Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

[LadyFish]

I am participating in a cook off this weekend and one of my recipes requires that I deep fry over an open fire.<br /><br />Last year, I had trouble regulating the oil temperature. I set my cast iron dutch oven directly on the coals and spritzed water on them to keep it steady but the oil temp would jump 30-50 degrees in no time flat.<br /><br />Any suggestions?

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Going out on a limb here. Could your oil temp work if it was around 250 degrees? If so how about a double boiler type with water in the bottom pan and oil in the second? It would be a pain as the water would boil at 250 but it would be easier to maintain (maybe) than the coals. Sounds like it might work, but sounds stupid too. Just trying to help.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Kenneth, thanks for your reply, but I need the temp to be at least 320 degress and no more than 350.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Thats what I was thinking. It would be hard to keep the oil that that steady. What about a lowering/raising device? A small A-frame with a small pulley system should be real cheap and easy to work with.

 

[gspig]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

This may be dangerous, but could hanging the pot from a height adjustable tripod work?

 

[JB]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Aha! Finally, a use for some of my oldest memories.<br /><br />When "Uncle" Jim Willis (as in "Uncle" Remus) deep fried catfish for us at his cabin he suspended his kettle over the fire with a tripod. He would periodically adjust the temp by raising or lowering the kettle with the chain it hung from.<br /><br />How he knew the "temp" I am not sure, but he watched the vigorousness of the "boil" closely and sometimes tossed a few drops of water into the oil to see how it spattered.

 

[PW2]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Not sure how to control T, but make sure your fire insurance premiums are up to date.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

The tripod is a good idea and much safer than putting the kettle directly on the coals.<br /><br />We do have 2 fire extinguishers close by and they are checked before the cook off.<br /><br />I'll have to see if someone can rig me up something today.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[rwise]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Got a bass pro near by? They would have just what you are looking for. Or a propane burner (if allowed)

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

I like the suspension idea.<br /><br />One other one is to suspend the oven close to the coals, then insert a heat shield under the oven. Remove and insert heat shield as required to adjust temp.<br /><br />Best heat shield would be an old cookie sheet loosely wrapped in aluminum foil.<br /><br />Ken

 

[ndemge]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Did some reading on the boiling point of antifreeze, and it's around 300 degrees F<br /><br />You could make a double boiler using antifreeze, if it's too hot, you add more water, lowering the boiling point and reducing the temp.<br /><br />As you only have 1 day to perfect this method, it could be dificult, but I see a way to build something to really regulate the temp and be safe.<br /><br />>>>Antifreeze can be either Ethylene Glycol or Diethylene Glycol, each of which has different properties that must be considered. Ethylene Glycol has a boiling point of 135C and Diethylene Glycol has a boiling point of 240-250C. The water in which it is mixed has a boiling point of 100C.<br />>>><br />Taken from: <br /><br />sawyerandsmith.com/distillation/for_anti-freeze.htm

 

[don flowers]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Instead of a tri-pod to raise and lower, how about something you can swing over the coals or fire (like an arm) and remove slightly to the side if it begins to get too hot. just a thought. Don

 

[MYTJC]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Something like this would work. found it on Bass Pro's web site. <br /> Tripod Campfire Grill

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

LadyFish, how long will it take you to do the frying? You could always use the 'real' dutch oven method of using a specific number of coals directly under the oven. Each charcoal accounts for 25 deg of temperature.<br /><br />We used that for many a Boy Scout dutch oven treat where you had to control the temperature. Never did try it for frying though. Still, bet it would work.<br /><br />Just light the required number of coals in a chiminey, then spread them out on a sheet of tinfoil. Make sure your dutch oven has feet on them or provide some uniform stones to keep the oven from crushing the coals. That should still qualify as an open fire I would think.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Less than 5 minutes a batch. I didn't know that each charcoal accounts for 25 deg of temperature. That helps thanks.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

 

[heycods]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Bed your coals in ashes to cool them, its what we do with the coffee pot, but it would take time to find out how much ash cover to get the temp right.

 

[KRS]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

Cook 'em the best you can, and it'll still be better than made in the kitchen.<br /><br />A little extra brown never hurt anybody

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

When I got there yesterday, one of the other cooks who's letting me use his grill and helping me with my fire had a plate welded with legs on it so its up off the fire about 6". We have a little shovel to adjust the amount of coals underneath. I'm not sure about the thickness accept he said that he chose not to go too thick since it would hold the heat too long and we wouldn't be able to cool it down fast enough. I kinda wish he had holes drilled in it but I'm excited that we at least have something.<br /><br />I think this might just do the trick.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Deep Frying Over an Open Fire

It's going to be hard to regulate however you do it,we use a 1/2 "copperplate on our propane cookers.Good luck LF I'm sure however it works out it's going to be very tasty.hoping for 1st place for ya.