349735 Sat Dec 09 18:30:07 -0800 2006 3 31 Home Cooking 0 2084970 i am going to be making dry ribs tonight, and the y have to be deep fried.. i have a deep fryer i got as a gift but i have never used it and i'm kinda intimidated.. any tips? or should i just stick with some oil in a big pot on the stove? Sat Dec 09 18:30:07 -0800 2006 52894 RiJaAr 1 2085089 what would happen if i mixed oils? Sat Dec 09 19:37:43 -0800 2006 2084970 52894 RiJaAr 2 2085092 It'd be a lot safer to use the deep fryer, probably neater too. I always use shortening that is specifically for deep fryers, if you can get (something like Crisco would work too) I wouldn't mix oils because they will all have different burning points. Sat Dec 09 19:41:43 -0800 2006 2085089 11097 coll 1 2085171 Plain solid crisco is best for frying - not butter flavored. Or peanut oil because of its high smoke point. You can buy large size containers at places like Costco or Sam's Club. Don't mix oils because they have different smoke/burn points. I assume you are talking about an electric deep fryer. Read the instructions. A thermometer is essential for deep fat frying - electric or not - because frying at too low a temperature or allowing the temperature to drop when you add food is what causes the food to be greasy. Don't add too much food at once or crowd the pot. You never want the temperature of the oil to vary by more than a few degrees. The food should have some distance between it so that it never steams. The oil can often be used more than once if you strain it and store it in the fridge. Sometimes it will have a strong odor from having fried fish or something. Use your judgment. Wear an apron. Deep fat frying is worth learning to do well. Opens up a lot of possibilities. As long as you have it fired up, try some homemade potato chips to go along with the ribs. Sat Dec 09 20:36:33 -0800 2006 2084970 32444 MakingSense 1 2085210 Vegetable oil is either soy or a mix of soy and a bit of corn oil. Read the label. Soy has a very high smoking point, is cheap, and neutral. Use that in the deep fryer. The deep fryer is far safer than the stove top, as you will set its temperature and it has a safety cover and a proper basket and drainage method. Sat Dec 09 20:58:01 -0800 2006 2084970 13819 Karl S