Re-Using Oil From Deep Fried Fish

I’ve always used a small fryer, with a small amount of the cheapest vegetable oil for my frying… then discarded the oil after. I figure a small amount of oil used once gets me the best taste. Cheep clean oil offsets anything from a better oil.

I do a fish fry for a larger group of friends at time, and that small fryer takes for ever… and the last batches of fish are darker as the oil gets dirtier. I was looking at one of the larger fish/ turkey fryers. Gander has larger one on sale. 10 Qt that I assume I can use a gallon of oil in.

Anyone re-use oil? Do you have to filter out food particles, if so how? How do you store it, and for how long? Is it really safe to keep it after having food in it? At that point, do you use a better oil?

I keep it in the fryer for a few weeks at least. I re-use 2 or 3 times if in a relatively short period of time. If it doesnt pass my smell test or looks particularly dirty I change it. I will go one step further and say used oil makes fish taste better.

I will say peanut oil used 5 times, is better than the cheap virgin oil… I refrigerate after use.

When oil or fat is continuously used without extra fine filtering, the foreign matter will quickly carbonize or char. These overheated organic materials accelerate rapid breakdown and cause hydrolysis oxidation and polymerization of the oil. Visible signs of breakdown will soon appear, resulting in eye stinging smoke, uneven browning, flavor and odor transfer, and/or foaming. Once the oil’s structure is broken down, it must be discarded.

In a nutshell, filtering your oil then keeping it below 45 degrees until the next use will allow the oil to be used for a very long time in personal use.

Re-use mine all the time. I keep it in the fridge. I believe the oil heats up to a temp that will kill anything.

I get a honey filter at one of the bee keeping supply stores. It took some fabricating and the oil still needs to be very warm to pass through. I don’t recall what the micron rating is, but it takes all the fine particles out. I do buy the higher end peanut oil, but it lasts a long time if not over heated.

Will this work with Walleye or is that only with Catfish?

P.S. That was a nice Blue,takes up the whole wall. Hope the FW sits some where else.Would not want that falling on her.

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Re-use mine all the time. I keep it in the fridge. I believe the oil heats up to a temp that will kill anything.

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It’s not so much about killing bacteria, but more about keeping the oil from breaking down, thus extending it’s life.

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Will this work with Walleye or is that only with Catfish?

P.S. That was a nice Blue,takes up the whole wall. Hope the FW sits some where else.Would not want that falling on her.

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Works awesome for both!

Don’t tell the FW, but since I put that blue on the wall above her chair, I took out extra insurance….on her.

That Woody is alittle

I re-use all the time I drain it through a filter to get the excess gunk out and then store it in the fridge until next use. I agree peanunt oil is cheaper but I didn’t like the taste of the fish over Vegetable Oil; personal taste though.

I think you mean peanut oil is NOT cheap and is better tasting than vegetable…

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I think you mean peanut oil is NOT cheap and is better tasting than vegetable…

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I meant not cheap, but I still didn’t like the taste over vegetable oil; I blame my taste buds. I do like frying fish in Olive Oil but have to cook at a higher temperature from my experience.

got ya

For those of you using Olive oil, it breaks down faster than any of the oils on the market. I use vegetable oil most of the time. But perfer the peanut oil. Oil can be filtered using a funnel and a coffee filter and pour in an empty clean container. Oil has to be slightly warm to do so.

I also use a dish cloth and pour mine through that, then just wash the dish cloth. I also agree that oil used atleast once makes the fish taste better. To me its easier to over cook a fillet in new oil and when it gets too dark I throw it. Canola oil here.

Re-using oil is gross.Gross like filling up the toilet for a week before flushing.Gross like using bath water for a year!Gross like a little nose picker at the supper table.
If you can’t afford fresh oil stop keeping fish.Nasty,nasty,nasty.

Hope ya never eat at any restaurant if you feel that way about oil being re-used ……

Used the cooker tonight… went well. Got some filter on clearance at gander – going to try them tomorrow.