If we're being completely honest here, the method of deep-frying things is usually synonymous with American cooking. Other countries around the world typically associate America with deep-fried food! From popular favourites like fried chicken to more uncommon entities like deep-fried butter, America certainly has a knack for transforming foods into something entirely different. So today, let's explore 20 foods you wouldn't have thought to deep fry, but America did it anyway.
1. Twinkie
Deep-fried Twinkies are a popular fair food and a novelty treat that combines America's favourite classic snack cake with the deep-fryer. Coated in batter and deep-fried until golden with a crispy exterior, this is an incredibly indulgent treat. It's certainly a unique dessert experience you won't find anywhere else.
Larry D. Moore on Wikimedia Commons
2. Oreo
Deep-fried Oreos are another popular fair and carnival treat, consisting of these famous chocolate sandwich cookies that are dipped in batter and fried. The result? The heat of the fryer transforms the cookie into a warm, gooey delight, with the batter providing a crispy contrast. It's incredibly sweet and indulgent, something you should eat probably just once in a while.
Cla1402group4 on Wikimedia Commons
3. Butter
Deep-fried butter is a bit of a confusing one - how did this come to be? One of the most indulgent treats you can find at any state fair, this snack involves frozen balls of butter coated in dough and fried. As you deep fry it, the butter melts inside the dough, creating an extremely rich, buttery explosion of flavour with each bite. It's often served with glazes or sweet sauces to dip in.
Collin Harvey from Grand Prairie, Texas, USA on Wikimedia Commons
4. Ice Cream
Deep-fried ice cream sure sounds like a paradoxical dessert doesn't it? Made by coating a scoop of ice cream in batter or breadcrumbs, it's quickly deep-fried so you get a warm, crispy shell around the still-cold ice cream. It's a fun contrast of textures and temperatures!
Sumit Surai on Wikimedia Commons
5. Candy Bars
Deep-fried candy bars, most commonly Snickers, are a decadent treat you wouldn't have thought to put two and two together. The frozen candy bar is coated in batter before being deep-fried, melting the chocolate and caramel inside slightly, but creating a crispy shell that perfectly encapsulates all the goodness inside.
xian from Lancaster on Wikimedia Commons
6. Pizza
Deep-fried pizza takes this iconic, traditional Italian dish to an entirely new level. Slices or individual-sized pizzas are dipped in batter before being thrown into the deep fryer. The thought of it sounds tasty, we just never would have thought to deep fry pizza to begin with! The result is a cheesy, melty interior and a crispy exterior that combines the beloved flavours of pizza with the crunchy texture of a fried snack.
Alex Liivet from Chester, United Kingdom on Wikimedia Commons
7. Pickles
Deep-fried pickles are a tangy and crunchy appetizer made by breading sliced or whole pickles and frying them. The frying process enhances the pickle's natural tanginess, complemented by the crunchy exterior, often served with dipping sauces like ranch dressing.
Wisconsin Denizen on Wikimedia Commons
8. Bacon
Does bacon really need to be even crispier? Deep-fried bacon is simple - it involves taking strips of bacon and frying them until they are EXTRA crispy. You'll be surprised to see how much this method intensifies the bacon flavour, making them incredibly crunchy. Just be careful not to eat this too often; we can't say it's very healthy for you.
Photo by Wright Brand Bacon on Unsplash
9. Deep-Fried Zucchini
Deep-fried zucchini slices or sticks are coated in a light batter or breadcrumb mixture before deep-fried til they achieve a golden, crispy shell. This mild-flavoured vegetable becomes something entirely different after being prepared with this method! This snack or appetizer is typically served alongside dipping sauces like ranch or marinara to give it that extra flavour.
Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash
10. Green Tomatoes
Deep-fried green tomatoes are a Southern delicacy where slices of unripe tomatoes are coated in cornmeal or batter and fried. This cooking method results in a crispy coating with a tangy, firm interior, often served as a side dish or appetizer with dipping sauces. It's a comfort classic that everyone loves.
ninjapoodles on Wikimedia Commons
11. Avocado
Here's a weird one for you: deep-fried avocadoes. This strange snack consists of slices or wedges of avocado being coated in a seasoned batter and deep-fried. This method of cooking makes the avocado even creamier, creating a warm, creamy interior and a unique crunchy exterior. It's often served with dipping sauces or even used as a taco filling.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
12. Coca-Cola
This is one combination that we never thought we'd see. Deep-fried Coca-Cola (yes, the drink!) is an awfully bizarre snack that consists of freezing Coca-Cola flavoured batter into small balls, then deep-frying them. Who thought of this pairing?! The result is a fizzy, sweet treat that's crispy on the outside, with a soft, cake-like interior. To finish it off, it's often drizzled with a Coca-Cola syrup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Stephen Witherden on Wikimedia Commons
13. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Deep-fried spaghetti and meatballs take this classic Italian dish and turn it into a crispy, bite-sized snack. Cooked spaghetti and meatballs are formed into balls (or wedges), coated in breadcrumbs, and fried until golden. They offer a crunchy outside with a warm, savory inside, served with marinara sauce for dipping.
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14. Bubble Gum
Deep-fried bubble gum isn't actually bubble gum, but rather bubble gum-flavored marshmallows that are coated in batter and deep-fried. This unusual treat is then drizzled with a bubble gum extract-infused icing, creating a unique dessert that's chewy inside with a crispy outside. So, if you hate bubble gum flavoured things, you're probably not going to like this one.
15. Watermelon
Not even fruit is safe from the deep fryer! Deep-fried watermelons consist of watermelon slices coated in a sweet batter before being fried. This process creates a warm, caramelized exterior, while the interior somehow maintains its usual juiciness and freshness. It's a surprising combo of crispy and juicy textures that will be unlike anything you've ever tasted.
Photo by Sahand Babali on Unsplash
16. Beer
Tired of drinking beer? Maybe this change-up is just what you needed. Deep-fried beer typically involves sealing beer inside pockets of pretzel-like dough and frying them until golden. The heat warms up the beer (we know it's usually best cold but give it a try!), creating a soft, beer-filled center within a salty, crunchy exterior. It's certainly inventive, though it may not be for everyone.
Photo by BENCE BOROS on Unsplash
17. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
A deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich transforms this classic comfort food into a warm, crispy treat. The sandwich is dipped in batter and fried, melding the flavors of the peanut butter and jelly while adding a crunchy texture to the soft bread.
Photo by Mario Mesaglio on Unsplash
18. Pumpkin Pie
Deep-fried pumpkin pie involves wrapping slices of pumpkin pie in more dough or batter, then deep-frying them until crispy. This method adds a satisfying crunch to the soft, spiced filling of the pie, and is often served with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on the side.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
19. Sushi
Does the idea of warm sushi weird you out? Well, deep-fried sushi takes traditional sushi rolls and gives them a crispy twist by battering and frying them. The heat will definitely warm up the rice and seafood inside, so if that confuses you, this may not be for you.
sbradycalhoun on Wikimedia Commons
20. Cheesecake
Deep-fried cheesecake on a stick anyone? Often seen in fairs or carnivals, this method of preparing cheesecake involves coating slices in batter and frying them until golden. The frying process creates a warm, gooey interior encased in a crispy shell, combining the rich creaminess of cheesecake with the satisfying crunch of the fried batter.
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