Don’t miss out on these fried food trends in your restaurant – just in time for football season.
Yes, the health foods craze is still a strong trend. Avocados, kale, chia seeds and all – we support it! Maybe you’re asking yourself, is fried food still a trend? We sell thousands of commercial fryers a year to busy commercial kitchens, so it must be. After all, fried avocado slices are absolutely delicious.
Before we get into what fried food you should consider adding to your menu, let’s chat about basic fryer protocol. Cleaning your fryer on a consistent basis is extremely important. Bad tasting fried food is usually linked to dirty oil, and a dirty fryer. Your recipe may be top-notch, but it can’t combat dirty oil.
Here are some quick fryer cleaning tips:
- Clean the exterior of your commercial fryer daily – and the commercial fryer baskets.
- Change your oil consistently. Base this on the color of the oil, the smell, and the taste of the food you’re cooking.
- Keep your oil at the recommended temperature range for the machine.
- After an oil change, clean the heating components with a fryer brush.
- Deep clean your commercial fryer every three months.
Alright, now that we’re clear on the whole fryer cleaning topic, let’s take a look at these trendy menu-recommended fried foods.
Fried Avocado
Whether you’re adding this as a fun vegetarian taco, or on its own with a tangy sauce, you really can’t go wrong with fried avocado slices.
Fried Pickles
Salty and sweet alike, fried pickles continue to climb the popularity train. Did you know pickle juice can help cure a hangover too? Maybe add a pickle-back shot and fried pickles special on your menu. Better yet, pickle in house!
Wings
We might argue that smoked wings are even better, but fried chicken wings continues to hold its place as a popular fried food. Remember – it’s less about the frying itself here, but more about the wing sauce.
Cauliflower Wings
This semi-new food craze is an absolute favorite. It’s crazy how much cauliflower tastes like chicken when you batter it and put it in a commercial fryer.
Fried Mac and Cheese Bites
These bites are heavenly, especially homemade. Add some potato chips to your batter too for extra flavor and crunch.
Fried Artichokes
Have you ever had them? If not you’re truly missing out. Clean oil in your commercial fryer is essential here to wow your customers with fried artichokes.
Fried Pork Belly
This comes from the favorite Filipino dish called Lechon Kawali, but many renditions have been created. If you thought pork belly was good in general, it’s time to try it fried.
Fried Shrimp
This classic favorite is best served on a taco, a salad, or as an appetizer on its own. You can’t go wrong with fried shrimp.
French Fries
Whether they’re russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, or even carrots, you can’t go wrong here. Always have a $2-4 side of fries on your menu.
Alright let’s get real, mostly everything is amazing when it’s fried.
They’re even frying tarantulas these days – so the sky is the limit here. Be creative, make sure your batter is on point, and keep your commercial fryer clean!
Trust us, your customers will keep coming back time after time.