Frying – How to Prevent Spattering Oil When Pan Frying

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How would I prevent from spattering oil everywhere when pan frying?
I was shallow-frying breaded chicken breasts for a General Tso's and got boiling hot oil EVERYWHERE in my kitchen, even burning myself multiple times. I would definitely prefer avoiding this in the future.

Best Answer

  1. Reduce excess moisture.
    Water rapidly expands and pushing/exploding the oil upwards.
    When you pick up a piece of marinated chicken/egged chicken, allow the excess liquid to drip off, or drag the bottom of the chicken against the side of the bowl before breading/coating. Ensure the chicken is completed coated, and place to one side to allow the coating to absorb some of the surface liquid and to harden up a little.
  2. Reduce splashing Lower the piece of chicken slowly into the pan and as it touches pan surface, slowly lay the rest of the chicken away from you. This will reduce splashing, and the direction of the splash will be away from you. Alternatively you can use tongs, chopsticks, or any other tool to handle the chicken which will increase the distance from the oil.

  3. Reduce spattering

    • Try to reduce the thickness of the chicken (if it hasn't been cut/pounded).
    • Use a deeper pan, this will reduce some of the spatter.
    • Ensure you have the oil at the correct temperature.
    • Use a splatter guard with a fine/double mesh, with smaller holes, or an odor/odour absorbing splatter screen.
      (In my experience the odor absorbing splatter screen performs well.
    • Don't overcook the chicken.
      Once internal temperatures reach above 158°F /70°C, the collagen starts contracting and liquid will start to release
      Poor splatter screen
      A (bad) less effective splatter screen
      Alternative splatter screen
      An alternate splatter screen
      Odor absorbing splatter screen
      An odor absorbing splatter screen
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