Quick Answer
Yes, you can fry peanut butter. Peanut butter is made from peanuts which contain oils that allow it to be fried. When frying peanut butter, it is best to use a small amount mixed into a batter or coating. Frying plain peanut butter may cause it to separate or burn. Some popular fried peanut butter treats include peanut butter french toast, peanut butter filled donuts, and peanut butter fried chicken.
Does Peanut Butter Contain Oil?
Peanut butter contains a significant amount of oil which is needed to fry foods. Peanuts themselves contain 48% oil content on average. When peanuts are ground into peanut butter, the oils remain present resulting in an oil content of around 50% for most regular peanut butters. The high oil and fat content allow peanut butter to be fried just like other oils.
What Happens When You Fry Peanut Butter?
When peanut butter is fried, the oils and fats melt and become liquid. This allows foods coated or mixed with peanut butter to fry up with a crispy peanut flavor. However, because peanut butter contains solids from the peanut in addition to oil, frying plain peanut butter can cause it to separate. The solids may clump or sink while the oils rise to the top. High heat may also cause the peanut solids to burn. For best results, peanut butter should be mixed into a batter or used as a coating for frying.
Frying Peanut Butter Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adds rich peanut flavor | Can cause separation if fried plain |
| Crispy peanut coating | Peanut solids may burn at high heat |
| Oils allow foods to fry up crispy | Temperature control is important to avoid burning |
Best Practices for Frying with Peanut Butter
When frying foods with peanut butter, there are some tips to get the best results:
- Mix peanut butter into batters rather than frying plain – this prevents separation
- Coat foods with a thin layer of peanut butter for crispy peanut flavor
- Fry over medium heat to prevent burning
- Add additional oils or butter if needed to prevent sticking
- Let excess peanut butter drip off before frying to minimize burning
- Mix a small amount of peanut butter with other frying mediums like batter or breadcrumbs
Using these best practices allows the peanut butter to impart flavor while the additional ingredients prevent issues like burning.
Popular Fried Peanut Butter Foods
Here are some delicious fried peanut butter foods you can make:
Peanut Butter French Toast
Mix peanut butter into the egg batter before dredging the bread and frying in butter or oil. The peanut butter gives a nice flavor and helps the coating stick.
Peanut Butter Donuts
Blend peanut butter into donut dough or filling before frying. You can also coat donut holes or finished donuts with a layer of peanut butter before tossing in cinnamon sugar.
Peanut Butter Fried Chicken
Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on chicken breasts before coating in seasoned breadcrumbs and frying. The peanut butter provides a sweet counterbalance to the crispy fried chicken.
Peanut Butter Cannoli
Dip cannoli shells in a light peanut butter batter and deep fry until golden. Fill with a ricotta peanut butter filling for an Italian meets American treat.
Conclusion
While frying plain peanut butter can be tricky, incorporating peanut butter into batters, coatings, and fillings allows you to fry up food with rich peanutty flavor. The oils in peanut butter make it perfect for frying while adding complementary ingredients prevents separation and burning. With the proper techniques and recipes, peanut butter can be used to create amazingly indulgent fried foods. So go ahead – fry up some peanut butter flavor in your kitchen!