You can pan-fry breaded chicken in olive oil.
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Experts say frying chicken in olive oil is fine, but they don't advocate frying in butter or coconut oil. Extra-virgin olive oil is the safest oil to use for cooking because it produces the least amount of harmful compounds when heated.
Tip
You can pan-fry breaded chicken in olive oil. At least one study has shown that this is one of the safest oils to use for this type of frying.
Pan Frying With Olive Oil
People tend to view fried foods as dietary indiscretions. However, a January 2012 study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that the unhealthy effects associated with frying may be due to the type of oil used, rather than the frying process itself. The authors found that in Spain, a country where people cook with olive or sunflower oil, eating fried food wasn't linked to heart disease or all-cause mortality.
When frying, use a healthy vegetable oil, such as olive oil, advises Harvard Health. Avoid frying with butter, lard or palm oil.
Reusing any kind of oil isn't recommended, because when oil is heated, it degrades and forms unhealthy substances called polar compounds. When foods are fried in reheated oil, they absorb these degraded oil products.
While smoke point has been correlated with oil stability and safety when heated, a June 2018 study published in Acta Scientific Nutritional Health found other factors more accurately predict oil performance. After testing common cooking oils, extra virgin olive oil proved to be the safest, because it produced the fewest polar compounds when exposed to heat.
Frying With Coconut Oil
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports that many of the health benefits associated with coconut oil are backed by studies that don't use the type of coconut oil available in supermarkets. Instead, the research is based on a special formula comprised solely of medium-chain triglycerides, which the body rapidly absorbs and utilizes.
An April 2016 study published in Nutrition Reviews evaluated eight clinical trials and 13 observational investigations to determine the effect of coconut oil on heart health. It discovered that, in general, the oil increased total cholesterol and LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels less than butter, but more than unsaturated plant oils. Replacing coconut oil with unsaturated oils would improve cholesterol levels, which would help lower cardiovascular disease risk, the authors concluded.
The American Heart Association issued an advisory to replace saturated fat, such as coconut oil and butter, with unsaturated fat like extra virgin olive oil. According to the author of the advisory, deep frying is fine, as long as you use an unsaturated vegetable oil.
USDA Chicken-Frying Recommendations
Whether you fry pieces of chicken in a skillet or deep fryer, check the internal temperature of the meat, says the USDA. If it's below 165 degrees Fahrenheit, cook it longer.
The oil temperature for frying chicken is important to ensure thorough cooking. When deep frying, allow the oil to preheat, and take the temperature before starting. Cook chicken pieces at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 13 to 20 minutes, and cook chicken fingers at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 minutes.
Frying chicken comes with certain hazards that can be minimized by following a few precautions. The USDA provides the guidelines below:
- To prevent cross contamination from bacteria, wash your hands and clean all surfaces before handling the chicken.
- Frying oil can reach very high temperatures, so keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
- To avoid burns from oil splatters, don't allow water to get into the frying oil. (If you're frying frozen food, remove excess ice before putting it in the oil.)
- Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove chicken pieces from a skillet. Don't use plastic utensils because they can melt under high temperatures.
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So you've got your chicken ready to fry. Can you use olive oil to create the perfect juicy piece of chicken? Is it healthy? Is it safe? Is it tasty?
Yes and no.
Let's look into the case for frying chicken in olive oil.
Should You Fry Chicken In Olive Oil?
Frying chicken in olive oil is, of course, not the simple question it may seem. There are many variables one has to take into account.
There's the question of the type of olive oil, the smoke point of the oil, your dietary needs, and your wallet's needs.
In terms of whether you should fry chicken in olive oil or not, the answer depends on the specific oil you're using.
More recent studies show that frying in olive oil is generally safe. But make sure it's a high quality oil with a higher smoke point, especially when it comes to deep frying.
Smoke temperature of olive oil
The smoke point of olive oil varies between 374-405°F, give or take some tens of degrees(1).
Thus, if you're going to fry chicken in olive oil, it may be best to use an olive oil with a higher smoke point, such as a quality EVOO.
Consequences of low smoke point
Due to the fact that they tend to burn when heated too high, cooking with low smoke point oils isn't necessarily great for the taste of your dish.
Burnt oil can produce a bitter taste, as well as create acrolein, a byproduct that could potentially change DNA, making it a possible carcinogen (2).
However, you have to remember that the amount and longevity of exposure influences the degree to which harmful byproducts could affect you.
So, if you're just a home cook and you experience a little smokiness every once in a while, there should not be cause for alarm!
Just be careful about how often, how long, and at what temperature you cook your food.
Taste of Frying with Olive Oil
Now, health and safety aren't the only components of a culinary experience. You also want to make sure the food you are preparing tastes good!
If you use olive oil and burn it, as we've gone over, you might not enjoy the bitter, burnt taste (if that's your thing though, go for it!)
However, if you make sure to fry it below the smoke point, the olive oil can produce a rich, flavorful taste.
If you're worried about burning your chicken or you're unsure of the quality of your olive oil, then you can use another vegetable oil with a higher smoke point.
Can You Deep Fry With Olive Oil (in general)?
You can deep fry with olive oil, especially better quality ones.
As we've mentioned, the smoke point of olive oil ranges from mid 300s°F to low 400s°F.
Deep frying occurs around 350°F (3).
So, if you have a high quality olive oil with a smoke point in the higher range, then you should be able to deep fry your food in it.
That said, deep frying with a good olive oil could be expensive and you could lose the particular flavor of the oil. Keep that in mind when choosing your oil!
What about Pan Frying Chicken Instead?
Pan frying heat levels vary from 200-400°F (4). When pan frying chicken, you'll probably want to be somewhere in the 350°F range (5). Given these facts, you can definitely pan fry chicken, and using olive oil should be fine. Even an olive oil with a lower smoke point could work, but, in the end, it's up to your personal preference!
Best Oils to use when Frying Chicken
Tastiest Oil
Though taste is subjective, the best chicken taste will come from an oil that doesn't burn easily.
Most high smoke point oils, such as canola, sunflower, safflower, or peanut would fall into this category. They also have a fairly neutral taste, allowing the seasoning and the chicken to shine through.
If you want to save an extra penny though, going for a vegetable oil blend will be the most cost-effective (6).
That way you can make multiple batches of chicken and show off to everyone. A win-win.
Healthiest Oil
Olive oil does happen to be the healthiest oil to use when frying. Its high levels of polyphenols and polyunsaturated fats give it the extra boost in nutrition points.
Though it might lose some polyphenols when heated, olive oil still ranks in as healthiest.
In fact, when tested against other oils in a heat comparison, olive oil remained the most stable and released the fewest harsh chemicals during the experiment (7).
So if you do choose to fry with olive oil, you can do so with the knowledge that you're picking a brain and heart-healthy choice!
Animal Oil
Animal oils tend to have lower smoke points, so you have to be careful about frying with them.
Clarified butter tends to be the best option as it take away most of the milky compounds that tend to burn easily (8).
Stay away from animal fats when deep frying.
Vegetarian Oil
In terms of vegetarian oil, preference and dietary needs play the largest role in terms of choosing a veggie-only oil.
If you're allergic to peanuts, then going for a neutral, non-nut option like sunflower or safflower oil might be the move.
If you want a neutral oil but don't want to shell out too much money, maybe opt for canola or vegetable oil.
Most vegetable and plant oils have a higher smoke point, so they are safe. You just have to decide what works best for your lifestyle! (9).
How to Fry Chicken with Olive Oil
If you plan on deep frying chicken in olive oil, you have to make sure the oil is hot enough before placing the chicken in it.
First, you should prepare your chicken while the oil is heating. Once you know it's hot enough, you can place the chicken in the oil.
Be sure not to overcrowd the pan/fryer.
Cook the chicken all the way through until golden brown.
When you're done, you can drain the oil. Don't reuse it.
Olive oil doesn't have a high enough smoke point to warrant reuse after it has been fried.
Here's a recipe for inspiration!
Koren Olive Fried Chicken
Can You Fry Chicken in Butter?
Frying chicken in butter isn't a great idea. Butter, as an animal fat, has a pretty low smoke point and can begin to burn between 250-300°F (10).
Hence, deep frying chicken in butter is out. You can definitely sauté or pan fry (on lower heat) with butter though!
Can You Fry Chicken in Olive Oil Without Flour?
You can! It's best to use a shallow frying technique and make sure your oil is hot on the pan.
You want to be careful and keep it on the lower side of low-to-medium heat, but you should be able to swing it as long as you keep an eye on the pan and don't let it smoke (11).
Can You Fry Chicken Wings in Olive Oil?
You can fry chicken wings in olive oil. Just be careful not to burn them. Burnt oil won't taste good with buffalo sauce.
What Oil does KFC Fry their chicken in?
KFC uses canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil (12).
What Oil does Mcdonalds Fry their chicken in?
McDonald's uses a canola-blend to fry their chicken (13).
What Oil does Popeyes Fry their Chicken in?
Popeyes uses palm oil to fry their chicken (15).
What Oil does Chick-fil-A Fry their Chicken in?
Chick-fil-A uses peanut oil to fry their chicken (14).
What Oil does Wingstop Fry their Chicken in?
Wingstop uses soy oil to fry their chicken (16).
Conclusion
As we've seen, the question of frying chicken in olive oil proves to be a bit more complex than one might expect. In the end, it comes down to quality and personal preference.
Skill might end up playing a role as well--if you're the type to burn water, maybe opt for a non-olive oil.
If you want to try it out, there are safe and effective ways to use olive oil in frying. Just remember to be vigilant about how high your heat is.
If you prefer to make a more cost-effective fried chicken meal, go with a less expensive oil.
However, if you've got a high quality olive oil and you're intrigued by the idea, go for it! Try something different--you might just find your new favorite thing.
Thanks for reading,
Claire