What’s The Best Oil To Fry Fish? Top 4 Types Revealed


Fried fish with some side dishes

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Fried fish can be delicious and delightful when done right. Fried fish with french fries, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and ketchup makes a great meal. If you’re a fan of fried fish and would like to give it a shot, there are some things you need to consider. The key to making perfectly fried fish is selecting the right oil. In this article, we help you make an informed decision on how to choose the best oil to fry fish.

​Comparison Table

​Preview ​Product ​Price
Snappy Pure Peanut oil

Snappy Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz

LouAna Peanut oil

LouAna 100% Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz

crisco pure canola oil

Crisco Pure Canola Oil, 32 Ounce

Healthy Harvest Canola oil

Healthy Harvest Canola Oil, 128 Oz

Bottle of Gefen Cottonseed oil

Gefen Pure Cottonseed Oil, 48 Oz

A bottle of Nut ola cottonseed oil

Nut Ola Cottonseed Oil, 48 Oz

Viva Coconut oil

Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Oz

16 oz trader Joe's coconut oil

Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Oz

Product FAQ

​1. What Do You Need to Fry Fish?

To make fried fish successfully, it is very important to use the best oil to fry fish and the right utensils.

​2. What Are the Different Types of Oil Available?

Peanut, cottonseed, grapeseed, coconut oil, safflower, sunflower, canola, and extra light olive oil can be used at high heat for frying.

​3. How Should I Choose the Best Oil to Fry Fish?

You need an oil with a high smoking point for frying. Unrefined oils have low smoking point sand refined oils have high smoking points. Hence, refined oil is preferred for frying. In addition, refined oil has neutral color, taste, and odor and does not impart any flavor to the fish, so refined oil is the best oil to fry fish.

If the oil used doesn’t have a high smoking point, the oil becomes too hot very quickly and starts smoking. It can burn the fish and make it tough and chewy. On the other hand, if the oil has a low smoke point, and if you keep the temperature low to prevent smoking while frying, then the oil can seep in the fish, making it greasy and saturated. In order to make fish light and crispy, the best oil for frying is the one with a high smoke point.

​4. What Is Smoking or Smoke Point?

The smoke point is the temperature at which the chemicals in any oil start breaking down; at that point the oil starts burning and producing unpleasant smoke. The composition of the oil changes, valuable nutrients are destroyed, and harmful free radicals are formed. Frying at this temperature will not only burn your food but also expose the food to detrimental chemicals.

​5. Which Is the Best Oil to Fry Fish among the Different Options?

We have done the research and narrowed it down the top four best oils for frying. They are peanut, canola, cottonseed, and extra-virgin coconut oils. All these oils are healthy, have almost no or mild flavor, and have little odor. Be aware that coconut oil needs to be extra-virgin or it will taste like coconut. They have varying smoke points based on how they are made and from what source they are made. You can choose the best oil for frying based on your personal taste and preference.

​6. Where Can You Buy the Best Oil to Fry Fish?

The best oil to fry fish can be purchased online from Amazon or manufacturer websites. The oils are also available in local grocery or retail stores

​7. What Are the Utensils Needed to Fry Fish Perfectly?

​For frying the fish successfully, you will need the right pot or pan, a thermometer, and a pair of tongs to remove the fish.

The Right Pot or Pan

For deep frying, you need a heavy bottom pot with good depth. The pot should be deep enough to accommodate about 3-4 inches of oil with a few more inches to allow room above the surface of the oil. The wider the pot, the more food you can fry at once.

Shallow frying requires a wide skillet or pan, as it uses about 1/4th inch of oil; just enough to cover the bottom of the skillet. The cast-iron skillet is the best option for searing and browning the fish.

Oil Thermometer

A thermometer shows the accurate oil temperature. 360-380 F is a good temperature to deep fry fish. Using an oil thermometer is the sure shot way of knowing whether the oil is hot enough for frying and keeping an eye on things to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. If the oil is not enough, the fish can absorb a lot of oil, making it heavy and greasy. If the oil is too hot, the fish can burn. If the oil is just right, the fish becomes light and crispy.

It is best to not fry too much food at once. Putting a lot of food all at once can lower the oil temperature making the fish saturated and heavy. It is important to leave almost half of the room in the pot and fry in small batches. This helps food cook evenly and lightly without absorbing much oil

​8. How Do You Prepare and Fry Fish?

Any lean and neutral-flavored fish are good for frying, but dense or oily fish like salmon and tuna are not at all good for frying.

For pan frying, the fillets can be used whole. You need to dip the fish in a wet mixture of beaten egg and a couple of tablespoons of milk. Coating the fish with cornmeal or bread crumbs with salt and pepper, or powdered crackers gives a crunch to the fish when shallow fried.

Fish must be fried in a wide skillet with half inch oil until crunchy and golden on each side. Each side may take 3 to 4 minutes to cook. Shallow fried fish is healthier and easier to make than deep-fried fish.

For deep frying, cut the fish fillet into 3-inch pieces. Make a batter, whisking together half cup flour, one beaten egg, a pinch of baking powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Put some flour in another dish. First, dip the fish fillets in flour, then in the batter, and then fry 2 to 3 pieces at a time in hot oil.

Flour helps the batter stick to the fish. The batter locks the moisture in the fish resulting in moist, light, and crispy fish.

How We Reviewed

Spilled best oil to fry fish on the table

​Via Pixabay

We looked at two types of each of the four oils we know are great for frying fish. Based on your personal taste and preference, you can examine the best oil to fry fish and choose the one that best fits you’re your personal taste and preference. To make your job easy, we have provided you with the links where you can purchase the oil of your choice online, and we’ve reviewed how they taste and perform for frying.

Overall Price Range

If you buy larger quantities of oil, such as 1 gallon as opposed to 16 Oz, the bulk quantities drive the prices down. However, not all oils are available in bulk sizes. Canola oil is around $25 per gallon, and peanut oil is about $20 per gallon. Cottonseed oil is $11 to $12 for 48oz. Coconut oil is on the expensive side with prices ranging from $10 to 15 for 16 oz.

​What We Reviewed

Peanut Oils

  • ​Snappy Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz
  • ​LouAna 100% Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz

Canola Oils

  • ​Crisco Pure Canola Oil, 128 Oz
  • ​Healthy Harvest Canola Oil, 128 Oz

​Cottonseed Oils

  • ​Gefen Pure Cottonseed Oil 48 Oz
  • ​Nut Ola Cottonseed Oil, 48 Oz

Coconut Oils

  • ​Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
  • ​Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 fl. Oz

Peanut Oils

Group of Peanuts

​Via Pixabay

Snappy Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz

Snappy Pure Peanut oil one of the best oil to fry fish

Features

Key features of this product include no added color, no trans-fats, and no cholesterol. It is low in saturated fats and is a clear oil with rich and nutty flavor. No melting is required as it is liquid and pourable at room temperature. It is popcorn oil and can be used to pop or top off popcorn. It works great for frying fish, turkey,and chicken.

Price

​$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

It has a high smoke point of 450°F, which makes it perfect for deep-frying.

LouAna 100% Pure Peanut Oil, 128 Oz

LouAna Peanut oil one of the best oil to fry fish

Features

​This product has a mild nutty flavor that enhances the taste of fried foods. It’s very versatile and can be used in everyday cooking. It is perfect for high heat cooking and works great for turkey fryers. It is Non-GMO derived, has no trans fat or cholesterol, and is healthy.

Price

​$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​It has a high smoke point of 450°F, which makes it perfect for deep-frying.

​Canola Oils

Beautiful yellow canola flowers

​Via Pixabay

Crisco Pure Canola Oil, 32 Ounce

crisco pure canola oil one of the best oil to fry fish

Features

​This is a flavorless and versatile oil which can be used for cooking, baking, deep frying, and in marinades and dressings. It is made from soybeans. It is free from cholesterol and trans-fats and is an excellent source of ALA Omega-3 fatty acid

Price

​$$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This is a refined oil with a smoke point of 400°F

Healthy Harvest Canola Oil, 128 Oz

Healthy Harvest Canola oil best oil to fry fish

Features

​Key features of this product include non-GMO certification with antioxidants and Omega-3s, which makes it healthy for cooking and baking. It is grown without pesticides and hence is a safe alternative to a standard canola oil. It is perfect for turkey fryers.

Price

​$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This is a refined oil with smoke point of 400°F

Cottonseed Oils

Cotton Seed

​Via Pixabay

Gefen Pure Cottonseed Oil, 48 Oz

Bottle of Gefen Cottonseed oil best oil to fry fish

Features

​This product has a mild taste and high smoke point, which makes it suitable for frying. It is Kosher for Passover and all year use.

Price

​$$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This is a refined oil with smoke point of 420°F.

Nut Ola Cottonseed Oil, 48 Oz

A bottle of Nut ola cottonseed oil

Features

​This oil Kosher oil has a very mild flavor and works well for any kind of high-heat use.

Price

​$$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This is a refined oil with smoke point of 420°F

Coconut Oils

Coconut cut into half

​Via Pixabay

Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Oz

Viva Coconut oil best oil to fry fish

Features

​This product include rich flavor and aroma. It is nutrient rich and naturally delicious with coconut flavor. It is cold-pressed from fresh, organic, and non-GMO coconuts. It is perfect for baking, frying, spreading and sauteing and can be used as a spread on muffins and toast instead of butter. It is also very nourishing for hair and skin and serves as luscious lotion or hair conditioner that gives deep hydration without feeling sticky. It can be used in place of cooking oils and margarine and works great for keto, paleo, or gluten-free diets. It requires no refrigeration.

Price

​$$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This has a smoke point of 350°F, which is lower than that of other oils but still suitable for frying.

16 oz trader Joe's coconut oil best oil to fry fish

Features

​This is a refined oil that doesn’t taste like coconuts, making it versatile. It can be used in salad dressings, baking, and everyday cooking. It is also used for skin care. It’s made by cold-pressing and filtering dried coconut meat, which retains the nutrients, flavor, and aroma of fresh coconut. It has no cholesterol or trans-fat.

Price

​$$$

​Where to Buy

Smoke Point

​This has a smoke point of 350°F, which is lower than that of other oils but still suitable for frying.

Conclusion

The oil used can have a strong impact on the taste and texture of the fish, so it is very crucial to choose the best oil to fry fish. The oil with a high smoke point and neutral flavor serves best for frying fish perfectly. All the four oils reviewed above have a high smoke point with a neutral flavor. Peanut, cottonseed, and canola oils have higher smoke points compared to coconut oil. They are all healthy oils with no trans-fat or cholesterol and are made from different sources using different methods. You can choose the best oil to fry fish according to your taste and preferences.

​Featured Image Source: Unsplash

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