Frying Chicken in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• When frying with olive oil, your chicken will not stick as readily to the pan, making it simpler to clean afterward.
• Extra virgin olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that is good for your heart, and it also contains antioxidants that can protect you from disease.
• The olive oil will help keep the chicken tender and moist while keeping the outer very crispy and still getting all of those health benefits!
• Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory compounds and, as a result, may provide similar benefits to pain relievers and fever reducers.
• In children, olive oil improves the metabolism, encourages bone growth and brain development, and contains vitamin E, which is good for individuals over the age of 60. It’s a wonderful source of vitamin E, which is especially useful to people over the age of 60.
• It is used to clean the digestive system and enhance bowel movements as a medical oil.
• Olive oil contains polyphenol which helps in stronger cell walls. It also increases the elasticity of arterial walls, protecting against various heart conditions.

As long as the oil does not reach its smoking point, it is beneficial and safe to use EVOO to fry chicken.

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How to Fry With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pan Fry: Season your chicken with spices on both sides, heat your pan on medium-high heat(enough hot but not more than the smoking point which is 375°F), and add around 2 tablespoons of EVOO. Fry until cooked evenly on both sides.

Deep Fry: For deep frying, it is recommended to use refined olive oil as it has a higher smoking point. However, when using EVOO use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil.

Tips:  Keep your eye on the frying pan for tell-tale wisps of smoke. It signal you’re close to burning the oil, but not quite at the smoke point where the oil begins to break down.

You’ve got two options at that point: Remove the pan from the heat, or put in some food to lower the temperature.

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Impact on Taste and Texture From Frying in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

When frying chicken in extra virgin olive oil, you may taste a slightly different flavor than if you were to fry it in another type of oil. The flavor will be more intense and pronounced than with other oils, but it is worth it.

Some chefs think that using olive oil transforms the consistency of meals. In other words, fried foods can become softer and fluffier as a result of it. It’s also considered that when frying chicken, cooking with olive oil creates a more lovely golden hue.

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Reasons to Not Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Frying

Extra virgin olive oil has a low smoke point. So if you’re cooking at high temperatures, this can cause damage to your oil and possibly even cancer-causing agents in some cases.

The only time it would be acceptable to use extra virgin olive oil is when cooking over medium heat or less because there’s no chance of burning the oil and creating those harmful compounds.

Olive oil has a low smoking point, which means it will not be able to withstand high heats for very long periods without burning off all its nutrients or even catching fire (which can happen).

It also tastes bitter when heated above 400 degrees Fahrenheit because this is when the polyphenols are released.

LEARN MORE: Can You Use Olive Oil To Cook Chicken?

Conclusion

Fried chicken is popular all around the world. When it comes to health advantages, frying chicken in olive oil may be the superior alternative, particularly if you’re using high-quality oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is a great choice for frying chicken if you follow some simple guidelines. Be sure not to use high heat, and monitor your oil temperature carefully. Fry until both sides are evenly cooked, and enjoy the delicious flavor and crispy texture this cooking method provides!