So, if you’ve ever finished using your deep fryer and want to clean up quickly, you may have wondered if there are ways to cool that hot vat of bubbling oil fast. While a good deep fryer can cook up tasty bits in a matter of minutes, it usually takes a couple of hours or more for the hot oil in the fryer to cool down completely.
Perhaps you have wondered what happens if you put ice in a deep fryer. Don’t do it! That is most definitely NOT a good idea!
Putting ice in a deep fryer can be hazardous to your health and home. Continue reading for the explanation as to why.
The Limitations of Ice
You can use ice for many great tasks around the house. Not only can it be used for making ice cream and chilling your drinks. But you can also use it to remove gum from carpets and improve the outcome of reheated rice.
But one thing ice should not be used for is cooling down your cookware or small kitchen appliances. That leads to bad results. On the mild side, you may end up with a painfully warped pan. On the violent side, you may end up with an explosion.
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The sudden cold of ice combined with the hot temperature of a used appliance can create a violent thermal shock which is harmful to the appliance and can cause a greater risk to the people nearby.
So, What Happens If You Put Ice In A Deep Fryer?
Deep fryers have become popular items for both home and commercial cooking.
A traditional deep fryer uses cooking oil. This oil can get hot and usually reaches a high temperature of 350 degrees or more. Ice, on the other hand, remains at 32 degrees or lower.
So, what happens if you put ice in a deep fryer?
The cold and warm temperatures collide suddenly. The molecules of the cold object get agitated suddenly and move at a rapid state. As the change is sudden, the solid object cracks, creating a big sound, and smoke forms.
The reason behind it is straightforward. You may have often seen that when you pour warm coffee or tea in a glass, the glass suddenly breaks. Well, this works on the same principle.
The molecules of the cold object, in this case, the ice, is in a dormant state. Naturally, if it is heated, it slowly shifts from a solid-state into a liquid form.
Typically, the temperature change is prolonged, and this happens gradually at a steady pace.
But what happens if you put ice in a deep fryer? Well, in that case, the temperature difference is very high, and this causes a sudden reaction, similar to an explosion.
This massive difference in temperature causes the cold object molecules to become extremely agile in a concise amount of time. This makes the whole structure of the solid object fragile, and the ice breaks apart, creating the explosive sound and smoke.
The oil will also bubble, spit and spread around making it a very hazardous environment.
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What To Do If You Accidentally Drop Ice In A Deep Fryer?
Well, to prevent any accident from happening, the first thing you can do is to put away all the ice cubes, trays, or anything that has water in it. Make sure you always wear your apron when you enter the kitchen.
Water and oil do not mix, so if water or ice falls into a deep fryer with hot oil in it, there is a high chance that there will be a fire. At a minimum, the water can cause the hot oil to splatter and potentially burn anyone standing to close.
In case a cube of ice or water pours into a deep fryer, move away from it as quickly as possible.
If a grease fire results from water, ice or any other cause, do not try to use water to put the fire out. That will make the situation worse. You should use a kitchen fire extinguisher. Or, cover the fryer with a heavy metal lid. You should call 911 immediately if the fire spreads.
If it is, then immediately get a fire extinguisher and put out the fire. If there is no fire extinguisher nearby, call the fire station. Delay of a single moment can be the difference between life and death.
Now, if you see that there is no more fire after the smoke settles, then you can take a deep breath. You now need to approach the fryer and turn it off slowly. This will prevent any additional heat from coming to the water and oil mixture.
Final Thoughts
Well, now you know what happens if you put ice in a deep fryer. You will witness an unpleasant and potentially hazardous reaction.
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